E. Elgar | Enigma variations, op. 36 – Theme (1888 - 1889)
 
The story behind Elgar’s Enigma Variations is as intimate, elegant, as captivating as the music itself. Edward Elgar, a 32-year-old musician facing modest success at the time, came up with the theme after a long day of teaching music lessons, catching the attention of his wife Alice. Playing around with the melody, the idea of “the enigma” came to life, conceived as a a symphonic puzzle of fourteen variations on the original theme, with each variation representing a close friend or acquaintance of Elgar. This intriguing idea and the brilliant musical quality of the composition made the Enigma Variations an immediate success, not only propelling Elgar among the greatest composers of his time, but also revamping British music in general, which had historically played a secondary role in the European music scene.