10. Playing Oistrakh (1960s)

Hugh Bean and David Oistrakh meet over a game of chess, watched by members of the Oistrakh Trio and Alan Loveday.

B&W photograph by Erich Auerbach, 124 x 153 mm.
Loaned by Mrs Mary Bean

11. Leading for Beecham (Lucerne, ca. 1960?)

In the 1950s Hugh Bean was quickly recognised as one of the most accomplished orchestral leaders in Britain: from 1957 to 1967 he led the Philharmonia/New Philharmonia, and was then co-leader of the BBC Symphony Orchestra for two years, before resigning to devote more time to solo and chamber performances. In 1990 he returned to the leader’s desk with the Philharmonia, and was made leader emeritus in 1994.

B&W photograph by Paul Weber, 197 x 177 mm
Loaned by Mrs Mary Bean

14. With Sir Adrian Boult

In 1969 Hugh Bean gave a memorable performance of the Elgar Violin Concerto with Sir Adrian Boult at the Three Choirs Festival at Worcester, a reading that made a deep impression and led to numerous further engagements and a recording of the work.

B&W photograph by Kenneth Thomas, 122 x 255 mm
Loaned by Mrs Mary Bean

15. Recording Elgar

In 1972 Hugh Bean recorded the Elgar Concerto with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Charles Groves. We see him here during the sessions, with Groves and the producer, Christopher Bishop. This famous performance is still available, on CD, coupled with another of Hugh’s memorable Elgar interpretations, the Violin Sonata, with David Parkhouse.

B&W photograph, 190 x 240 mm
Loaned by Mrs Mary Bean

16. Leading the Philharmonia (1960s?)

B&W photograph by David Farrell, 214 x 257 mm
Loaned by Mrs Mary Bean

17. The Recorded Legacy

Apart from the Elgar Concerto, some of Hugh Bean’s other recordings are currently available, notably his recordings of Beethoven (Romance in F major, op. 50, with Boult), Vaughan Williams (The Lark Ascending and the chamber music, including an incandescent account of the Violin Sonata), and Peter Warlock (The Curlew: the Music Group of London with Ian Partridge). Others, such as the two on display, are currently unavailable, though a CD reissue of ‘The Four Seasons’ is imminent.

Magic of the Violin. Hugh Bean and David Parkhouse
Saga (ERO 8009), © 1966
Loaned by Mrs Mary Bean

Vivaldi, ‘The Four Seasons’. Hugh Bean, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Leopold Stokowski
Decca (LK 4873), © 1967
On loaned by Mrs Mary Bean