Beethoven Symphony No 4 3rd mvt NSO Malcolm Sargent

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Sir Malclom Sargent conducts the National Symphony Orchestra in this 1945 recording. "I have heard performances which critics would have raved about had some conductor from Russia been responsible for them, conducting them half as well and truthfully." Neville Cardus writing Sir Malcolm Sargent's obituary in The Guardian 4 October 1967.

The National Symphony Orchestra was created by conductor Sidney Beer in 1942 to provide concerts in war torn London. Its players were drawn from the ranks of musicians in military bands stationed in and around London. If this appears to be a source of second rate musicians think again. the creme of London's younger orchestral players had been called up for war service and many of them allocated to military bands. The NSO personnel reads like a roll call of the best musicians such as Dennis Brain (horn) Gareth Morris (flute), William Waterhouse (bassoon), Sidney Griller (violin). With the end of hostilities in 1945 the orchestra soldiered on for another two years by which time most of the principals had been recruited into either the Philharmonia of Royal Philharmonic Orchestras.

Robert Matthew-Walker in February 2008 International Record Reivew writes: "It is good to be reminded of this conductor at his best, as he consistenly is in No. 4, in which all four movements are played at virtually ideal tempos, a reading that is remarkably "straight", unfussy and wholly classical in feeling...this CD is a worthy memento of a much loved British musician."

Bob Briggs at Music Web International writes: "I haven't enjoyed this symphony so much in years! Full marks for the interpretation. I cannot welcome this disc too highly. It's great music-making which should be heard by anyone interested in the art of performance and everyone interested in music."

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Music

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• classical