School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

John Barbirolli

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Sir John Barbirolli was a British conductor and cellist, born Giovanni Battista Barbirolli in London in 1899, the son of an Italian father and a French mother. He grew up in a family of professional musicians and felt himself a Cockney all his life. He began on the violin at four, but soon switched to the cello, because as a child he walked around during practice. From 1912 to 1916 he studied at the Royal Academy of Music.

Music and breakthrough

As a cellist he was given the chance to conduct from 1926, first with the British National Opera Company and then with the touring company of Covent Garden. He is best known as conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester. In 1943 he helped save the orchestra from disbandment and remained associated with it for the rest of his life.

Influence

Both in the concert hall and on record he was associated above all with the music of English composers such as Elgar, Delius and Vaughan Williams. His performances of late Romantics such as Mahler and Sibelius are also still admired, as is his Schubert. He recorded extensively, including Finlandia, the Karelia Suite and Valse triste by Sibelius, the Enigma Variations by Elgar and La Mer by Debussy. Barbirolli died in 1970. He stood for British orchestral culture, in which a local orchestra with a permanent conductor could shape a city.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Elgar's Enigma Variations under Barbirolli and notice how each variation has its own character, like a short portrait sketch of a friend.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists