Sir Adrian Boult was born on 8th April 1889 in Chester and died on 22nd February 1983 in London, so 2013 marks the 30th anniversary of his death. He was attending concerts first in Liverpool, primarily with Hans Richter, and then in London, whilst a pupil at Westminster School, with Sir Henry Wood, Claude Debussy, Arthur Nikisch and Richard Strauss. He met Elgar for whose music he was to do so much during his life, as was another composer he befriended whilst at Christ Church, Oxford, before graduating in 1912 - Ralph Vaughan Williams.

He spent a year studying in Leipzig where Arthur Nikisch had the greatest influence on him. He gained experience conducting for both the Royal Opera House, where he assisted in the first production there of Wagner’s Parsifal, and Serge Diaghilev’s ballet company. He was appointed conductor of the City of Birmingham Orchestra in 1924 and six years later the BBC made him director of music where he established the BBC Symphony Orchestra and became its chief conductor. During these years he introduced works by Bartók, Stravinsky and the Second Viennese School composers – Schönberg, Webern and Berg, including his opera Wozzeck.

Forced to leave the BBC when he reached their retirement age, he became chief conductor of the LPO, retiring in 1957. He became a champion of British music, giving numerous performances of Bliss, Britten, Delius, Tippett, Walton and Holst, whose Planets he had premiered, and the aforementioned Elgar and Vaughan Williams. This set brings together all the recordings he made of the latter, starting in 1940 to the early 1950s.

There was a pause until 1967 when he started to commit this set’s stereo recordings to disc, ending in 1975. He continued to give concerts and record for a further three years until retiring just before reaching the age of 90.

CD 13 includes audio footage of Sir Adrian in rehearsal.

Contents:
CD 1
- A Sea Symphony (Symphony No.1)
Sheila Armstrong (soprano), John Carol Case (baritone)
London Philharmonic Choir & London Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 2
- A London Symphony (Symphony No.2)
London Philharmonic Orchestra

- A Pastoral Symphony (Symphony No.3)
Margaret Price (soprano)
New Philharmonia Orchestra

CD 3
- Symphony No.4 in F minor
New Philharmonia Orchestra

- Symphony No.6 in E minor
New Philharmonia Orchestra

CD 4
- Symphony No.5 in D
London Philharmonic Orchestra

- Symphony No.9 in E minor
London Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 5
- Sinfonia antartica (Symphony No.7)
Norma Burrowes (soprano)
London Philharmonic Choir & London Philharmonic Orchestra

- Symphony No.8 in D minor
London Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 6
- Norfolk Rhapsody No.1
- In the Fen Country
- The Lark Ascending
Hugh Bean (violin)
New Philharmonia Orchestra

- Aristophanic Suite “The Wasps”
London Philharmonic Orchestra

- Fantasia on “Greensleeves” (arr. Ralph Greaves)
London Symphony Orchestra

- English Folk Song Suite (arr. Gordon Jacob)
London Symphony Orchestra

CD 7
- Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
London Philharmonic Orchestra

- Serenade to Music (original version)
Norma Burrowes (soprano), Sheila Armstrong (soprano), Susan Longfield (soprano), Marie Hayward (soprano), Alfreda Hodgson (contralto), Gloria Jennings (contralto), Shirley Minty (contralto), Meriel Dickinson (contralto), Ian Partridge (tenor), Bernard Dickerson (tenor), Wynford Evans (tenor), Kenneth Bowen (tenor), Richard Angas (bass), John Carol Case (bass), John Noble (bass), Christopher Keyte (bass)
London Philharmonic Orchestra

- Toward the Unknown Region
London Philharmonic Choir & London Philharmonic Orchestra

- Partita for double string orchestra
- Concerto Grosso
London Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 8
- Concerto for two pianos and orchestra in C major
Vitya Vronsky (piano), Victor Babin (piano)
London Philharmonic Orchestra

- Job: A Masque for Dancing
London Symphony Orchestra

CD 9
- Dona nobis pacem
Sheila Armstrong (soprano), John Carol Case (baritone)
London Philharmonic Choir & London Philharmonic Orchestra

- Fantasia (quasi variazione) on the Old 104th Psalm Tune
Peter Katin (piano)
London Philharmonic Choir & London Philharmonic Orchestra

- A Song of Thanksgiving
Betty Dolemore (soprano), Robert Speaight (narrator), Harry Gabb (organ)
Luton Choral Society (with a section of the Luton Girls’ Choir)
London Philharmonic Orchestra

- The Lark Ascending
Jean Pougnet (violin)
London Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 10
- Symphony No.6 in E minor
III: Scherzo (original version)
London Symphony Orchestra

- Flos campi
William Primrose (viola)
BBC Chorus & Philharmonia Orchestra

- Violin Concerto in D minor
Yehudi Menuhin (violin)
London Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 11
- Serenade to Music (choral version)
Royal Festival Orchestra and Choir

- Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
BBC Symphony Orchestra

-  Job: A Masque for Dancing
BBC Symphony Orchestra

CD 12
The Pilgrim’s Progress
Cast:
- The Pilgrim: John Noble (baritone)
- John Bunyan: Raimund Herincx (baritone)
- Evangelist: John Carol-Case (baritone)

Four neighbours
- Pliable: Wynford Evans (tenor)
- Obstinate: Christopher Keyte (bass)
- Mistrust: Geoffrey Shaw (baritone)
- Timorous: Bernard Dickerson (tenor)

Three Shining Ones
- Sheila Armstrong (soprano)
- Marie Hayward (soprano)
- Gloria Jennings (contralto)

- Interpreter: Ian Partridge (tenor)
- Watchful, the Porter: John Shirley-Quirk (baritone)
- A Herald: Terence Sharpe (baritone)
- Apollyon: Robert Lloyd (bass)

Two Heavenly Beings
- Branch Bearer: Norma Burrowes (soprano)
- Cup Bearer: Alfreda Hodgson (contralto)

- Lord Lechery: Joseph Ward (tenor)
- Demas: Geoffrey Shaw (baritone)
- Judas Iscariot: Christopher Keyte (bass)
- Simon Magus: Richard Angas (bass)
- Worldly Glory: John Elwes (tenor)
- Madam Wanton: Marie Hayward (soprano)
- Madam Bubble: Delia Wallis (mezzo-soprano)
- Pontius Pilate: Christopher Keyte (bass)
- Usher: Bernard Dickerson (tenor)
- Lord Hate Good: Raimund Herincx (baritone)
- Malice: Norma Burrowes (soprano)
- Pickthank: Alfreda Hodgson (contralto)
- Superstition: Ian Partridge (tenor)
- Envy: Richard Angas (bass)
- A Woodcutter’s Boy: Wendy Eathorne (soprano)
- Mister By-Ends: Gerald English (tenor)
- Madam By-Ends: Gloria Jennings (contralto)

Three Shepherds
- Terence Sharpe (baritone)
- Wynford Evans (tenor)
- Robert Lloyd (bass)

- The Voice of a Bird: Sheila Armstrong (soprano)
- Celestial Messenger: John Elwes (tenor)

Voices from Heaven
- Doreen Price (soprano)
- Jean Temperley (mezzo-soprano)
- Kenneth Woollam (tenor)
London Philharmonic Choir & London Philharmonic Orchestra

CD 13
- The Pilgrim’s Progress (conclusion)
- Sir Adrian in Rehearsal