Barbirolli Vaughan

Sir John Barbirolli is featured in a career-spanning collection entitled British Music, heading the Philharmonia Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra, and others as they delve in to the work of Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Delius, Purcell and more!

Don't start up with all that "there've been no good Vaughan Williams recordings since Sir Adrian and Sir John died" stuff.

From the very start one can feel the almost transcendental rapport between the young soloist, barely turned twenty, and the aging maestro. One can dip into the recording at almost any point and feel the magic… There is an inevitability about the whole performance that is not easy to analyse or rather, as with most great works of art, analysis often tends to obscure instead of clarify wherein the greatness lies. Why is Mona Lisa such an undisputed masterpiece? Both the painting and this recording go directly to the heart… And that is exactly what Janet Baker’s singing of Sea Pictures also does… It is so magically performed here… Behind and above…Janet Baker looms Sir John’s spirit, loving and sensitive.

Though exceptionally not recorded with the Hallé but with the Sinfonia of London, this is probably one of the most famous albums conducted under the baton of Sir John Barbirolli.

Born in London of Italian-French parents, Sir John Barbirolli (1899–1970) trained as a cellist and played in theatre and café orchestras before joining the Queen’s Hall Orchestra under Sir Henry Wood in 1916.

Sir John Barbirolli (né Giovanni Battista Barbirolli; 2 December 1899 – 29 July 1970) was a British conductor and cellist. He is remembered above all as conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, which he helped save from dissolution in 1943 and conducted for the rest of his life.

Born in London of Italian-French parents, Sir John Barbirolli (1899–1970) trained as a cellist and played in theatre and café orchestras before joining the Queen’s Hall Orchestra under Sir Henry Wood in 1916.

Born in London of Italian-French parents, Sir John Barbirolli (1899–1970) trained as a cellist and played in theatre and café orchestras before joining the Queen’s Hall Orchestra under Sir Henry Wood in 1916. His conducting career began with the formation of his own orchestra in 1924, and between

Sir John Barbirolli (né Giovanni Battista Barbirolli; 2 December 1899 – 29 July 1970) was a British conductor and cellist. He is remembered above all as conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester, which he helped save from dissolution in 1943 and conducted for the rest of his life.