This week, Pristine brings together for the first time the complete acoustic recordings of Sir Thomas Beecham — a fascinating portrait of the young maestro before the microphone era. Made between 1910 and 1918, these rare discs capture Beecham in the early blaze of his career, leading his own orchestra and shaping the sound of British music long before Toscanini, Boult or Stokowski ever entered a studio. Sixteen of these performances were never remade, and none appear in Warner’s forthcoming “Mono Era” box.
From the sparkling Die Fledermaus Overture to Beecham’s only Firebird recording — also the earliest Stravinsky on record — this is a treasure trove of musical history brought vividly back to life. Expertly restored by Mark Obert-Thorn, these performances reveal the energy, imagination and wit that made Beecham a legend. Hear where it all began — over a century later, they still leap from the grooves with unmistakable vitality.
We also celebrate Johann Strauss's 200th birthday with a 10% discount on all our recordings of the Waltz King.