大象传媒

Donald Macleod follows Percy Grainger to London, where his composing took second place to performing, leading to concert tours of Scandinavia, South Africa, New Zealand and back home to Australia.

Percy Grainger came to London with his mother, Rose, in May 1901. The way London musical life operated at the time was very much a function of the prevailing social structure and for a musician who was minded to make a career for himself it was necessary to curry favour with a circle of aristocrats or rich patrons who could provide the essential openings. Grainger said he was horrified by the 鈥渃ruelty and inhumanity鈥� of so many of the smart set that he was forced to mix with, if he wanted to get on, who often preyed upon the circle of people they 鈥渃ollected.鈥� He was never comfortable in a succession of stuffy drawing rooms, always with the expectation that he would perform.

It was with a certain amount of relief, then, that Grainger was able to come up for air on several successful concert tours, taking him to Scandinavia, South Africa, New Zealand and back home to Australia.

Handel in the Strand
City of London Sinfonia
Richard Hickox, conductor

English Dance
大象传媒 Philharmonic
Richard Hickox, conductor

Colonial Song
Martin Jones, piano

Scotch Strathspey and Reel
City of London Sinfonia
Richard Hickox, conductor
Joyful Company of Singers
Richard Broadbent

The Warriors
大象传媒 Philharmonic
Richard Hickox

Producer: Martin Williams