1960s - The Magic Of Constantin Silvestri
1960
Charles Groves announces his intended resignation and moves to the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in 1961.1961
Groves gives his last concert as Principal Conductor in aid of the Orchestra Benevolent fund with a string of distinguished soloists including Heather Harper, Elsie Morison and Harvey Alan.
1962
Rumanian-born Constantin Silvestri becomes principal conductor.
1963
BSO plays at the Edinburgh Festival: programme includes Manfred Symphony.1964
October sees the first performance of Malcolm Rayment's Sinfonia Concertante, dedicated to the BSO and Silvestri, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Western Orchestral Society.
1965
BSO first televised from Winchester Cathedral on Good Friday with Parsifal music. BSO makes European tour including Germany, Poland and Czechoslovkia.1966
Silvestri and the BSO record Scheherazade for EMI in the Winter Gardens, catching much of the fire and excitement of live concerts at that time.
1967
Silvestri becomes a British citizen and frequently programmes many British composers’ works. His wife, Regina, describes the BSO/Silvestri partnership as ‘the sweet magic of a love affair’.
1968
75th Anniversary of BSO. Celebratory dinner guests include Sir Michael Tippett (later BSO President). Brendan O’Brien becomes Leader for next twenty-nine years. BSO under Silvestri records Elgar’s In the South with Vaughan Williams’ Tallis Fantasia. It is one of the most successful discs ever. Exeter audience ‘wildly enthusiastic’ after Tchaikovsky Italian Caprice is played BSO-Silvestri style!
1969
Silvestri’s tragic death aged fifty-six. Buried next to Dan Godfrey in St. Peter’s Churchyard. Funeral is attended by whole Orchestra. Schwarz conducts memorial concerts in Bristol, Exeter and Bournemouth – Mahler’s Symphony No.7.
