Elgar enigma/ Picture at an exhibition


I need some CD recommendations on both pieces of music

My son is playing in the local youth orchestra and the music director wants them to listen to the music before the rehearsal

thanks
a1126lin
Kudos to you for being involved in your son's music education.

Several fine recordings of Pictures as already mentioned. But, for me, to really understand this music the performance needs a Russian sensibility. The Valery Gergiev reading with the Vienna Philharmonic is hard to beat. I also encourage you to have your son listen to a recording of the music as originally composed; for piano. This will broaden his understanding. The Sviatoslav Richter recordings are very fine.
Good suggestion from Frogman to listen to the the Pictures as
originally written for piano.

But as to needing a Russian orchestra to really get the full
sense of this orchestral work, remember that the orchestral
version most often performed is the orchestration by the
French composer, Maurice Ravel.
.