Beecham sets

[Dave2002]

Prompted by references to Mozart recordings conducted by Krips recently, I went looking for the set of symphonies 21 onwards on a well known web site - and duly ordered it.

Whilst on the site, I also came across several boxes of Beecham's recordings, which appear to be new. These are a box of Mozart and Haydn, one of French music, one of other classical/romantic music - Beethoven, Schubert leading on to some Richard Strauss, and one of English music - a lot of Delius, including the violin concerto, and also some Bax (Garden of Fand).

I didn't spot any Sibelius in the sets though - maybe there'll be more later. - we can hope. So far I sent off for the Mozart/Haydn set, even though I have a few of the CDs already.

[Don Petter]

Prompted by references to Mozart recordings conducted by Krips recently, I went looking for the set of symphonies 21 onwards on a well known web site - and duly ordered it.

Whilst on the site, I also came across several boxes of Beecham's recordings, which appear to be new. These are a box of Mozart and Haydn, one of French music, one of other classical/romantic music - Beethoven, Schubert leading on to some Richard Strauss, and one of English music - a lot of Delius, including the violin concerto, and also some Bax (Garden of Fand).

I didn't spot any Sibelius in the sets though - maybe there'll be more later. - we can hope. So far I sent off for the Mozart/Haydn set, even though I have a few of the CDs already.

These sets have been discussed fairly recently both here and on Record Review. They are mostly the previous EMI recordings being recycled. Nothing wrong in that, for anyone who hasn't already got the items. (Such treasures should always be in the catalogue in some form.)

The omission of Sibelius has been commented on, and seems unexplained.

One new item is the box containing a four CD documentary about Beecham (The Great Communicator). This might seem a dauntingly large prospect, but it is very well presented by Jon Tolansky, and is by no means hard going taken a bit at a time. It does include one or two brief new excerpts, and can be strongly recommended to anyone with an interest in TB. In case you are wondering, there are no 'Beecham quips' included, but then there are more than enough of those quoted elsewhere.