Tune in tomorrow early 03:32 GMT or stay up late 23:32 GMT for BBC WORLD SERVICE documentary – Delivering the King’s Speech! This programme explores the fascinating history of royalty releasing records, and incorporates rare material from the EMI Archives and an interview with EMI historian Tony Locantro. Marking the 75th anniversary of King GeorgeContinue reading “Documentary – Recording the Kings Speech”
Tag Archives: tony locantro
Top 10 Aussie Sopranos
By Roger Neil Someone started a thread on the unofficial BBC Radio 3 message boards asking for nominations for the top ten sopranos. It seemed to me that the emerging lists were filled with the usual suspects, and since I’m currently in the process (with Tony Locantro) of finishing up a 4 x CD setContinue reading “Top 10 Aussie Sopranos”
Revealed: the secrets of Captain Scott’s playlist
New album is compiled from gramophone recordings explorer took on ill-fated journey to the Antarctic This article was written by Adam Sherwin published by The Independant, Thursday 10 May 2012 Huddled together inside their hut while blizzards raged outside, Captain Scott and his men found solace in the gramophone records of comical music hall hits, operettas and stirring anthemsContinue reading “Revealed: the secrets of Captain Scott’s playlist”
HARRY LAUDER (1870–1950)
By Tony Locantro Harry Lauder (1870–1950), the great international Scottish entertainer, was born into a poor family in Portobello, near Edinburgh, and worked in Scottish coal mines during his youth. His fellow-mineworkers enjoyed his singing and encouraged him to perform in the local halls, which led to a full-time career as a singer. He madeContinue reading “HARRY LAUDER (1870–1950)”
CLARA BUTT (1872–1936)
By Tony Locantro In Victorian and Edwardian times, there was a great vogue for female singers with deep, contralto voices, who drew huge audiences to concerts of arias from operas and oratorios as well as popular ballads. Clara Butt (1872–1936) was one of the most famous and was under exclusive contract to The Gramophone CompanyContinue reading “CLARA BUTT (1872–1936)”
The bass-baritone Peter Dawson (1882–1961)
By Tony Locantro Courtesy of © EMI Group Archive Trust The bass-baritone Peter Dawson (1882–1961) came to the UK from his native Australia to study singing in 1903. His lessons with Sir Charles Santley stood him in good stead for a career that lasted almost 60 years and encompassed every kind of music, from the oratorios ofContinue reading “The bass-baritone Peter Dawson (1882–1961)”
The tenor Edward Lloyd (1845–1927)
By Tony Locantro The tenor Edward Lloyd (1845–1927) had a distinguished career for some 30 years as a leading oratorio and concert singer and was considered by some to be the foremost tenor exponent of that genre during the last quarter of the 19th century. He retired in December 1900, a few months afterContinue reading “The tenor Edward Lloyd (1845–1927)”
Mr Locantro knows his onions, from Berliner’s to HMV!
By Tony Locantro When The Gramophone Company first started to operate in the UK, the discs were 7-inches in diameter and carried the title: ‘E. BERLINER’S GRAMOPHONE’. This was soon replaced by the drawing of a recording Angel, and the Angel remained in use for about ten years. Playing time on the 7-inch discs wasContinue reading “Mr Locantro knows his onions, from Berliner’s to HMV!”
Sound Of The Hound 