SIR JOHN BARBIROLLI

 

Stereo

 

Carl Nielsen

Symphony No. 4

Recorded Royal Albert Hall, London 30 July 1965

 

Jean Sibelius

Symphony No. 3

Recorded Royal Albert Hall, London 8 August 1969

 

Hallé Orchestra

 

Sir John Barbirolli has a prolific representation on BBC Legends but it is the first time that two Scandinavian composers - Nielsen and Sibelius - have been featured, in excellent stereo sound.

 

The Nielsen Symphony No. 4 was issued by Carlton Classics in 1995 on BBC Radio Classics but has been out of print for at least 10 years. Medici Arts have gone back to the original tapes which have been carefully remastered by Paul Baily. This is an outstanding and exciting account of the work broadcast from the Proms in 1965. Barbirolli did record the work in 1959 for Pye/Nixa but this has been out of the catalogue for many years.

 

The Sibelius Symphony No. 3 is completely new having never been on CD before. Barbirolli had recorded it in the studio only 3 months prior to this Proms performance but the electric atmosphere in the Royal Albert Hall makes this live version a riveting account. Barbirolli who met Sibelius, was one of the composer's most intuitive interpreters.

 

These recordings are a wonderful testament to Barbirolli because they present the orchestra at its best in interpretations of scores the conductor became very familiar with over a long career in the best possible stereo sound.

  

BBC Legends BBCL42232