John Barbirolli

Sir John (Giovanni Battista) Barbirolli (December 2, 1899 - July 29, 1970), was a British conductor and cellist who led the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, among many others.

Work in Later Years 1942-1970

In 1942 Barbirolli was invited to renew his contract but to do so would have to become a US citizen, which he was unwilling to do. At this point an invitation to take up the chief conductorship of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester transformed his career.

Related Topics:
1942 - Hallé Orchestra - Manchester

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The increase in scope for concerts had prompted the Hallé to end the increasingly unsatisfactory arrangement of sharing half their players with the BBC, which had saved them in the slump years, and to engage a top-rank conductor. Only four of the shared players chose to join the Hallé, so when Barbirolli arrived he had to rebuild the orchestra in weeks, a task he fell to with enthusiasm. His "new Hallé" can be heard today in recordings of symphonies by Bax and Vaughan Williams, made in wartime Manchester.

Related Topics:
BBC - Bax - Vaughan Williams

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Barbirolli conducted the orchestra for twenty-five years, in many cities including the Cheltenham Festival, where he premiered many new works. He also conducted the BBC and other London orchestras in concert and on records, and towards the end of his life renewed his association with EMI which produced a legacy of fine recorded performances, many of which have been available continuously.

Related Topics:
Cheltenham Festival - EMI

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Barbirolli is remembered as an interpreter of Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Mahler, as well as Schubert, Beethoven, Sibelius, Verdi and Puccini, and as a staunch supporter of new works by British composers, in which his advocacy rivalled that of Boult and Henry Wood.

Related Topics:
Elgar - Vaughan Williams - Mahler - Schubert - Beethoven - Sibelius - Verdi - Puccini - Boult - Henry Wood

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