Barbirolli: The Final Years

[Conchis]

I have no certain knowledge about Barbirolli as a drinker. Fischer-Dieskau, in his autobiography refers to the little bottle Barbirolli kept in his vest pocket, as well as noting he was a completely likeable, cordial and unaffected person and showed full satisfaction with their partnership. Beecham and Sargent did not get off so lightly personality wise.

I moved to Sheffield in 1969 so saw JB in his final season and it was transformative. Whilst his final years may have seen some less good performances there were many others that have fortunately been recorded for us to enjoy. These live recordings have often differed greatly from studio performances, none more so than the Mahler 6 at the Proms and the EMI recording in the following few days. That live Mahler 6 along with the Czech Phil Mahler 1 give some explanation as to why concertgoers look back with affection despite the 50 years that have passed.

I like the Mahler 6 a lot, but most people who were at the Prom that preceded it think it's disappointing.

[pastoralguy]

I envy anyone who saw and heard him conduct .

Along with Mr. Heifetz, David Oistrakh , Menuhin in his prime and Herbert von Karajan, I would love to have seen Barbirolli live.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Along with Mr. Heifetz, David Oistrakh , Menuhin in his prime and Herbert von Karajan, I would love to have seen Barbirolli live.

Would it make you really envious if I were to mention that I attended a concert in the King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, when Barbirolli conducted as David Oistrakh played Beethoven's Violin Concerto.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Along with Mr. Heifetz, David Oistrakh , Menuhin in his prime and Herbert von Karajan, I would love to have seen Barbirolli live.

I thought the others you mention had seen Barbirolli Live? ( )

[pastoralguy]

Would it make you really envious if I were to mention that I attended a concert in the King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester, when Barbirolli conducted as David Oistrakh played Beethoven's Violin Concerto.

Absolutely!

[johnb]

I envy anyone who saw and heard him conduct .

As a teenager I regularly attended Halle Free Trade Hallconcerts. Barbirolli only conducted for part of the season as he had commitments in Huston. However, was always the Barbirolli concerts I looked forward to and was immensely privileged to hear him conduct, amongst other things, Gerontius around the time of the EMI recording (I can't remember whether Janet Baker was soloist), VW and a performance of Mahler 2 that I found totally overwhelming.

My school had a system where they posted up lists of the Halle concerts and interested pupils could put their names down for cheap tickets in the Gods (I think they were something like 3/6).

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

My school had a system where they posted up lists of the Halle concerts and interested pupils could put their names down for cheap tickets in the Gods (I think they were something like 3/6).

Wow! I must have been there later than that, when tickets were 5/-
Still an incredible bargain though.

[cloughie]

Wow! I must have been there later than that, when tickets were 5/-
Still an incredible bargain though.

I was there before that and they were only a bob, on the platform behind the orchestra - when there was a chorus it was the gods or front stalls for one and six! I was the one who got the tickets from Wilson Peck!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I was there before that and they were only a bob, on the platform behind the orchestra - when there was a chorus it was the gods or front stalls for one and six! I was the one who got the tickets from Wilson Peck!

Wilson-Peck! That was a superb music shop, but they moved away from Sheffield City Centre, and Hudsons of Chesterfield tried to fill the void for a number of years. Then W-P made a brief come-back.

[Conchis]

Wilson-Peck! That was a superb music shop, but they moved away from Sheffield City Centre, and Hudsons of Chesterfield tried to fill the void for a number of years. Then W-P made a brief come-back.

I think Hudsons of Chesterfield may still be going.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I think Hudsons of Chesterfield may still be going.

Sadly not. It closed in 2012.

[cloughie]

Wilson-Peck! That was a superb music shop, but they moved away from Sheffield City Centre, and Hudsons of Chesterfield tried to fill the void for a number of years. Then W-P made a brief come-back.

Cann's and Bradley's were the other two which specialised in records but WP was the main one for instruments and sheet music as well as records. For second-hand records,was Violet May's.

[cloughie]

I found this and though readers of this thread might be interested - a busy conductor and a busy orchestra.

http://concertannals.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/sir-john-barbirolli-and-halle-orchestra_13.html

[johnb]

Thank you for that fascinating list of concerts. A busy conductor and a busy orchestra indeed. I wonder whether this is a complete list of the Halle concerts for those years (quite a lot of which would have been conducted by Maurice Handford) or just those where Barbirolli was conducting.

The Mahler 2nd on the 13th of May, 1964 with Erna Spoorenberg and Janet Baker, was the overwhelming performance that I mentioned previously. It was the occasion of some anniversary and JB gave a short speech to the audience, during which he said something like "This is a great orchestra, and [I know that because] I have conducted many of the great orchestras of the world."

[Conchis]

I recently picked up a Stuttgart performance of Mahler 2 that Barbirolli conducted in 1968. It's on the EMI Great Conductors series. I didn't know of its existence until coming across the disc.