Sir Charles Groves

[Alison]

Did Sir Charles like Bax?

[smittims]

I remember that Rubbra 8 premiere, Master Jaques. I think it took place some time after the symphony was written.

I don't recall any Groves/Bax. Most of not all conductors have a composer who, for no apparent reason, they never conduct: Karajan and Rachmaninov, for instance. You'd think they were made for each other, but I can think of only one instance.

[Pulcinella]

My favourite Groves memory, of many:

The premiere of Rubbra's 8th Symphony, with the RLPO at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall, 1971. Although some of the orchestral playing was not flawless, Sir Charles brought a spiritual luminosity to this music - inspired by the cosmic philosophies of Teilhard de Chardin - which neither of the studio recordings (Del Mar and Hickox) approach.

It is a condemnation of our musical establishment, that this peerless work simply never gets programmed by our major orchestras - but then, nor do any of Rubbra's eleven symphonies, several of which (4,5,6,8, for me) can be mentioned in the same breath as any 20th century example we might care to name.

I was at the Liverpool premiere, and the Oxford repeat shortly after.
An Italian Intaglio CD of the Liverpool performance exists: certainly not flawless playing, but very special.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rubbra-Symphonies-Nos-6-8/dp/B000PC3OBK/ref=sr_1_24?crid=2K4HUIH4QJ4PX&keywords=Rubbra+symphony+8&qid=1676189789&sprefix=rubbra+symphony+8%2Caps%2C60&sr=8-24

[Master Jacques]

I was at the Liverpool premiere, and the Oxford repeat shortly after.
An Italian Intaglio CD of the Liverpool performance exists: certainly not flawless playing, but very special.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rubbra-Symp...s%2C60&sr=8-24

I'm glad you mentioned that Intaglio CD - the live Boult 6th Symphony which accompanies the Groves is equally special, I think.

I have a half-feeling there is some off-air Bax from Groves doing the rounds, and will ask Richard Adams (who runs the Arnold Bax website) about that. But indeed, Groves certainly didn't major in Bax. Mackerras is another conducting knight who didn't, and as for Sir Rattle ... don't ask!

[Pulcinella]

I'm glad you mentioned that Intaglio CD - the live Boult 6th Symphony which accompanies the Groves is equally special, I think.

I have a half-feeling there is some off-air Bax from Groves doing the rounds, and will ask Richard Adams (who runs the Arnold Bax website) about that. But indeed, Groves certainly didn't major in Bax. Mackerras is another conducting knight who didn't, and as for Sir Rattle ... don't ask!

It is!

[smittims]

Another fine Rubbra reissue is SOMMCD 0179, with Sir Adrian conducting the second symphony and the composer conducting the 1942 premiere of his fourth, both with the BBC SO. Oddly, the cover photo is from a rehearsal of the sixth in Llandaff Cathedral in 1963.

[Barbirollians]

He was a noted Elgar conductor, of which "The Light of Life" was possibly his finest recording of all. (Not at all keen on his "Caractacus" though.)

Just started properly on his large Warner box and agree this is very good . He certainly does not do stodge in his Elgar choral music recordings.