George Hurst RIP

[Hornspieler]

George Hurst was Conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra whilst I was in college in Bristol. Mrs AjAjAjH and I did our 'courting' in the Colston Hall listening to said orchestra.

I remember him conducting a performance of Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' in Bristol. My first live performance and I seem to remember it was the orchestra's as well. My best memory of him, however, was of him standing in at short notice to conduct- I don't know for whom- the BBCSO and an array of choirs and Gerald English in Berlioz's 'Grand Messe Des Morts' at the Proms in August 1967. A magnificent performance. George Hurst made a great impact on my musical experience.

A fine conductor and a great personal friend. At Bournemouth, he was somewhat overshadowed by Silvestri, but in fact Silvestri was one of his greatest admirers and had followed George's career from the time when he (George) conducted the BBC Northern Orchestra.

I played in those performances of Rite of Spring. We also took them across the water to Bonn and Rotterdam (Edo de Waart territory)
George conducted without a score - some achievement!

I will certaianly miss our little chats when we have met occasionally over the past few years.

Not only a fine conductor, but a great trainer of young orchestral musicians.

RIP George

[kernelbogey]

I used to see him in live concerts regularly in the 1960s, when he conducted many of the BBC Norther Orchestra's Midday Proms in Manchestsr Town Hall, as they were broadcast live on the the Music Programme (precursor of Radio 3).

A lot of these were being broadcast as I was first becoming interested in music around the end of the fifties and beginning of the sixties. I would go home from school for lunch and listen to them in that hour. I must have heard many concerts conducted by him, and I'm grateful for his musicianship and its inspiration for me.
Edit: I've also just remembered my brother commenting at the time 'That man works so hard, he's conducting a concert every day'.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks for #16, HS, and commiserations for the loss of your friend.

[kernelbogey]

There is a short and appropriately generous editorial in today's Guardian honouring Hurst's career and particularly his influence on the upcoming generation of conductors.

[gradus]

Not only did he record Elgar 1, it was BAL first choice and as far as I know still is.

[secondfiddle]

There is a short and appropriately generous editorial in today's Guardian honouring Hurst's career and particularly his influence on the upcoming generation of conductors.

Sad news indeed to hear of George Hurst’s death. He was especially fine in Walton’s First Symphony. When in 1962 the BBC Northern gave a special Walton 60th birthday concert in Manchester and Walton was invited to conduct, he was in charge of Portsmouth Point and the Viola Concerto while Hurst conducted the first symphony. He also gave a particularly fine performance of the symphony at the Proms in 1968 which I have. Another Hurst broadcast performance that stays in the memory was of Berlioz’s Grande Messe des morts in Liverpool Cathedral in 1962. Sadly he didn’t seem to do a great deal of broadcasting in recent years. He is another of those conductors that one remembers with affection and thanks, names that were all an important part of one’s own growing up with music.

[Alain Maréchal]

I'm currently too far from my LP collection to check, but I think he made several recordings in the 60s with either the Danish Radio or Royal Danish Orchestras, which appeared on budget labels such as Saga. I'm certain I have a very exciting Tchaikovsky 5 and a Brahms 4.

[Dave2002]

Not only did he record Elgar 1, it was BAL first choice and as far as I know still is.

It was Mark Elder and the Halle in 2006. I don't know if there's been another BAL on this since - probably not. Hurst's version is still worth looking for, though. It can be bought new for as little as £2.26 if you know where to look http://www.amazon.co.uk/george-hurst...3541031&page=1 - there are several Hurst recordings on that page.

There may be other pieces - some Tippett and the Enigma Variations. Also In The South with the Bournemouth SO, though that is probably overshadowed by Silvestri's version.

[amateur51]

Thanks for #16, HS, and commiserations for the loss of your friend.

[rachfan]

It was Mark Elder and the Halle in 2006. I don't know if there's been another BAL on this since - probably not. Hurst's version is still worth looking for, though. It can be bought new for as little as £2.26 if you know where to look http://www.amazon.co.uk/george-hurst...3541031&page=1 - there are several Hurst recordings on that page.

Thank you for the link, dave. I have fond memories of George Hurst from my early 3rd programme listening and have just bought the Elgar 1 via your link.

[Cheapskater]

Elgar 1 BAL

It was Mark Elder and the Halle in 2006. I don't know if there's been another BAL on this since - probably not. Hurst's version is still worth looking for, though. It can be bought new for as little as £2.26 if you know where to look http://www.amazon.co.uk/george-hurst...3541031&page=1 - there are several Hurst recordings on that page.

There may be other pieces - some Tippett and the Enigma Variations. Also In The South with the Bournemouth SO, though that is probably overshadowed by Silvestri's version.

Sorry to be off-topic here (and with the greatest respect to GH). The last BAL recommendation for Elgar 1 (reviewed by David Owen Norris) was Sir Colin Davis/Staatskapelle Dresden with Sir Charles Mackerras/LSO running a close second. They're both fine performances. Here's the reference: Elgar1Script.doc (Google/Search for it)

[french frank]

Hello, Cheapskater - you're not as off-topic as some people round these parts. These things tend to 'drift'.

(Welcome, btw)

[Cheapskater]

Many thanks for the warm welcome.

[kernelbogey]

I wrote to Through the Night to suggest they might dig around in the archives for recordings of George Hurst's concerts, which were very prolific IIRC in the early 60s. As usual, I haven't had a response, so just hope I've planted a seed with someone.

BTW, I was amused to hear Martin Handley yesterday responding to a listener's email asking why they didn't thank the TTN presenter at the start of Breakfast. Martin 'revealed' the fact that it was all prerecorded, and the presenter would be tucked up in bed, as his reasons, as though divulging a key R3 secret!

[PJPJ]

A charming obit here:

http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/news.php?date=2012-10-22