Rignold - who?

[mathias broucek]

My phone periodically suggests new records I might want to buy but lately the algorithm has been suggesting some really silly stuff (rap, for example).

Today's was interesting:

The Great Conductors: Hugo Rignold Conducts Dvořák & Ravel

Now I like to think I'm pretty well informed about "great conductors" and probably have at least one recording from each member of any "top 100" list out there. But who is Rignold? Am I missing out?

[LMcD]

He was principal conductor of the CBSO for 8 years in the 1960s after his stint at the Royal Ballet.

[visualnickmos]

My phone periodically suggests new records I might want to buy but lately the algorithm has been suggesting some really silly stuff (rap, for example).

Today's was interesting:

The Great Conductors: Hugo Rignold Conducts Dvořák & Ravel

Now I like to think I'm pretty well informed about "great conductors" and probably have at least one recording from each member of any "top 100" list out there. But who is Rignold? Am I missing out?

You never know - might be one of those 'hidden gems' though I somehow doubt it. I am prepared to be surprised…

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

He was principal conductor of the CBSO for 8 years in the 1960s

Yes - it's in that context that I've most frequently encountered his name.

[Tony Halstead]

Yes - it's in that context that I've most frequently encountered his name.

Hugo Rignold was a sort-of British Eugene Ormandy! At the start if his career he was a 'cafe violinist' who, via war service, became elevated to conductor status.
I played for him only once, in about 1965, in a Birmingham town hall CBSO performance of Bruckner Symphony #9.
He treated the four Wagner tuba players with a sort of 'affected disdain' in the rehearsal and then with only 30 minutes to go before the concert, deliberately 'put the wind' up us ( maybe to see if we would 'crack or crumble'!)
I will continue this saga tomorrow. It's too late now and I want to go outside and stand in the rain!

[Bryn]

I recently mentioned my liking the Seiber/Dankworth Improvisations for Jazz Band and Symphony Orchestra, in another thread. The conductor for the only recording of the work was said Hugo Rignold, the orchestra being the LPO. My introduction to Stravinsky's Petrushka was via an LP where Rignold was the conductor, too. He was also the conductor for much missed Peter Katin's recording of the Khachaturian Piano Concerto.

[Pianoman]

There's a name from my distant past - first ever LP purchase; Bolero/ Sorcerer's Apprentice; LPO: Hugo Rignold - Marble Arch label

[cloughie]

I remember attending ‘Halle’ concerts in Sheffield in the sixties and when the visiting orchestra was the CBSO the conductor was either Hugo Rignold or his deputy Harold Gray. I also remember a Victrola LP later on Decca Eclipse of Rignold conducting the Royal Opera House Orchestra in Prokofiev Cinderella excerpts, the only CD I have of his is Rchmaninov PC 2 with Moseivitch and the Philharmonia, but there is a recording of him with Peter Katin and LSO doing Khachaturyan PC. The Cinderella would be a good candidate for Australian Eloquence,

[jean]

I recognise the name very well, because he took over the LIverpool Philarrmonic from Sir Malcolm Sargent.

That was before I started going to concerts though, so I have no personal recollections.

This I didn't know:

...he directed the Liverpool Philharmonic (not then 'Royal') in the 1940s and 1950s, succeeding the popular Malcolm Sargent. A "period of unrest and strife" accompanied the beginning of Rignold's reign in Liverpool: Rignold replaced many older players in the orchestra, and some of the audience were unimpressed by his career in popular music...

[PJPJ]

I remember attending ‘Halle’ concerts in Sheffield in the sixties and when the visiting orchestra was the CBSO the conductor was either Hugo Rignold or his deputy Harold Gray. I also remember a Victrola LP later on Decca Eclipse of Rignold conducting the Royal Opera House Orchestra in Prokofiev Cinderella excerpts, the only CD I have of his is Rchmaninov PC 2 with Moseivitch and the Philharmonia, but there is a recording of him with Peter Katin and LSO doing Khachaturyan PC. The Cinderella would be a good candidate for Australian Eloquence,

I attended a fair few Hugo Rignold concerts - a fine conductor who managed to rise above those with a snobbish view of his Dance Band days - he was a fine jazz violinist.

Hot Violins

I was pleased to have the opportunity for corresponding with Peter Katin about his recording sessions with Rignold and with Anthony Collins.

[PJPJ]

Christopher Howell is writing an interesting series appearing on musicweb.

Here's Rignold

and the supplement

[mathias broucek]

Thanks all.

Sounds like a fine musician, but “Great Conductor” is perhaps a tad too far in the marketing hype...

[Dave2002]

Christopher Howell is writing an interesting series appearing on musicweb.

Here's Rignold

and the supplement

I heard him conduct once - I think it was a guest return to the RLPO. I don’t recall the event being specially good, or indeed otherwise. I think it must have been a fairly decent concert but probably no more than that.

The articles mentioned are interesting, and I didn’t realise that Eugene Ormandy may have had a similar early musical life.

Now when is Tony going to come back with further observations? HR seems to have been quite a character, and perhaps more determined than I previously thought.

[gradus]

He appeared in the Pye Golden Guinea classical recordings series in the early sixties incl a Messiah with the LPO (I think) as well as other popular material.

[Dave2002]

I didn't know he was a violinist (good - apparently) nor that he started off in jazz.

Later he played with others, such as Johnny Dankworth - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlK-eIFjj4U