Track Listing

1. The British National Anthem
2. Ov 'The Fair Melusina', Op.32
3. Carte Blanche: Ballet Ste: I. Prld And Waltz
4. Carte Blanche: Ballet Ste: II. Bagatelle
5. Carte Blanche: Ballet Ste: III. Scherzo And Bacchanale
6. Carte Blanche: Ballet Ste: IV. Interlude
7. Carte Blanche: Ballet Ste: V. Romanza And Postlude
8. Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: I. Poco Sostenuto-Vivace
9. Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: II. Allegretto
10. Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: III. Presto
11. Sym No.7 in A, Op.92: IV. Allegro Con Brio
12. Dance Of The Priestesses From 'Samson Et Dalila'
13. A Few Introductory Words By Sir Thomas Beecham
14. Cortege Et Air De Danse From 'L'Enfant Prodigue'
15. A Few Introductory Words By Sire Thomas Beecham
16. Juliet's Dream From 'Romeo Et Juliette'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #99503 in Music
• Released on: 1999-03-15
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds
• Running time: 75 minutes

Customer Reviews

Captures the magic of a Beecham concert.
Polishing his spectacles with a large white silk handkerchief, the shapeless little man ambles slowly through the orchestra ranks, mounts the rostrum, dons his spectacles, calmly surveys the cheering audience, and signals the beginning of a stupendous performance of the British National Anthem.

Such is my recollection of how many nights of music making began in London concert halls or Covent Garden Opera House during the 1950s when Sir Thomas Beecham conducted. Seated far back, in the cheapest seats, I was never close enough to see how Beecham worked with his performers, but it was always clear that he, his performers, and the audience were enjoying themselves immensely.

This impression is wonderfully well-communicated in this splendid issue from the BBC's archives of a 1959 concert. Apart from John Addison's 1953 ballet suite "Carte blanche", Beecham and his orchestra had recently studied, rehearsed and recorded all these works. Comparing the commercial studio recordings with these live performances has been interesting. Whereas everything in the recorded performances is classically moulded, carefully judged and perfectly balanced, the same works at the concert sound as if they are being newly-created.

When the cheering has died down after the fastest Beethoven's Seventh I have ever heard, Beecham says to the audience, "If you applaud like that, I'm made to wonder if I shall ever be permitted to go home". He then offers three of his so-called "lollipops": serene, cool little pieces contrasting with the Bacchanalian excesses of the Beethoven symphony's finale.

The sound quality is much as any audience member in the Royal Festival Hall might have heard it in 1959. Extensive notes and many photographs add considerably to the value offered by this 75 minute CD.

SUPERB PERFORMANCE WITHOUT RIVAL
This is a recording of a live performance made before the advent of stereo. With the enefit of modern technology the sound is so stunning that one forgets all about stereo. Listen intently to the performance of the tympanist Lewis Pocock,.