Sir Charles Groves
Charles Groves was a major British conductor of the 20th century, one of a relative few content to hold posts with only U.K.-based orchestras, though he led many performances by various European and American ensembles. He was well-known as an interpreter of large scores, including operas, often obscure operas. He was first among English conductors to lead performances of the entire canon of Mahler symphonies.
Groves studied music as a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral Choir School and later enrolled at the Royal College of Music, where he focused on piano and organ studies. He also took an interest in choral and orchestral music, leading many ensembles in both venues during his student years. He worked with Toscanini in performances of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis and the Brahms and Verdi requiems. In 1938, the BBC Theatre Chorus engaged Groves to serve as a chorus master. Six years later, he was appointed conductor of the Manchester-based BBC Northern Orchestra (later named the BBC Philharmonic), his first such permanent assignment. He established a reputation for high performance standards in this post and for inclusion of unusual repertory. He left the BBC NO in 1951 and assumed duties as conductor of the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra the following year. He immediately made numerous changes in the ensemble, which had been plagued by many troubles in the postwar years. The group's repertory was extended to include opera, performed in conjunction with the Welsh National Opera, and the orchestra's name was changed in 1954 to the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. His fine work with the Welsh National Opera and with operatic repertory in general did not go unnoticed: in 1961, he was appointed director of the Welsh National Opera, becoming the first conductor to hold the post in a full-time capacity. Once more, Groves expanded the repertory of his new ensemble, adding Wagner's Lohengrin and other major works previously ignored. Not only did Groves divulge an adventurous streak in his inclusion of new works, but he quite consistently brought them off with much acclaim. In 1963, Groves became the permanent music director of what would become the most-respected British ensemble not based in London, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. He took the group on a highly acclaimed tour of Germany and Switzerland in 1966. The following year, Groves took on a concurrent assignment as associate conductor of the London-based Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Further tours for both his groups ensued in the next few years. With the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, he returned to Germany and Switzerland in 1968 to critical acclaim, and in 1970 toured Poland, where he scored a notable triumph at the Festival of Modern Music (Warsaw); with the RPO, he toured the United States to generally enthusiastic receptions. In 1973, Groves was knighted; five years later, he was appointed music director of the English National Opera, without doubt attaining one of the most coveted positions in British opera. But he quickly found the post incompatible with his manner of leadership and resigned the following year. For the last decade or so of his career, Groves guest-conducted ensembles throughout the world.
Of his numerous recordings, many are still available on a variety of labels. Not surprisingly, he displayed a fondness in both concert and recording venues for the music of Delius, Vaughan Williams, Arnold, Maxwell Davies, and of other British composers.
© TiVo
Similar artists
Discography
21 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
-
Havergal Brian: In Memoriam & Gothic Symphony Part One
Classical - Released by Heritage Records on 5 Feb 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Delius Koanga . The Song of the High Hills
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 21 Jul 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Holst: The Hymn of Jesus, Choral Symphony, The Wandering Scholar & At the Boat's Head
Sir Charles Groves, Sir Adrian Boult, Steuart Bedford, David Atherton
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 28 Aug 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Crusell: Clarinet Concerto No. 2 / Weber: Concertino / Rossini: Introduction, Theme and Variations
Emma Johnson, English Chamber Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 1 Jan 1986
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Walton: Spitfire Prelude & Fugue etc
Classical - Released by Warner Classics on 3 Mar 2003
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Finzi: Clarinet Concerto; 5 Bagatelles / Stanford: Clarinet Concerto; 3 Intermezzi
Emma Johnson, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on 1 Jan 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 5
English Sinfonia, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Sir Charles' Precious Music Box II
Philharmonica Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by Denon on 1 Jan 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar: Serenade For Strings / Britten: Variations On A Theme Of Frank Bridge / Williams: Thomas Tallis Fantasia / Tippet: Corelli Fantasia Concertante
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert Symphonies No 3 & 4
English Sinfonia, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Schubert Symphonies No 2 & 6
English Sinfonia, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 1991
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar/Britten/Vaughan Williams/Tippett
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Symphony No. 92 'Oxford' / Symphony No. 104 'London'
Sir Charles Groves, English Sinfonia
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart Symphonies Nos. 32, 33 & 29
Sir Charles Groves, English Sinfonia
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Entente Cordiale
English Sinfonia, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar: Variations On An Original Theme
The London Festival Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by imp on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Haydn: Symphony No.92 'Oxford' / Symphony No.104 'London'
Sir Charles Groves, English Sinfonia
Classical - Released by ImpDigital on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Sinfonia Concertante
The English Sinfonia, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by ImpDigital on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Elgar: Cello Concerto - Tchaikovsky: Rococo Variations
Paul Tortelier, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by CarltonClassics on 1 Jan 1989
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Milestones of a Violin Legend: Max Rostal, Vol. 4
Max Rostal, Colin Horsley, BBC Northern Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by Intense Media GmbH on 3 May 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
An English Celebration
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves
Classical - Released by CarltonClassics on 1 Jan 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo