Before the private première of Anthony Payne's ‘elaboration’ of the sketches for Elgar's Third Symphony last October there was a fair amount of opprobious wrangling about whether it should have been attempted at all. I had my arguments ready, but now that I've actually heard the Symphony there is clearly only one response to those who carp at it – why, in God's name, should the world be denied such a stirring, life-affirming experience? Three months after that private first performance in BBC Maida Vale Studio I am still certain that it was one of the great musical experiences of my life. To have been a small part of it (I interviewed Payne and conductor Andrew Davis before the performance) was, simply, a privilege.