Quite right about Ms Rodrigo, POPS. She has that trick in the voice that pours emotion into her words. Moving and powerful.
Share your enthusiasm for Elgar; cello concerto, obviously, but also love his Empire compositions – Crown of India has some lovely melodies. Other English composers from the end of his period are George Butterworth and Peter Warlock. The former died at war in France in 1916. Great loss he would have gone on to great things. Vaughan Williams was a close friend and mentor. VW’s “Pastoral” is really a War symphony and never fails to bring a tear to the eye.