Lollipops and Blood

Beecham (1879 – 1961) was the most influential British conductor of his time. A noted wit, he founded two of London’s four current orchestras: the London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic. He was also a champion of neglected music from the past and of the new music of his own time, in particular the work of Delius, Sibelius and Richard Strauss. The first half of the concert reflects Beecham’s delight in shorter mood pieces, ‘lollipops’ as he called them. The concert closes with the ‘Dance of the Seven Veils’ and ‘Closing Scene’ of Strauss’ notorious opera Salome, whose UK premiere Beecham presented and which was initially banned by the censor due to its ending, where the heroine kisses the severed head of John the Baptist.