Delius "La Calinda" - Sargent conducts

The 1945 film "Battle for Music" told the story of the London Philharmonic's trials and tribulations during World War II. Several classical artists took part, including Sir Adrian Boult, Benno Moiseiwitsch, Eileen Joyce, Constant Lambert and Dr. (later Sir) Malcolm Sargent. This clip is of Sargent conducting Delius's "La Calinda" for an audience of school children.

• Category

  Music

[MCHEATH]

Wonderful! is this available on DVD?



[adam28xx]

Not as far as I know. There was one TV showing in the UK many years ago of "Battle for Music" and I think more of it has been uploaded here by someone who happily recorded the whole movie on video. Sargent also has an acting scene at one point in this film!

[Tony Thompson]

This is a dance - a dusky maiden dance, sultry, earthy, beautiful. Definitely Florida plantation. I've loved the works of Delius for the whole of my adult life. Not for everyone, I suspect but for those who understand the composer - repeated hearings needed for much of his music - then he is truly incomparable. There simply isn't anyone like him.

By the way, this version is slightly fast. It sounds just as good - perhaps better - taken at a rather more gentle pace.