Sir Adrian Boult (1889-1983) studied at the Leipzig Conservatory (1912-13) under the legendary Hungarian conductor, Arthur Nikisch, and the composer Max Reger. He greatly admired the distinguished German conductors, Felix Weingartner, Wilhelm Furtwängler and Bruno Walter.

This goes some way to explaining that apart from his authoritative conducting of English composers such as Elgar and Vaughan Williams he had wide musical sympathies, with particular expertise in the Austro-German repertoire of Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Schumann, Schubert and Wagner, which he performed and recorded with great success.

These ‘live’ performances have the extra adrenalin which studio recordings often lack.

Rossini’s overture to The Silken Ladder is a new addition to the Boult discography

Beethoven’s overture The Consecration of the House is a new addition to the Boult discography

Weber’s Euryanthe overture is the first stereo recording, the only other being a studio recording in 1937

Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony is the first ‘live’ performance on CD. Boult made two studio performances recorded in 1957 and 1961 which are not available. Trevor Harvey wrote in Gramophone in 1957 (of Boult’s earliest recording) ‘A fine classical reading of the utmost distinction’.

Brahms’s St Anthony Variations, performed here on a special occasion to mark the Maida Vale Studios 30th anniversary of the Third Programme.

Schubert’s Symphony no.9, recorded in superb ‘live’ sound, is even more exciting than the critically acclaimed 1972 studio performance. Martin Cotton in his booklet notes states, ‘the 1977 (live) performance shows even more flexibility’ than the highly rated 1972 studio recording.

This 2-CD set follows on from the highly acclaimed ICA Classics set of Boult conducting Holst, Vaughan Williams and Walton (ICAC 5173).

The entire set is in excellent stereo.