A Post-War Fight
Donald Macleod explores how William Walton struggled to prove his place as Britain's pre-eminent composer as new rivals came to the fore.
Donald Macleod explores how Walton struggled to prove his place as Britain's pre-eminent composer, as new rivals came to the fore.
The emergence of Benjamin Britten, whose dazzling successes culminated in 1945 with the opera Peter Grimes, saw Walton under pressure to prove that he hadn't fallen out of fashion. There was a suspicion that Walton's work during the war writing propaganda music for the Ministry of Information had dulled his powers. Walton started on a his first stage work reasoning that "I thought it was not a good thing for British opera to have only one opera by one composer".
As he fought to restore his reputation, Walton was also suffering great personal grief; the love of his life was terminally ill and her death would haunt him for the rest of his days.
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Music Played
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William Walton
Troilus And Cressida - Andante tranquillo
Singer: Judith Howarth. Singer: Arthur Davies. Orchestra: Northern Philharmonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox.- CHANDOS : CHAN-9370/1.
- CHANDOS.
- 15.
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William Walton
Troilus And Cressida - Andante tranquillo
Singer: Judith Howarth. Singer: Arthur Davies. Orchestra: Northern Philharmonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox.- CHANDOS : CHAN-9370/1.
- CHANDOS.
- 15.
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William Walton
Sonata For Violin And Piano
Performer: Yehudi Menuhin. Performer: Hephzibah Menuhin.- EMI Classics: 4408662.
- EMI Classics.
- 5.
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William Walton
Sonata For Violin And Piano
Performer: Yehudi Menuhin. Performer: Hephzibah Menuhin.- EMI Classics: 4408662.
- EMI Classics.
- 5.
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William Walton
Coronation Te Deum For Chorus, Orchestra And Organ
Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Francis Grier. Performer: Choristers of Worcester Cathedral. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- EMI CLASSICS 077776420127.
- EMI CLASSICS.
- 14.
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William Walton
Coronation Te Deum For Chorus, Orchestra And Organ
Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Francis Grier. Performer: Choristers of Worcester Cathedral. Conductor: Louis Frémaux.- EMI CLASSICS 077776420127.
- EMI CLASSICS.
- 14.
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William Walton
Troilus And Cressida - extracts
Singer: Judith Howarth. Singer: Arthur Davies. Orchestra: Northern Philharmonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox. Singer: Nigel Robson.- CHANDOS : CHAN-9370/1.
- CHANDOS.
- 1.
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William Walton
Troilus And Cressida - extracts
Singer: Judith Howarth. Singer: Arthur Davies. Orchestra: Northern Philharmonia. Conductor: Richard Hickox. Singer: Nigel Robson.- CHANDOS : CHAN-9370/1.
- CHANDOS.
- 1.
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William Walton
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra - Lento - allegro molte
Performer: Jamie Walton. Orchestra: Philharmonia. Conductor: Alexander Briger.- Signum: SIGCD220.
- Signum.
- 3.
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William Walton
Concerto For Cello And Orchestra - Lento - allegro molte
Performer: Jamie Walton. Orchestra: Philharmonia. Conductor: Alexander Briger.- Signum: SIGCD220.
- Signum.
- 3.
Broadcasts
- Thu 6 Aug 201512:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 6 Aug 201518:30BBC Radio 3
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