Camille Saint-Saëns; Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Samson et Dalila; Scheherazade (Thomas Beecham)

Information

Composer: Camille Saint-Saëns; Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

• Saint-Saëns - Samson et Dalila, Op. 47, R. 288, Act III Scene 2: Bacchanale
• Saint-Saëns - Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33, R. 193
• Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade, Op. 35

Mischel Cherniavsky, cello

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

Thomas Beecham, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: SOMM Recordings

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On 24 April 1960 at London’s Festival Hall, Sir Thomas Beecham, aged 80, conducted his final concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, an event later recognized as his farewell after a cerebral thrombosis ended his career weeks later. SOMM Recordings now releases the programme’s closing work, Saint-Saëns’s Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila, capturing the audience’s electrifying response. The collection also includes live recordings of Saint-Saëns’s First Cello Concerto, featuring soloist Mischel Cherniavsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. Restored by Lani Spahr, these performances highlight Beecham’s artistry and enduring advocacy for Saint-Saëns, preserving a vivid and historically significant musical legacy.

Thomas Beecham (1879–1961) was a charismatic and influential British conductor known for his flair and controversy. Born into wealth, he initially studied composition but soon turned to conducting, largely self-taught. By his twenties, he was conducting professionally and founded several orchestras, including the Beecham Symphony and later the London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic. He also staged groundbreaking opera seasons and promoted works by composers like Delius, Strauss, and French Romantics. Despite financial setbacks, he maintained an international presence, conducting in Europe and America. His rich discography and lasting impact are preserved in numerous celebrated recordings.

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