Sir Thomas Beecham / BBC SO - Sibelius. Symphony 2 - BBC 1954

Jean Sibelius: 
Symphony no.2 in D major, op.43  
I: Allegretto  ~  II: Tempo andante ma rubato  ~  III: Vivacissimo  ~  IV: Allegro moderato    

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BBC Symphony Orchestra  conducted by  Sir Thomas Beecham
HMV  ALP 1947  1964 pressing. Matrices: 2XEA2231/2 -1N.   Recorded 'live' - 8 December 1954 - Royal Festival Hall   (less than "Hi-Fi"...!!
Sleeve-note + The Times + EMG reviews >>>  
(The 1959 RFH Dvorak Symphony 8 - HMV ALP 2003 - is on Pristine Classics )  

Sir Thomas Beecham / French National - Franck. Symphony - HMV 1957

Cesar Franck:
Symphony in D minor  
I:  Lento - Allegro non troppo  ~  II:  Allegretto  ~  III:  Allegro non troppo   
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Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise  conducted by  Sir Thomas Beecham    
HMV  ALP 1686  (mono only)  Original 1959 LP/matrices: 2XLA 36 -1N / 2XLA 37 -1N.  Recorded: 4/5 November 1957 - Salle Wagram, Paris.     
NOT ON CD    Slightly re-edited Dec.2014 with +1.4dB added treble EQ.  From Sir Richard Attenborough's collection.   EMG review / sleeve-note >>> 

Beecham / French National - Bizet. Symphony ... Lalo. Symphony - HMV 1958 ..... Library of Congress lectures 1956/7

Georges Bizet:  Symphony in C major
I:  Allegro vivo  ~  II:  Adagio  ~  III:  Allegro vivace  ~  IV:  Allegro vivace
Edouard Lalo:  Symphony in G minor      
I:  Andante  ~  II:  Vivace  ~  III:  Adagio  ~  IV:  Allegro
2 files zip FLAC Mega Download                        
Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Francaise  conducted by  Sir Thomas Beecham  
HMV  ALP 1761    1961 LP/matrices: 2XLA 484 -1N / 2XLA 40 -1N.   Recorded: 7-10 January 1958 / 10-11 June 1958 - Salle Wagram, Paris

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"Mozart and his Music"   -&-   "The Changing World of Music"  2 files zip FLAC  Mega Download
2 edited/abridged lectures @ The Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, Washington D.C.  (6 February 1956 / 25 February 1957).
EMI / World Records  SH 1008   1979 LP/matrices: 2XEA 6585 -1 / 2XYE 6586 -1  
NOT ON CD   (The 1958 HMV mono sessions:  stereo recordings: c.Oct-Dec.1959)     EMG review /sleeve-note >>> 

Sir Thomas Beecham conducts... Elgar -&- German - CBS 1954/EMI 1956

Sir Edward Elgar:  Variations on an original theme, "Enigma", op.36             
Philips  SBR 6224  (10" -1957 reissue). Matrices: AA 06686 1R -8 / 2R -9   Rec: 26/27 Nov.1954 - Walthamstow Town Hall (+ 13/14 Dec.1954)

Sir Edward German:  "Gipsy suite" - Four characteristic dances:                   
Valse melancholique (Lonely Life) ~ Allegro di Bravura (The Dance) ~ Menuetto (Love Duet) ~ Tarantella (The Revel)
HMV  ALP 1983   First edition 1963 LP/matrix: 2XEA 2164 -1N.  Recorded: 1956
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Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  conducted by  Sir Thomas Beecham, Bart.    
An 'HISTORICAL' Request... Had intended including SBR 6225 (Str.Ser./Cockaigne) but the former may not be suitable to transfer due to some surface noise (the performance is pretty bad).. Much of this 'Enigma' isn't to my taste - the Faure-like languorous drawl is quite enervating. Presumably EMI used a stereo tape for the CD issue of the 'Gipsy Suite'.   
Elgar: 1955 EMG review / 1975 CBS sleeve-note / HMV sleeve >>>    Extra!  "Beecham in Rehearsal" -Book CD/EMI: 10 track mono FLAC 7-zipfolder: Mega Download

Puccini. La Boheme - Beecham - RCA 1956 / Jussi Bjorling recital - RCA/Decca 1957

Rudolpho, a poet................................. Jussi Bjorling,  Tenor    
Marcello, a painter.................................. Robert Merrill,  Baritone
Schaunard, a musician................................ John Reardon,  Baritone
Colline, philosopher....................................... Giorgio Tozzi,  Bass
Benoit, the landlord / Alcindoro, a state counsellor...... Fernando Corena,  Bass
Mimi, a seamstress............................................. Victoria de los Angeles,  Soprano
Musetta, a grisette................................................. Lucine Amara,  Soprano
Parpignol, a toy vendor............................................... William Nahr,  Tenor
A Customs Officer........................................................ Thomas Powell,  Baritone
A Sergeant.................................................................... George del Monte,  Baritone
Columbus Boychoir (dir. Herbert Huffman), Chorus (chorus master: Thomas Martin)   -  
RCA Victor Orchestra  conducted by  Sir Thomas Beecham                          The Complete Opera:  4 files zip FLAC  Mega Download
RCA Victor  LM 6042 1/2  1957 USA LP's/matrices: G2RP3580 -1S/3581 -1S/3582 -7S/3583 -3S  (A1/B1/A1/A2)  Rec: 16/17/30 March & 1-3/5/6 April 1956 - Manhattan Center, N.Y.

Ponchielli: "La Gioconda" - Cielo e mar!  /  Puccini: "La Fanciulla del West" - Ch’ella mi creda  /  Giordano: "Fedora" - Amor ti vieta    
Cilea: "L’Arlesiana" - E la solita storia  /  Verdi: "Un Ballo in Maschera" - Di' tu se fidele  /  Puccini: "Manon Lescaut" - Tra voi belle  
Jussi Bjorling  with  Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra  conducted by  Alberto Erede                                 2 files zip FLAC   Mega Download
RCA  SB 2021   STEREO   1959 Decca pressing/matrix: J2RY3029/D -2K    Recorded: Aug./Sept.1957 - Teatro Pergola, Florence               EMG 1957/1959 reviews >>>

Delius. Hassan - RPO - Sir Thomas Beecham - Fontana 1958

Frederick Delius:
"Hassan"  - incidental music   
Introduction ~ Serenade  ~ Short Interlude  ~ Unaccompanied chorus behind scene  ~ The Beggars of Baghdad  ~
Chorus of women  ~ Prelude to Act.III  ~ Chorus of soldiers  ~ The Procession of Protracted Death  ~
Serenade - repeated  ~ Closing scene: The Golden Road to Samarkand
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Closing scene: The Golden Road to Samarkand         FLAC  Mega Download
Leslie Fry, Baritone  -  Arthur Leavins, violin  -  Frederick Riddle, viola  -   BBC Chorus, (chorus-master: Leslie Woodgate)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  conducted by  Sir Thomas Beecham
Fontana  CFL 1020  1958 Philips UK pressing.  Recorded: 29 May 1956 - Walthamstow Assembly Hall