That photo shows a 1970 Kingsway Hall session for the EMI recording of Vaughan Williams' The Pilgrim's Progress . From left to right are Ursula Vaughan Williams, Christopher Bishop (producer), Sir Adrian Boult , John Noble , Ian Partridge, Gloria Jennings, Christopher Parker (balance engineer), John Alldis (chorus master), Sheila Armstrong and Marie Hayward. During his career at EMI Christopher Bishop produced legendary recordings with Sir John Barbirolli, André Previn, Sir David Willcocks , David Munrow, Carlo Maria Giulini, Sir Adrian Boult and many others. Christopher was born on April 1st 1931; he is enjoying a well-earned retirement in rural Suffolk not far from Aldeburgh, and I am sure readers will join me in wishing him a very happy birthday. It is a scandal that in an age when so many minor media celebrities receive recognition with State honours that Christopher Bishop's contribution to British and indeed global culture has never been recognised with a suit
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If this cycle was produced by James Mallinson and not Anna Barry, Gergiev's usual producer for Phillips, one can reasonably deduce that the Classic Sound team agreed to make this recording speculatively without financial or logistical support from Phillips, who most likely only agreed to release the recording(s) once they'd heard the result. So if the outcome is less than inspiring I can think of a number of reasons why the buck ought not to stop with the production company, who are likely to have benefitted little enough from their enterprise as it is.
London - May 2004
LSO LIVE GERGIEV PROKOFIEV SYMPHONIES
Jonathan Stokes with Producer James Mallinson embarked on a ten day recording period of the Prokofiev Symphonies with the LSO under the direction of Valery Gergiev.