These performances, dating from 1946/47, are valuable in that they preserve interpretations by an excellent Sibelius conductor in basically good, clear mono sound. Curiously, Beecham doesn’t respond to the Second Symphony’s rhetoric with quite the relish we might expect. It’s not a bad performance, but nothing special happens either. The Sixth is another matter: Beecham clearly took great pains in preparing this performance, particularly in achieving a cultured response from the Royal Philharmonic’s perennially questionable string section. The result has that flowing, effortless, magical quality that makes this conductor’s numerous Delius, Haydn, and Schubert recordings so special. It’s unquestionably a great performance, and it’s a sign of Beecham’s magnetic qualities as an interpreter that he’s most persuasive when the composer himself is most reticent. This recording is a must for Sibelians and Beecham fans alike.
