Sir Alexander Gibson

[Barbirollians]

21 years since his death he would have been 90 this year .

Not a conductor well known to me since I began to collect his marvellous Chandos Sibelius recordings - which are wonderfully idiomatic and immensely enjoyable .

Any memories of him in concert or other favourite recordings ?

[makropulos]

Agreed about Sibelius, including some of his earlier recordings (EMI, CfP and so on).
But what I came to value most was Gibson's opera conducting, particularly at Scottish Opera. There are splendid souvenirs of this on Classics for Pleasure: highlights from Rosenkavalier, Ballo, Don Giovanni and Merry Widow, with terrific casts.

[cloughie]

Agreed about Sibelius, including some of his earlier recordings (EMI, CfP and so on).
But what I came to value most was Gibson's opera conducting, particularly at Scottish Opera. There are splendid souvenirs of this on Classics for Pleasure: highlights from Rosenkavalier, Ballo, Don Giovanni and Merry Widow, with terrific casts.

Some of his early recordings on RCA done by and later on Decca and Readers Digest labels were good. Also a good Walton 1 on Chandos.

[David-G]

There was a marvellous record of Gibson conducting part of Act 5 of Les Troyens with the LSO and Janet Baker. Currently available in the Janet Baker CD compendium.

[gurnemanz]

The Mozart Violin Concertos with Szeryng on LP come to mind from way back.

[Ferretfancy]

Gibson's Sibelius was wonderful. I don't know a better version of the Lemminkainen Legends. I only have the LP of the Mozart violin concertos, I must listen to them again.

Surely the most famous Gibson recording was the original LP called Witch's Brew, which included amongst other items Arnold's Tam O'Shanter Overture, a superb Mephisto Waltz and Danse Macabre. This RCA disc was an audiophile's delight and became very collectable. I once saw a mint copy on sale at £200.

Another fine Gibson disc is the Teresa Berganza recital of Rossini arias including of course Una voce poco fa. This is a thrilling recording and has been beautifully mastered on CD

[Pabmusic]

What about an LP that I and several friends bought when Sutherland's Law was at its height?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Four-Countries-Edward-German/dp/B000EHQ51W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452683195&sr=8-1&keywords=music+of+the+four+countries

It wasn't a CfP release - was it Studio 2?

It included Edward German's Welsh Rhapsody: now I knew that German (or Jones to be honest) was born on Whitchurch, Shropshire - which became a noted anorak point for me at the time.

[Cockney Sparrow]

What about an LP that I and several friends bought when Sutherland's Law was at its height?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Four-Countries-Edward-German/dp/B000EHQ51W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452683195&sr=8-1&keywords=music+of+the+four+countries

It wasn't a CfP release - was it Studio 2?

It included Edward German's Welsh Rhapsody: now I knew that German (or Jones to be honest) was born on Whitchurch, Shropshire - which became a noted anorak point for me at the time.

I think I had this LP - this album cover image) :

http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/610622162/music-of-the-four-countries-scottish-national-orchestra.html

[Barbirollians]

Gibson's Sibelius was wonderful. I don't know a better version of the Lemminkainen Legends. I only have the LP of the Mozart violin concertos, I must listen to them again.

Surely the most famous Gibson recording was the original LP called Witch's Brew, which included amongst other items Arnold's Tam O'Shanter Overture, a superb Mephisto Waltz and Danse Macabre. This RCA disc was an audiophile's delight and became very collectable. I once saw a mint copy on sale at £200.

Another fine Gibson disc is the Teresa Berganza recital of Rossini arias including of course Una voce poco fa. This is a thrilling recording and has been beautifully mastered on CD

I have that lovely Rossini disc and to my embarrassment admit I had never noticed who the conductor was !

Thanks to makropoulos - I have ordered those second hand on a couple of CfP silver doubles this morning .

Isn't that Gibson Witch's Brew record on eloquence now ?

[Pabmusic]

I think I had this LP - this album cover image) :
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/sh...orchestra.html

That's it!

[cloughie]

What about an LP that I and several friends bought when Sutherland's Law was at its height?:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Music-Four-Countries-Edward-German/dp/B000EHQ51W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452683195&sr=8-1&keywords=music+of+the+four+countries

It wasn't a CfP release - was it Studio 2?

It included Edward German's Welsh Rhapsody: now I knew that German (or Jones to be honest) was born on Whitchurch, Shropshire - which became a noted anorak point for me at the time.

It was HMV ASD2400 and ended up on a CfP CD. Has Harty's With the Wild Geese which is excellent.

[Pianoman]

Surely one of the very best Elgar 'In the Souths' on disc, part of an excellent Chandos Elgar collection that I've not heard bettered for excitement and sheer panache; also a really superb disc of Stravinsky Symphonies that I dug out the other day, same rhythmic vigour and great audio quality.

[cloughie]

I have that lovely Rossini disc and to my embarrassment admit I had never noticed who the conductor was !

Thanks to makropoulos - I have ordered those second hand on a couple of CfP silver doubles this morning .

Isn't that Gibson Witch's Brew record on eloquence now ?

Yes with add ons of Gounod Faust Ballet Mus and Funeral March of Marionette. Part of Witches Brew is also on a Decca Legends as fill up to Sibelius 5 & Karelia Suite. There is a good Peer Gynt on CfP CD which started life as a World Record Club LP.

[makropulos]

One Gibson/SNO record I recall with considerable affection from my teenage years was an HMV Concert Classics reissue (of a performance originally on Waverley) of Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony, coupled with Shostakovich's Festive Overture and Kabalevsky's Colas Breugnon. These were my first encounters with any of the pieces, and I played the record until it more or less wore out. I don't think it's been reissued, but I wonder if anybody else remembers this?

[Roslynmuse]

Yes with add ons of Gounod Faust Ballet Mus and Funeral March of Marionette. Part of Witches Brew is also on a Decca Legends as fill up to Sibelius 5 & Karelia Suite. There is a good Peer Gynt on CfP CD which started life as a World Record Club LP.

The extended excerpts from Peer Gynt have April Cantelo singing Solveig. Didn't know it was available on CD - thanks for that.

The Gounod Faust ballet was once available on a Decca LP, World of Ballet Vol 2, and the 'Witches Brew' LP was also issued on a World of... disc. (SPA 175)