Notes and Editorial Reviews
Delius: Orchestral Works (including A Walk to the Paradise Garden, from A Village Romeo and Juliet; Irmelin Prelude; Florida Suite; Two Pieces for Small Orchestra – No. 1: On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring; No. 2: Summer Night on the River)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Sir Thomas Beecham. EMI CDS 47509 [“Complete Stereo Recordings,” 2 CDs, including Florida Suite, Irmelin Prelude, On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring, Summer Night on the River] (originally released 1958-63). Reissued on EMI 09915.
Sir Thomas Beecham enjoyed a career-long association with the music of Delius. As Grieg had provided the encouragement to Delius to keep composing, Delius in turn helped Beecham choose conducting as his path. In
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return, Beecham championed the composer’s music as no other interpreter has or ever will. There is a delicacy in these sunny accounts, a lightness of touch and also of texture, that sets them apart. While one encounters some occasional out-of-tune notes and ensemble problems in the playing of the RPO, the spirit of Sir Thomas easily carries the day. The performances were captured in good early EMI stereo, which while it comes with some tape hiss, is eminently listenable and has a wonderful presence. – Ted Libbey, author of
The NPR Guide to Building a Classical CD Collection. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Over the Hills and Far Away by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1895-1897; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 1960
2.
Sleigh Ride by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1887-1888; USA
Date of Recording: 1960
3.
Irmelin: Prelude by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1890-1892; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 1963
4.
Dance Rhapsody no 2 by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1916; France
Date of Recording: 1960
5.
Summer Evening by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1890; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 1963
6.
Brigg Fair - An English Rhapsody by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1907; France
Date of Recording: 1960
9.
A Song Before Sunrise by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1918; France
Date of Recording: 1960
10.
Marche-caprice by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: France
Date of Recording: 1960
11.
Florida Suite by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1887/1889; Florida, USA
Date of Recording: 1960
12.
Songs of Sunset by Frederick Delius
Performer:
John [baritone (50s)] Cameron (Baritone),
Maureen Forrester (Alto)
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
Beecham Choral Society
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1906-1907; France
Date of Recording: 1980
Language: English
13.
Fennimore and Gerda: Intermezzo by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1908-1910; France
Date of Recording: 1960
14.
Concerto for Violin by Frederick Delius
Performer:
Jean Pougnet (Violin)
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1916; England
Date of Recording: 1946
15.
Song of the High Hills by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
Luton Choral Society
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1911; France
Date of Recording: 11/22/1946
16.
Dance Rhapsody no 1 by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1908; France
Date of Recording: 10/29/1952
17.
Paa Vidderne for Orchestra by Frederick Delius
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1890-1892; Paris, France
Date of Recording: 11/26/1946
18.
A Village Romeo and Juliet by Frederick Delius
Performer:
Rene Soames (Tenor),
Margaret Ritchie (Soprano),
Frederick Sharp (Baritone),
Denis Dowling (Baritone)
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
Royal Philharmonic Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1900-1901; France
Language: English
19.
Sea Drift by Frederick Delius
Performer:
Gordon Clinton (Baritone)
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
Royal Philharmonic Chorus
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1903-1904; France
20.
Fifine at the Fair by Granville Bantock
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1901; England
Date of Recording: 1949
21.
Garden of Fand by Arnold Bax
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1913-1916; England
Date of Recording: 1947
22.
The Triumph of Neptune: Suite by Lord (Tyrwhitt) Berners
Performer:
Robert Alva (Bass)
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1926; England
Date of Recording: 1937
23.
Gipsy Suite by Edward German
Conductor:
Sir Thomas Beecham
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1892; England
Sound Samples
Over the Hills and Far Away (ed. Beecham): Over the Hills and Far Away (ed. Beecham) (1960 Remastered Version)
Sleigh ride (Winter night): Sleigh ride (Winter night) (2001 Remastered Version)
Brigg Fair: Introduction (Slow. Pastoral)
Brigg Fair: I. Theme (with easy movement)
Brigg Fair: II. Interlude (Slow and very quietly)
Brigg Fair: III. Variation 7 (Rather quicker but not hurried)
Brigg Fair: Variation 9 (With easy movement)
Brigg Fair: Variation 11 (Slow. With solemnity)
Brigg Fair: Variation 12 (Maestoso)
Brigg Fair: IV. Variation 13 (Gaily)
Brigg Fair: Transition (Rather quicker)
Brigg Fair: Variation 17 (Rather slower. Very broadly)
Brigg Fair: Coda (Very quietly)
I. Daybreak - Dance from Florida Suite RTVI/1: I. Daybreak - Dance from Florida Suite RTVI/1 (2001 Remastered Version)
Florida Suite (rev. & ed. Beecham) (1960 Digital Remaster): II. By the River (Andantino): Florida Suite (rev. & ed. Beecham) (1960 Remastered Version): II. By the River (Andantino)
Florida Suite (rev. & ed. Beecham) (1960 Digital Remaster): III. Sunset (Moderato) - Danza (Allegretto): Florida Suite (rev. & ed. Beecham) (1960 Remastered Version): III. Sunset (Moderato) - Danza (Allegretto)
Florida Suite (rev. & ed. Beecham) (1960 Digital Remaster): IV. At Night (Andante moderato): Florida Suite (rev. & ed. Beecham) (1960 Remastered Version): IV. At Night (Andante moderato)
Marche-caprice: Marche-caprice (1987 Remastered Version)
A Dance Rhapsody No. 2: A Dance Rhapsody No. 2 (2001 Remastered Version)
Summer Evening: Summer Evening (2001 Remastered Version)
On hearing the first cuckoo in Spring: On hearing the first cuckoo in Spring (2001 Remastered Version)
Summer Night on the River: Summer Night on the River (2001 Remastered Version)
A Song before sunrise: A Song before sunrise (2001 Remastered Version)
Intermezzo from Fennimore and Gerda: Intermezzo from Fennimore and Gerda (2001 Remastered Version)
Irmelin Prelude: Irmelin Prelude (2001 Remastered Version)
Songs of Sunset: A song of the setting sun! (Quietly)
Songs of Sunset: Cease smiling, dear! (With easy movement).
Songs of Sunset: Pale amber sunlight falls (Slow).
Songs of Sunset: Exceeding sorrow consumeth my sad heart! (Con tristezza. Not too slow).
Songs of Sunset: By the sad waters of separation (With quiet movement).
Songs of Sunset: See how the trees and the osiers lithe (Freshly).
Songs of Sunset: I was not sorrowful (Very quietly but not too slow)
Songs of Sunset: They are not long, the weeping and the laughter (Quietly).
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