Beecham conducts Delius (3)

SOMM-BEECHAM 12 - SIR THOMAS BEECHAM, Bart., C.H. The first of two studio performances recorded at Maida Vale Studios and broadcast on the BBC Third Programme on 23rd and 25th April 1948, this performance of A Village Romeo and Juliet is sung by Fabian Smith, Frederick Sharp, Sybil Hambleton, Rene Soames, Marion Davies, Vera Terry and Gordon Clinton with the BBC Theatre Chorus, Herbert Dawson, organ, Norman del Mar, repetiteur and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

The second disc is a performance of the complete Songs of Sunset assembled from rehearsal takes recorded in Leeds Town Hall at the time of the Leeds Festival in 1934. This was previously issued incomplete on SOMM BEECHAM 8 and now includes the final part which has recently come to light. The soloists are Olga Haley, soprano, and Roy Henderson, baritone with the London Select Choir and London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Released in collaboration with the Sir Thomas Beecham Trust in support of the Scholarship Fund.