Lollipops and Blood
Take a voyage around the repertoire of Sir Thomas Beecham, as the Odyssey Festival Orchestra performs music championed by the legendary conductor.
Beecham (1879 – 1961) was the most influential British conductor of his time. A noted wit, he founded two of London’s four current orchestras: the London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic.
He was also a champion of neglected music from the past and of the new music of his own time, in particular the work of Delius, Sibelius and Richard Strauss.
The first half of the concert reflects Beecham’s delight in shorter mood pieces, ‘lollipops’ as he called them. The concert closes with the ‘Dance of the Seven Veils’ and ‘Closing Scene’ of Strauss’ notorious opera Salome, whose UK premiere Beecham presented and which was initially banned by the censor due to its ending, where the heroine kisses the severed head of John the Baptist.
Performers
Odyssey Festival Orchestra
Peter Ash conductor
Julia Mintzer soprano
narrator to be confirmed
Repertoire
Strauss: Dance of the seven veils
Strauss: Final scene from Salome
Smyth: Overture, The Boatswain's Mate
Sibelius: Valse triste
Delius: La Calinda from Koanga
Saint-Saëns: Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila
Mozart: Overture, Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario)
Beecham: Excerpts from The Gods go a'begging (after Handel)
Need to know
For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
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