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The Beecham Collection
Handel-Beecham
SOMM-BEECHAM 07 - In 1932 Sir Thomas recorded 11 movements from The Origin of Design , this being one of his many clever Handel arrangements. It was also the first recording he made with his newly formed LPO which caused such a sensation with its high standard of performance. Another landmark is the Beecham-Handel Piano Concerto in A major which he arranged for his wife Lady Betty Humby Beecham and recorded in 1945 with the LPO.
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The Beecham Collection
Frederick Delius
SOMM-BEECHAM 08 - The following bear witness to Beecham's unique contribution to the promotion of Delius's music: An Arabesk and *Songs of Sunset (1934 Leeds Festival, both with Roy Henderson & *Olga Haley) and some delicious Delius Songs with soprano Dora Labbette accompanied at the piano by Sir Thomas.
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The Beecham Collection
Orchestral & Operatic Excerpts
SOMM-BEECHAM 09 - In 1945, many recordings with the LPO were made in performances of characteristic Beecham flair, amongst these the Overture La Clemenza di Tito and the Waltz and Polonaise from Eugene Onegin. 1947 and 48 also was a busy period, now with his newly formed RPO. This saw recordings of excerpts from Macbeth and The Bartered Bride and most importantly, from Tannhäuser and Das Rheingold.
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The Beecham Collection
Frederick Delius: Sea Drift, A Dance Rhapsody No.2, ...
SOMM-BEECHAM 10 - More unique Delius from Thomas Beecham (also see SOMM-BEECHAM 8). Includes Sea Drift with Baritone Dennis Noble, A Dance Rhapsody No.2, A Song before Sunrise and two movements from North Country Sketches (LPO, 1945). Also included are The Walk to the Paradise Garden and Brigg Fair. A fascinating issue.
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The Beecham Collection
Beethoven: Mass in D Major, Op.123 'Missa Solemnis'
SOMM-BEECHAM 11 - "Exhilirating Beethoven and inspirational Beecham - an unmissable partnership" is how the Gramophone magazine describes this version of the Mass recorded live at the 1937 Leeds Festival. which is the earliest version on disc. Both chorus and soloists are in fine form and Beecham himself is at the height of his appreciable powers.
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The Beecham Collection
Smetana 'The Bartered Bride' (Sung in German)
SOMM-BEECHAM 14-2 - A 2-CD slimline set. LPO, Chorus of The Royal Opera House - Covent Garden. Hilde Konetzni, Richard Tauber, Fritz Krenn, Heinrich Tessmer, Mary Jarred, et al . "The cast was a very good one ... Richard Tauber was one of the greatest talents possible ... " Marco Rothmüller
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The Beecham Collection
Busoni Piano Concerto, Op. 39
SOMM-BEECHAM 15 - BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Men's Chorus. Noel Mewton-Wood, Piano.
Of Noel Mewton-Wood: "No other musician of our time was so vitally gifted. Composers, performers, critics, all who listened to music - we shall all feel his loss. RIP." Andrew Porter, Gramophone Magazine, Dec. 1953
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The Beecham Collection
Joseph Haydn – The Seasons
SOMM-BEECHAM 16-2 - A 2-CD slimline set. Beecham Choral Society, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Sung in English (Translated from the German of G. van Swieten by Dennis Arundell). Elsie Morison, Alexander Young, Michael Langdon.
"There is always satisfaction to be taken in Beecham's Haydn..." MusicWeb
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The Beecham Collection
G. F. Handel - Solomon
SOMM-BEECHAM 17-2 - A 2-CD slimline set. Beecham Choral Society, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. John Cameron, Alexander Young, Elsie Morison, Lois Marshall.
Recorded in 1955/56. "If proof were needed that there is abundant life and beauty in most of Handel's oratorios, it is to be found here in this truly wonderful performance of Solomon." The Gramophone, Nov. 1956
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The Beecham Collection
Jean Sibelius
SOMM-BEECHAM 18 - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra.
Symphony No.6 in D minor Op. 104(Recorded 15 September 1954), Symphony No. 4 in A minor Op.63(Recorded 4 October 1951). At long last here is the long-awaited release of two Sibelius Symphonies which have never been previously issued.
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The Beecham Collection
The Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra - The Early Days
SOMM-BEECHAM 19 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Moura Lympany, Piano.
Mendelssohn: Overture Op. 21. Wagner: Prelude to Act III of Die Meistersinger. Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor K550. Schumann: Concerto for Piano & Orchestra in A minor Op. 54. Moura Lympany – Piano. All recorded 10 November 1946 – Previously unissued.
The recording of this concert is an historic document in that it is the earliest known of the RPO and shows it with its first set of players.
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The Beecham Collection
Beecham, Flagstad & Wagner
SOMM-BEECHAM 20 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Kirsten Flagstad, Soprano.
Overture, The Flying Dutchman; Wesendonck-Lieder; Tristan und Isolde.The opening piece is the gloriously conducted 'Overture to The Flying Dutchman'. Kirsten Flagstad has a beautiful voice and sings with consummate skill in the'Wesendonck Lieder' and 'Liebestod'(from 'Isolde'). – First Authorised Release.
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The Beecham Collection
Beecham, Brahms, Bax, & R.Strauss
SOMM-BEECHAM 21 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. John Kennedy, Cello - Frederick Riddle, Viola. Brahms: Variations on a Theme by Haydn, Op. 56a; Bax: The Garden of Fand; R.Strauss: Don Quixote. Brahms: Sir Thomas treats this work as lovingly as it deserves to be treated.
Bax: After Beecham's premiere of this work in 1931, Bax wrote to Harriet Cohen; ..."last night's performance was the most beautiful orchestral experience of my life ...".
R.Strauss: John Kennedy(father of Nigel) in the role of Don Quixote & Frederick Riddle as Sancho Panza proceed to give outstanding accounts in their respective solo parts.
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The Beecham Collection
Premier CD Release
Beecham, Boccherini, Gretry, Liszt, Franck & Elgar
SOMM-BEECHAM 22 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Rosina Raisbeck: Soprano. Conductor: Thomas Beecham. Boccherini - Overture in D. Gretry - Ballet Suite Zemire et Azor. Liszt - Die Loreley. Franck - Le Chasseur Maudit. Elgar - Enigma Variations.
A concert programme of works such as the ones captured live and featuring on this disc was familiar fare in the Beecham years.
Elgar: Enigma Variations - Elgar held Beecham in high regard as a conductor and knew and identified with his performances of his works. The Enigma Variations were of special significance to both Elgar and Beecham.
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The Beecham Collection
Premier CD Release
Beecham in Concert
Mozart, William Alwyn, Grieg
SOMM-BEECHAM 23 BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Mozart: Symphony No.29 in A major K201; Alwyn: Symphony No.3 (First Performance); Grieg: Symphonic Dances Op.64.
Mozart held a very special place in Beecham's heart. Grieg is not a composer who immediately springs to mind when we think of Beecham, yet he often explored much of that coposer's limited orchestral output. Alwyn's 3rd Symphony was commissioned by the BBC and dedicated to Richard Howgill, then BBC Controller of Music - John Ireland considered this work to be the finest British symphony since Elgar's symphony No.2.
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