Adrian Boult and Wagner
Fri, Mar 11 2011, 1:10PM
I just picked up the budget collection of Wagner extracts from Sir Adrian Boult with the LPO/LSO/New Philharmonica Orchestra. Incredible. I'm tempted to say this might be the best stereo collection of the overtures, preludes and extracts I've ever heard. Only the prelude to Parsifal is not to my taste--too swift. I've ignored this collection for years, never having equated Boult with Wagner. What a mistake. Did Sir Adrian ever conduct the operas? Any extant recordings? Would someone again explain to me how the British press rates Goodall as the greatest English interpreter of Wagner?
Boult conducted Die Walkure in 1925 and 1927 with the British National Opera Company in Birmingham, and in 1931 three performances at Covent Garden. He conducted the BBC Symphony in a concert performance of Act III of Siegfried in 1932. In 1926 he conducted Parsifal at the RCM, and five more performances with the British National Opera Company on tour. He always wanted to do opera (not just Wagner, by the way,) but he blamed Beecham for keeping him out of the opera house.
Glad you are enjoying what he did record. I too have enjoyed these since they first came out on LP. Of the Wagner operas he did conduct perhaps the BBC recorded the 1932 concert performance. I wouldn't give much hope to Parsifal or Die Walkure.
Bliss