Credits:

Thomas Beecham, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Description:

Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 by Beecham, recorded live in 1952, is now available for the first time in its entirety! The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, founded by Thomas Beecham in 1946, gave its first concert in Croydon on September 15 of that year, It was an immediate success. The recording is a live recording of Sibelius: Symphony No. 1 performed by Beecham at the 1952 Edinburgh International Festival. Beecham had made a session recording of the same work three months earlier, but this live performance is, in the words of Beecham's biographer John Lucas, "a thrilling performance. The "Historical Scene" from April 1947, also recorded live, is also a first release. The final recording is a 30-minute interview by John Transky in which two players who played under Beecham share their memories of the conductor and the orchestra (in English). The members of the orchestra at that time were Dennis Blaine, a master horn player, as the principal horn player, and Richard "Bob" Walton, who was appointed principal trumpet player at the age of 19.The story of percussionist Lewis Pocock and other distinguished wind players who played for Beecham is as exciting to listen to as it is to play. These recordings were part of the archive created and maintained by John Transky, founder of the Music Performance Research Center, in 1987, and were selected for the "Beecham Collection Series" released by SOMM RECORDINGS. The "Beecham Collection Series" on SOMM RECORDINGS is also based on selected recordings. Naxos Japan

Tracklisting:

1.Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.39~I. Andante ma non troppo - Allegro-energico
2.Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.39~II. Andante (ma non troppo lento)
3.Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.39~III. Scherzo (Allegro)
4.Symphony No.1 in E minor, Op.39~IV. Finale (Quasi una fantasia - Andante - Allegro molto)
5.Scenes historiques II, Op.66~Minnelaulu (Memory Song)
6.Scenes historiques II, Op.66~Nostosillalla (On the Drawbridge)
7.Playing for Beecham
8.The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): P
9.The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): P
10.The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): P
11.The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): P
12.The Well-Tempered Clavier (24), collection of preludes & fugues, Book I, BWV 846-869 (BC L80-103): P