Clarence Raybould
| Clarence Raybould | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Robert Clarence Raybould |
| Born |
28 June 1886 Birmingham, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 27 March 1972 (aged 85) Bideford, Devon, United Kingdom |
| Genres | 20th century |
| Occupation(s) | Conductor, composer, pianist |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Years active | 1912–1958 |
Clarence Raybould (Robert Clarence Raybould) was born in Birmingham on 28 June 1886, to Robert James Raybould (born 1862), a printer compositor, and Ellen Amelia Raybould (née Weston, born 1862), and died in Bideford on 27 March 1972. He was an English conductor, pianist and composer who conducted works ranging from musical comedy and operetta, Gilbert and Sullivan to the standard classical repertoire. He also championed works by contemporary, particularly British, composers.
Clarence Raybould studied under and in 1912 became the first person to receive a BMus degree at Birmingham University.
He assisted Rutland Boughton at early Glastonbury festivals, working later with the Beecham Opera Company and the British National Opera Company. His opera The Sumida River (with a libretto by Marie Stopes adapted from the same Japanese Noh play as, and anticipating Benjamin Britten's Curlew River), was premiered in Birmingham on 25 September 1916. When Britten learned of Raybould's opera in 1958, he commented 'Actually I didn't know that C. Raybould even composed. Don't let it worry us. But what a funny coincidence.'
Raybould toured Britain as a pianist and accompanist and was musical advisor for the Columbia Graphophone Company between 1927 and 1931.
He joined the BBC in 1936 and was assistant conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra from 1939 to 1945. He conducted the first British concert performance of Hindemith's opera Cardillac in 1936 as well as that of Mathis der Maler in 1939.
In 1943 Raybould was sent a score of Britten's Matinées Musicales by Erwin Stein of Boosey and Hawkes in the hope that he would conduct it. Raybould, alluding to Britten's pacifism, replied saying that 'the score is of no interest to me because of the composer's personal views and behaviour, I was going to say politically, but expand this to 'nationally'. I have the utmost contempt for the whole gang of young people who are dodging the country's call.' Raybould later apologised to Britten for this 'very angry and hot-headed communication'.
...
Wikipedia