Norman Del Mar
Encyclopedia
Norman Del Mar CBE was a British
conductor, horn player, and biographer. As a conductor, he specialized in the music of late romantic composers; including Edward Elgar
, Gustav Mahler
, and Richard Strauss
. He left a great legacy of recordings of British music, in particular Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Delius
, and Britten. He notably conducted the premiere recording of Britten's children's opera Noye's Fludde
.
, London
, Del Mar began his career as a horn player. He was one of the original members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
(RPO) which was established by Sir Thomas Beecham
in 1946. Within the first few months of the RPO's existence, Beecham appointed Del Mar as his assistant conductor. Del Mar made his professional debut as a conductor with the RPO in 1947.
In 1949 Del Mar was appointed principal conductor of the English Opera Group
, in which post he remained until 1954. In 1952 he conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra
in the world premiere of Franz Reizenstein
's radio opera Anna Kraus
. He then held chief conducting posts with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra
(1954) the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
(1960–1965), and the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra (1985–1988). A regular at the BBC Proms concerts, he conducted the famous Last Night on three occasions, 1973, 1975, and 1983. He was also 'permanent guest conductor' with the Göteborg Symphony Orchestra from 1969-1973.
In 1953 Del Mar joined the faculty of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
where he conducted the school's orchestra and taught conducting until 1960. In 1972 he began to teach conducting at the Royal College of Music
, serving until 1990. He also conducted the Royal Academy of Music
's orchestra from 1974-1977.
He was an authority on Richard Strauss
and wrote a three-volume work on Strauss's life and music. In addition, his books include the following titles:
As well as making approximately 70 recordings of his own, Del Mar was a lifelong record collector, and his extensive collection of rare 78s is held by the University of Southampton
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
conductor, horn player, and biographer. As a conductor, he specialized in the music of late romantic composers; including Edward Elgar
Edward Elgar
Sir Edward William Elgar, 1st Baronet OM, GCVO was an English composer, many of whose works have entered the British and international classical concert repertoire. Among his best-known compositions are orchestral works including the Enigma Variations, the Pomp and Circumstance Marches, concertos...
, Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler
Gustav Mahler was a late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation. He was born in the village of Kalischt, Bohemia, in what was then Austria-Hungary, now Kaliště in the Czech Republic...
, and Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
. He left a great legacy of recordings of British music, in particular Elgar, Vaughan Williams, Delius
Delius
Delius is a surname. It may refer to:* Ernst von Delius - German racing car driver* Frederick Delius - English composer* Nicolaus Delius - German philologist* Tobias Delius Delius is a surname. It may refer to:* Ernst von Delius (1912–1937) - German racing car driver* Frederick Delius...
, and Britten. He notably conducted the premiere recording of Britten's children's opera Noye's Fludde
Noye's Fludde
Noye's Fludde is an early 15th century mystery play from the Chester Mystery Cycle. It was set to music by Benjamin Britten in 1957 based on an edition by Alfred W. Pollard...
.
Life and career
Born in HampsteadHampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Del Mar began his career as a horn player. He was one of the original members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It tours widely, and is sometimes referred to as "Britain's national orchestra"...
(RPO) which was established by Sir Thomas Beecham
Thomas Beecham
Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet CH was an English conductor and impresario best known for his association with the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras. He was also closely associated with the Liverpool Philharmonic and Hallé orchestras...
in 1946. Within the first few months of the RPO's existence, Beecham appointed Del Mar as his assistant conductor. Del Mar made his professional debut as a conductor with the RPO in 1947.
In 1949 Del Mar was appointed principal conductor of the English Opera Group
English Opera Group
The English Opera Group was a small company of British musicians formed in 1947 by the composer Benjamin Britten for the purpose of presenting his and other, primarily British, composers' operatic works. The group later expanded in order to present larger-scale works, and was renamed the English...
, in which post he remained until 1954. In 1952 he conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Symphony Orchestra is the principal broadcast orchestra of the British Broadcasting Corporation and one of the leading orchestras in Britain.-History:...
in the world premiere of Franz Reizenstein
Franz Reizenstein
Franz Theodor Reizenstein was a German-born British composer and concert pianist. He left Germany for sanctuary in Britain in 1934 and went on to have his career there, including teaching at the Royal Northern College of Music and Boston University, as well as performing.-Life and work:Franz...
's radio opera Anna Kraus
Anna Kraus
Anna Kraus, Op. 30 is an opera in one act by composer Franz Reizenstein. The work uses an English language libretto by Christopher Hassall which tells the tragic tale of a German woman who is forced to leave her country due to opression from the Nazi regime, as the Nazis did not like her political...
. He then held chief conducting posts with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra
Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra
The Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra was an orchestra based in Leeds. It was active from its establishment in 1947 until its demise in 1955, and was based in the Leeds Town Hall. Maurice Miles was the orchestra's Principal Conductor, followed by Nicolai Malko....
(1954) the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra is a broadcasting symphony orchestra based in Glasgow, Scotland. One of five full-time orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation , it is the oldest full-time professional orchestra in Scotland...
(1960–1965), and the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra (1985–1988). A regular at the BBC Proms concerts, he conducted the famous Last Night on three occasions, 1973, 1975, and 1983. He was also 'permanent guest conductor' with the Göteborg Symphony Orchestra from 1969-1973.
In 1953 Del Mar joined the faculty of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama
Guildhall School of Music and Drama is an independent music and dramatic arts school which was founded in 1880 in London, England. Students can pursue courses in Music, Opera, Drama and Technical Theatre Arts.-History:...
where he conducted the school's orchestra and taught conducting until 1960. In 1972 he began to teach conducting at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
, serving until 1990. He also conducted the Royal Academy of Music
Royal Academy of Music
The Royal Academy of Music in London, England, is a conservatoire, Britain's oldest degree-granting music school and a constituent college of the University of London since 1999. The Academy was founded by Lord Burghersh in 1822 with the help and ideas of the French harpist and composer Nicolas...
's orchestra from 1974-1977.
He was an authority on Richard Strauss
Richard Strauss
Richard Georg Strauss was a leading German composer of the late Romantic and early modern eras. He is known for his operas, which include Der Rosenkavalier and Salome; his Lieder, especially his Four Last Songs; and his tone poems and orchestral works, such as Death and Transfiguration, Till...
and wrote a three-volume work on Strauss's life and music. In addition, his books include the following titles:
- Anatomy of the Orchestra (ISBN 0520045009)
- Conducting Beethoven (ISBN 0198162189, Volume 1; ISBN 0198163592, Volume 2)
- Conducting Berlioz (ISBN 0198165528)
- Conducting Brahms (ISBN 0198163584)
- Conducting Elgar (ISBN 0198165579, compiled and edited by his son Jonathan Del MarJonathan Del Mar-Biography:Born in London, he studied at Christ Church, Oxford and the Royal College of Music in London.His father was conductor Norman Del Mar.-Beethoven scholar:...
) - Conducting Favourite Concert Pieces (ISBN 0198165587)
- Mahler's sixth symphony : a study (ISBN 090387329X)
- Orchestral variations : confusion and error in the orchestral repertoire (ISBN 0903873370)
As well as making approximately 70 recordings of his own, Del Mar was a lifelong record collector, and his extensive collection of rare 78s is held by the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
.
External links
- Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra website contains some photographs and articles about Norman Del Mar.
- Norman Del Mar rehearsing the audience in the "Night Song", in the original 1949 production of Let's Make and Opera
- Signing autographs for Leicestershire Schools Symphony Orchestra players in Düsseldorf Norman Del Mar was a regular conductor of the LSSO both at home and abroad.
- Norman Del Mar sound archive at Southampton University