KOANGA (Delius): Sir Thomas Beecham + LPO ~ La Calinda (1938)

[kevindsunshinestate]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece of music. Delius--and Eric Fenby--thought nobody understood his music as well as Sir Thomas Beecham. This wonderful recording shows why. Thank you for sharing with all of us.

[SuperLuckydream]

Elegant and polished performance.Thank you for posting, dear Doug.

[AulicExclusiva]

Delius always sounds like a different composer when Sir Tommy does him! 3½ minutes of magic, surprisingly Russian-sounding. And doesn't the bumptious baronet look like a Lothario in that photograph?

Great posting, Doug.

[rupepill]

The recording and performance sound very well, no doubt following the example set by Sir Thomas himself. There is a whiff of cigar and fine leather about this recording.

[CurzonRoad]

@rupepill

I like that... well said, Rob!

[jrakg]

Yes, Leon Goossens was the LPO first oboe when this recording was made. - John Austin, Australia

[mayatatyana1]

Thank you, Doug. Thank you for the introduction to La Calinda....absolutely beautiful! Great photo of Sir Beecham. Maya

[francesca7564]

Thanks Doug !!!

:-)

[CurzonRoad]

@francesca7564

Thank YOU, Francesca!

[EdmundStAustell]

Very nice indeed. A remarkably light touch that works very well here. He was a great musician, and a very public spiritied man; his contribution to the establishment of the serious international operatic repertoire in Britain was a magisterial effort.

[CurzonRoad]

@EdmundStAustell

Again, a longtime favorite. Thank YOU, Edmund!

[webrarian]

With Leon Goossens on the oboe at the opening, I assume?

[CurzonRoad]

@webrarian

Unfortunately, in "Beecham: A Centenary Discography" by Michael Gray (Holmes & Meier / 1979), there appears to be no references to individual instrumentalists. Sorry!  All the same, thank you for listening!

[stuartliff]

How we miss Sir Thomas Beecham! Few contemporary conductors have his charisma and ability to make the orchestra sing. Wonderful man and this is a great recording. Thank you for letting us hear it again and in (for me) such splendid sound. Vivian

[CurzonRoad]

@stuartliff

Good Morning, Vivian:

And thank you!

All Best.

Doug --