ONE of Britain’s greatest composers will be brought vividly to life at St Mary’s Church, Ross-on-Wye next month and Edward Elgar has closer connections to this corner of Herefordshire than many people may realise.

Elgar’s mother, Ann Greening, spent her childhood at Handley, near Pontshill, just a few miles outside Ross, looking out across the countryside towards the Forest of Dean. Now that local connection provides an added dimension to The Enigma of Edward Elgar, an acclaimed one-man musical drama written and performed by pianist and actor Michael Lunts.

The performance on Sunday, September 20 in Ross explores not simply Elgar’s music, but the man behind it, focusing particularly on his relationship with his beloved wife Alice and the extraordinary part she played in encouraging his career.

Following Alice’s death, Elgar looks back on the creation of his famous Enigma Variations, recalling the friends whose personalities he portrayed in music – and considering some of the women who may also lie hidden within its pages.

At the heart of the evening is the question: was the greatest enigma actually Elgar himself?

Michael Lunts combines theatre and live performance at the piano, playing the Enigma Variations in a special piano transcription made by Elgar himself, together with the much-loved Salut d’Amour, originally written for Alice.

Mr Lunts’ previous musical dramas have toured internationally and received critical acclaim.

Edward Elgar composed his Variations on an original theme known as the Enigma Variations, between October 1898 and February 1899.

It is an orchestral work comprising fourteen variations on an original theme. After its 1899 premiere in London, the variations quickly achieved popularity and helped establish Elgar's growing reputation in Britain and internationally.

Tickets are priced at £15 for The Enigma of Edward Elgar at St Mary’s Church, Ross on Sunday, September 20 at 3pm and are available from the website createross.co.uk/events.