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
2 files zip WAV Mega Download
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

George Weldon conducts... Elgar. In the South -&- Sea Pictures ... Handel. Water -&- Fireworks music - EMI 1954/1960

G.F. Handel: arr. Hamilton Harty    "Water Music" - suite   /   "Royal Fireworks" - suite     2 files zip FLAC Mega Download
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  conducted by  George Weldon  
HMV  XLP 20033.  mono matrices: 2XEA 1976 -4N / 2XEA 1977 -2N      Recorded: 1960. EMI Studio 1, Abbey Road

Sir Edward Elgar:
"Sea Pictures", op.37  -  (Gladys Ripley, Contralto)  
"In the South" (Alassio), op.50  
HMV  XLP 30008. (Columbia 33SX 1028)   1962 pressing/matrices: XAX 526 -3N / XAX 527 -3N 

G.F. Handel, arr. Elgar:  Overture in D  (Chandos Anthem No. 2)
G.F. Handel: "Solomon" -  Sinfonia; Arrival of the Queen of Sheba / Occasional oratorio - March**
Columbia  SED 5516    1958 pressing/matrices: 7TCA215 -3N / 7TCA216 -2N       4 files zip FLAC  Mega Download 
London Symphony Orchestra  conducted by  George Weldon    Recorded: 19/26 February 1954 - EMI Studio 1, Abbey Road. (**29 October 1953)  

SED 5516 scan / sleeve-notes / info >>>

Mstislav Rostropovich plays... Miaskovsky. Cello Concerto ... Prokofiev. Sinfonia Concertante - EMI 1956/1957

Nikolai Miaskovsky: Cello Concerto, op.66 
I: Lento ma non troppo - Andante - Tempo 1  ~  II: Allegro - vivace - Piu marcato - Meno mosso - Tempo 1 - Piu largamente - Andante semplice e tranquillo - Tempo 1 - Piu tranquillo - Cadenza - Lento come prima      

Serge Prokofiev: Sinfonia Concertante, op.125 
I: Andante  ~  II: Allegro giusto  ~  III: Andante con moto      
2 files zip STEREO FLAC  Mega Download
Mstislav Rostropovich, violoncello  ~  Philharmonia Orchestra  /  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  conducted by  Sir Malcolm Sargent
HMV  SXLP 30155  -1973 matrix: 2YEA 23 -4  /  SXLP 30266  -1978 matrices: 2YEA 5998 -2 / 5999 -2  
Recorded: EMI Studio 1, Abbey Road: 5 March 1956 / 15 April 1957.

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
FLAC  Mega Download 
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   

Sir Malcolm Sargent / RPO - Vaughan Williams. Symphony 9 - BBC 1958

Ralph Vaughan Williams:  Symphony no.9 in E minor   
I. Moderato maestoso   ~  II. Andante sostenuto   ~  III. Scherzo: Allegro pesante   ~  IV. Andante tranquillo  
16/44 FLAC (2025 transfer) Mega Download
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra  conducted by  Sir Malcolm Sargent   (UK/World premiere performance: Royal Festival Hall, 2nd April 1958)
BBC Radio 3 FM - Repeat: 3/12/2000 - (2nd repeat:: 29/4/2001 -this TX used). "BBC Legends" series.   Originally broadcast 'live': BBC Home Service.  
FM source:  Leak Stereofetic tuner > Pioneer MJ-D707 MD recorder (TDK 74 XG Minidisc) 
2025 transfer: Sony JA-20ES > Terratec DMX 6Fire 24/96. The high-level 19kHz pilot-tone now removed. 

Concert announcement / "The Times" - review / Frequency Analysis  >>>