from the Granada, Clapham Junction
by Frederick Stone
Leader, Frank Thomas
Conducted by Mansel Thomas
Sophie Rowlands (soprano)
Joseph Hislop (tenor): Herding
Song (arr. M. Lawson ). My love is like a red, red rose (trad.)
Margaret Barrett (soprano): Mc-
Leod's Galley (Kennedy-Fraser). 0 whistle and I'll come to you, my lad (Stephen and Burnett)
at the BBC Theatre Organ
Leader, Leonard Hirsch
Conductor, Eric Fogg
Zara Nelson (violoncello)
Tchaikovsky's ' Variations on a Rococo Theme’ was composed in 1876 and dedicated to William Fitzhagen , a celebrated cellist and Professor at the Moscow Conservatoire. It is a lovely work and beautifully written for the solo instrument. Although the entire technical resources of the cello are exploited with brilliant and artistic effect, the music cannot be accused of being merely dazzling and showy. It possesses genuine poetic qualities that are deeply expressive. The theme, though ' rococo ' in style, is original in conception. After an introduction in which the theme is foreshadowed, the solo cello plays it in full with light support from the strings, and then follow seven variations, the last being the most brilliant and decorative of all.
When the ' Rococo ' Variations were played by Fitzhagen at the Wiesbaden Festival in 1879, Liszt heard the performance and remarked ' at last here is music again '.
Directed by Rene Tapponnier from the Carlton Hotel, London
The Boulevards
Robert Segar
The BBC Midland Orchestra
Leader, Alfred Cave
Conductor, W. K. Stanton
German's Symphony No. 2 in A minor was first produced at the Norwich Triennial Festival in 1893, which explains why it is called the ' Norwich ' Symphony. Further performances took place all over the country, including one at the Crystal Palace in the Saturday evening concerts conducted by Sir August Manns, the mention of which seems to belong almost to history. German was a young man when he wrote it, but not unknown ; the music for Henry VIII , which he had written for Henry Irving at the Lyceum the year before, had made the name of German known throughout the kingdom. Curiously enough, there is in the music practically nothing of the ' Old English ' colour we have learned to associate with Sir Edward German. It is straightforward symphony, which, by the way, had to wait nearly forty years before it was thought fit to publish it.
Wilhelm Backhaus (pianoforte):
Prelude and Fugue No. 22, in B flat minor (Bach).Pastoral (Christmas
Oratorio) arr. Lucas).Moment musical, in A flat, Op. 94, No. 6
(Schubert). Soirée de Vienne, No.6
(Schubert, arr. Liszt)
