Barbirolli: a tribute by John Wilson
'I was 11 years old when I first heard a Barbirolli recording – Elgar’s Serenade for Strings – and I’ve idolised this great musician ever since. He remains the conductor I revere above all others. As well as being an interpretative artist of the first rank across an enormously wide repertoire, he had an unequalled ability to make any orchestra give of their absolute best for him. Thorough in rehearsal and attentive to the smallest details of a score whilst always maintaining the grand sweep of a piece, he loved to make records; how lucky we are to have such a comprehensive record of his music-making. Barbirolli was a very great conductor and a very great man.'