Halle Loughran years on record

[Alison]

I suspect we are already reaching the limit of JL's not terribly extensive discography.

There was of course that version of Havergal Brian's Tenth.

[pastoralguy]

John McCabe's 'Chagall Window's' was the first piece by a living composer I ever heard in a concert. (SNO under Sir Alex Gibson in 1978). I do have an EMI STUDIO cd of this work and I've listened to it a few times. Alas, it never really made much impression on me.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I suspect we are already reaching the limit of JL's not terribly extensive discography.

There was of course that version of Havergal Brian's Tenth.

- with the Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra, IIRC (?Unicorn/Kanchana?) There a re a couple of recordings from his time in Aarhus: the two Brahms Serenades (silly prices on Amazon), and Bruckner #7 - and Edgey/BeefO will have his BBCSSO William Wordsworth First Symphony and Conflict Overture.

And, I think that that, sadly, is it! (But what nostalgic joy, seeing those original CfP LP sleeves of the Brahms Symphonies on the Amazon site )

[Pulcinella]

There is, indeed - but IIRC, that was with the LSO rather than the Hallé?

The Brahms Piano Concertos with Lill are a very good "supplement" to their Symphony/Overtures set (the Violin Concerto with Hasson not nearly as impressive, I thought).

There was also a good performance of Belshazzar's Feast, let down IIRC by a rather murky recorded sound.

But the pride of place of all these recordings is that Brahms Symphony cycle.

The recording of Belshazzar's Feast was released on a 2CD set that adorns my shelves; there are some copies still available:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-England-Ralph-Vaughan-Williams/dp/B000025VIM/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1472581329&sr=1-6&keywords=Best+of+England

I remember the Penguin Guide not rating it too highly, but the couplings are well worth having.
They include the Tippett Concerto for double strings (LPO/Handley), Britten Violin concerto (Friend/LPO/Pritchard), and Britten Serenade (Partridge/Busch/LPO/Pritchard).

I too had the Loughran Brahms symphonies (on LP, in my youth!).

[Barbirollians]

The recording of Belshazzar's Feast was released on a 2CD set that adorns my shelves; there are some copies still available:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-England-Ralph-Vaughan-Williams/dp/B000025VIM/ref=sr_1_6?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1472581329&sr=1-6&keywords=Best+of+England

I remember the Penguin Guide not rating it too highly, but the couplings are well worth having.
They include the Tippett Concerto for double strings (LPO/Handley), Britten Violin concerto (Friend/LPO/Pritchard), and Britten Serenade (Partridge/Busch/LPO/Pritchard).

I too had the Loughran Brahms symphonies (on LP, in my youth!).

The Halle/Loughran Planets arrived yesterday well worth 1p plus postage . Again not the most refined playing but terrific energy and a very characterful reading .

[Stan Drews]

Wasn't ENIGMA started by one of the record producers who'd worked at CfP?

Too late tonight to start trawling but, off the top of my head, I think it was John Boyden.

[Stan Drews]

Forgotten, but not gone? This thread has just reminded me (as we approach what will probably be another rubbishy Last Night) of his stewardship of that occasion - 1977, 1979, 1981, 1982 & 1984. That's quite a record, and I remember him as being a popular and witty speaker. His last appearance at any prom (according to the BBC archive) was in 1989. What happened? (I'm also wondering if anyone of a certain age did not have his Brahms!)

[Dave2002]

There are a few others which I don't think have been mentioned yet. {They were, by fhg a few post back... Just checked]

William Wordsworth Symphony (No 1?)

Bruckner Symphony 7, with the Aarhus orchestra.

A Viennese night selection.

[seabright]

It's curious as to what happened to Loughran as far as his UK appearances are concerned. His Wiki entry states that he was made a Permanent Guest Conductor of the Japan Philharmonic in 1980 and has been an Honorary Conductor there since 2006. I wonder why he had to go so far to obtain such a post? I wonder also when he last conducted in public and with which orchestra, his last Proms appearance being in 1989.

[Dave2002]

Berlioz Fantastique,which I might have bought for the rude cover as much as the music

Artistic - a stylised genre work, no? Fantasist?

https://www.amazon.de/Symphonie-Fantastique-Op-14-Orchestra-Loughran/dp/B00B5S2BC6

[Barbirollians]

There was a poster on here some time ago who clearly knew and had not long ago met up with James Loughran but I cannot remember who it was .

I note that his discography also includes accompanying an Icelandic violinist in the Elgar in a record released as recently as 2014 - when that performance was recorded however I do not know . It is odd though that considering he was clearly still conducting well into the 2000s that his last Prom was when he was not yet 60 and a loss to us .

[Petrushka]

There was a poster on here some time ago who clearly knew and had not long ago met up with James Loughran but I cannot remember who it was .

I note that his discography also includes accompanying an Icelandic violinist in the Elgar in a record released as recently as 2014 - when that performance was recorded however I do not know . It is odd though that considering he was clearly still conducting well into the 2000s that his last Prom was when he was not yet 60 and a loss to us .

The poster you refer to was Curalach who sadly no longer seems to post here. Still listed as a Full Member it would be good to see him posting here again.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There was a poster on here some time ago who clearly knew and had not long ago met up with James Loughran but I cannot remember who it was .

Yes - that rings a bell - knew him from playing golf at the same Club, IIRC.

It is odd though that considering he was clearly still conducting well into the 2000s that his last Prom was when he was not yet 60

Yes - Loughran was quite a familiar face on TV in the late '70s/early '80s, appearing on Call My Bluff a few times ... and then ... he suddenly wasn't.

and a loss to us .

- just at the age when many conductors are making their finest work.

[Barbirollians]

Ah yes always worrying when a contributor just disappears like that .

His post said that Jimmy Loughran in 2013 was a regular attender at concerts and Curalach knew him through a golf playing friend but he was semi-retired as his wife did not keep well .

[Barbirollians]

Yes - that rings a bell - knew him from playing golf at the same Club, IIRC.


Yes - Loughran was quite a familiar face on TV in the late '70s/early '80s, appearing on Call My Bluff a few times ... and then ... he suddenly wasn't.


- just at the age when many conductors are making their finest work.

I see that RO was complimentary about his Aarhus Bruckner 7 so I have ordered that .