The concert overture In the South was written in Elgar’s maturity, after Enigma Variations and Dream of Gerontius but before the two symphonies and the concertos. He wrote it early in 1904 when Elgar and his wife visited Northern Italy over the Christmas and New Year period. He had gone to recuperate after a period of some depression that had seen him lose the tenancy on his home, and the death of a good friend at the age of just 42. The Elgars stayed at a villa in Alassio, but Elgar was still depressed, writing to his publisher “this visit has been, is, artistically, a complete failure & I can do nothing: we have been perished with cold, rain and gales … I am trying to finish a concert overture.” But luckily the weather improved, and he found inspiration in the pastoral countryside and reminders of Ancient Rome. He came home at the end of January, and the overture was completed by late February. It was first performed in March that year as part of a 3-day Elgar festival held at Covent Garden in London, and was conducted by Elgar himself. The festival was a great success, with the King (Edward VII) attending, and it doubtless contributed toward Elgar’s award of a knighthood later the same year.

Of all Elgar’s works, In the South is the most reminiscent of Richard Strauss in its rich orchestration (especially its use of the horns) and explosive energy. The exuberant opening has two main themes and several subsidiary ones, and is followed by a quieter section with a simple rustic melody on the clarinet. The strings comment on this, and then we have two contrasted episodes. First is a powerful passage that recalls the might of Ancient Rome, grinding everything down before it, in relentless 8-bar phrases that cycle through different keys. Second is a beautiful melody on solo viola, with the most delicate of accompaniment. (Elgar later set this tune to words from Shelley, and called it “In Moonlight”.) The final section recalls all the themes of the opening, including the quieter rustic passage, before a close that is emphatically triumphant.