Why was/is Vernon Handley underrated?

[ahinton]

I don't get it.

He made around 150 of recordings, most of them still available in the catalogue. He had a lifelong conducting career and was never short of work. He is remembered with respect and admiration nine years after his death. And he featured on the cover of at least one edition of Gramophone.

In what sense "neglected"?

I don't know. Maybe because his chosen repertoire tended to leave Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Bruckner and Mahler largely to one side but, as you say, he left a massive discography and I've heard very few reservations about his work. He was anything but the showman conductor (so perhaps that's another reason); always deeply committed to what he was doing, very undemonstrative and immensely practical while at the same time undoubtedly inspired.

[teamsaint]

is it because there aren't a couple of massive box sets available, and on Amazon at sensational prices?

[EdgeleyRob]

I don't know. Maybe because his chosen repertoire tended to leave Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Bruckner and Mahler largely to one side but, as you say, he left a massive discography and I've heard very few reservations about his work. He was anything but the showman conductor (so perhaps that's another reason); always deeply committed to what he was doing, very undemonstrative and immensely practical while at the same time undoubtedly inspired.

I'd never realised that he was underrated.

[BBMmk2]

Er, no fake news here please.

I believe I gained that info from an old thread o0n this Forum!! :) Apperantly he declined an OBE but later accepted the CBE!

[Petrushka]

I believe I gained that info from an old thread o0n this Forum!! :) Apperantly he declined an OBE but later accepted the CBE!

The information that Handley rejected a knighthood was contained in a Sunday Times story several years ago and as I've heard nothing to refute it I assume it is true.

Handley's repertoire was self-limiting and any music directorships of any of the top London orchestras wouldn't have suited him hence the erroneous impression that he is/was under-rated. In his chosen repertoire he was anything but. Saw him a couple of times, once at the RFH with Nige and the LPO in the Elgar Violin Concerto and at a 1986 Prom deputising for an ailing Previn (RPO, RVW 5 & Walton Belshazzar's Feast).

[BBMmk2]

The recording of Hugh Bean and the LPO under Handley, of Elgar's Violin Concerto, is one of the best.

[Barbirollians]

The recording of Hugh Bean and the LPO under Handley, of Elgar's Violin Concerto, is one of the best.

That was conducted by Sir Charles Groves I think BBM although Handley of course conducted not only Nigel Kennedy's sublime first recording of the violin concerto but also an excellent recording of the Cello Concerto with Natalie Clein.

I agree that Handley is not underrated - to me he is the best conductor of Enlish music apart from Boult and barbirolli.

[visualnickmos]

Er, no fake news here please.

An alternative fact, surely?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The information that Handley rejected a knighthood was contained in a Sunday Times story several years ago and as I've heard nothing to refute it I assume it is true.

I remember a campaign to get him knighted was rife on the BBC Messageboard. As far as I'm aware, the only thing he declined was an OBE in 1988, but accepted a CBE in 2004. However the ultimate KBE was never offered.

[visualnickmos]

I wasn't aware that he ever was, or is, underrated. I suppose it depends on one's definition of the word. I have quite a lot of his recordings, and have never heard anyhthing but superb music-making.

[cloughie]

I think that his conducting style, and maybe his repertoire, was a product of being a pupil of Sir Adrian Boult. Although he majored in British music his recordings of other composers are equally consistent and impressive.