Vaughan Williams 'Serenade to Music' - Sir Henry Wood's 1938 recording discussed by John Steane

In this BBC radio broadcast from 1989, John Steane, the distinguished critic and authority on singers and singing, discussed the first recording of Vaughan Williams's 'Serenade to Music.' It was conducted by the work's dedicatee, Sir Henry Wood, and featured 16 well-known British singers. Interviewees included Ursula Vaughan Williams and Dame Eva Turner, as well other participants in the old recording, excerpts from which were played throughout.
Please note that this broadcast comes from an old audio cassette tape that was somewhat damaged at the start. However, the sound improves after two or three minutes, so hopefully it will be acceptable thereafter.
Also note that this video is being published on 12 October 2022 to mark the 150th Anniversary of Vaughan Williams's birth in 1872.

[@saltburner2]

Very good to have this! I remember the original broadcast. I knew John Steane, and met Eva Turner several times, and Isobel Baillie just once. I have their autographs!

[@bobcosmic]

Very interesting & informative broadcast !

[@garydear2470]

Thank you so much for this recording with pictures and music scores . Like black white film put into colour. Discovered this music on radio and plagued me. So eventually bought it on CD.

[@davidnunn1306]

Many thanks for the upload.

[@adam28xx]

You're welcome

[@gerontius3]

Wonderful! At the premiere Rachmaninoff, a guest of Sir Henry, listened to it and wept, declaring he had never been so moved by a piece of music. Definitely not "sick" as Weingartner suspected. Such a wonderful array of soloists!! Eva Turner sounds sensational in the Turandot excerpt!

[@susanfenton3871]

Thank you. Now I can begin to understand why there are so few recordings of this beautiful and sensitive interpretation of the scene in the Merchant of Venice.

[@Twentythousandlps]

Years before, Wood had conducted the premiere of Schonberg's Five Pieces for Orchestra, when hardly anyone else would dare.

[@webrarian]

What a joy to hear John Steane again. With perfectly chosen examples and a quiet scholarship. Thank you.

[@adam28xx]

Glad you enjoyed it