Henry Purcell. Dido and Aeneas. (Recorded 1935, conductor Clarence Raybould)
08.11.2013, 02:33
Clarence Raybould (1886, Birmingham− 1972, Bideford). Eng. conductor, pianist, and composer. Studied music in Birmingham with Granville Bantock. First to take B. Mus. degree at BirminghamUniv., 1912. Assisted Boughton at early Glastonbury Fests., working later with Beecham Opera Co. and BNOC. Toured Brit. as pianist and accompanist and worked for Columbia Graphophone Co. 1927–31. Joined BBC 1936. Ass. cond. BBCSO 1939–45. Cond. works ranging from musical comedy and operetta, Gilbert and Sullivan, to the standard classical repertoire. He also championed works by contemporary, particularly British, composers.Cond. also first Brit. performances (concert) of Hindemit’s operas Cardillac 1936 and Mathis der Maler 1939. Founded Nat. Youth Orch. of Wales 1945, cond. until 1966. His opera The Sumida River (anticipating Britten's Curlew River) was perf. in Birmingham 1916. In photograph: Clarence Raybould conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra in Bedford School in June 1944.
