Beecham conducts Operatic excerpts

SOMM-BEECHAM 9 - SIR THOMAS BEECHAM, Bart., C.H. Smetana: The Bartered Bride - Overture, Polka, The Dance of the Comedians (Rec. 1947) Verdi: Macbeth - La Luce Langue * , Gran Scena del Sonnambulismo * (Rec. 1947) (Margherita Grandi sop., Vera Terry mezzo sop., Ernest Frank bass) Puccini: Manon Lescaut Act 2: Intermezzo **(Rec. 1945) Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin Act 2: Waltz, Act 3: Polonaise (Rec. 1945) Wagner: Tannhäuser Act 3: Introduction ** (Rec. 1947) Wagner: Das Rheingold Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla ** (Rec. 1947) (Edith Furmedge sop., Margaret Field-Hyde sop., Gwladys Garside mezzo sop., Nancy Evans con., Parry Jones ten., George Chitty ten., Paul Schöffler bar.) * Premier CD release. ** Previously unissued . In 1945, many recordings with the LPO were made in performances of characteristic Beecham flair, amongst these the Overture La Clemenza di Tito, and the Waltz and Polonaise from Eugene Onegin. 1947 and 48 also was a busy period, now with his newly formed RPO. This saw recordings of excerpts from Macbeth and The Bartered Bride and most importantly, from Tannhäuser and Das Rheingold. Released in collaboration with the Sir Thomas Beecham Trust in support of the Scholarship Fund.