George Weldon

George Weldon (June 5 1908, Chichester, England – August 17 1963, South Africa) was an English conductor.

Biography

Weldon was educated at Sherborne School and at the Royal College of Music. He studied conducting with Malcolm Sargent. [Halstead, [http://books.google.com/books?id=CGWyOhGfjUEC&pg=PA15&vq=%22george+weldon%22&dq=%22george+weldon%22&as_brr=3&sig=jePJGVnR2PDJFLJvloWxt7b-_3U p. 15] ] In 1943, at 36 years of age, he became the conductor of the City of Birmingham Orchestra in succession to Leslie Heward, where he largely reconstituted the orchestra.

Ruth Gipps became the choirmaster of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Choir in 1948 after the birth of her son, Lance, the previous year. Rumours circulated that the married Gipps was having an affair with Weldon and that Lance was Weldon's son, but these were never confirmed. [Halstead, [http://books.google.com/books?id=CGWyOhGfjUEC&pg=PA151&vq=weldon&dq=%22george+weldon%22&as_brr=3&sig=ySkwF5wqRW5oB4Zv8d0uOq2Ns-U p. 151] ]

In 1950 it was suddenly announced that Weldon would be replaced by Rudolf Schwarz. The reasons for this are unclear, but according to Ruth Gipps, Weldon resigned before he could be dismissed. [Halstead, [http://books.google.com/books?id=CGWyOhGfjUEC&pg=PA32&vq=weldon&dq=%22george+weldon%22&as_brr=3&sig=X-J72nWunwep2hjCxwEiZondxaw p. 32] ] In 1952 he became assistant to John Barbirolli at the Hallé Orchestra and remained in that position until his death. While in Manchester, he took charge of the Hallé summer seasons of promenade concerts, and many industrial concerts around the north of England. He frequently conducted in London and abroad, made broadcasts and many records. [Chislett W A. Notes "to British Concert Pops". EMI LP, 30123, 1970.]

Recordings

Weldon made a series of recordings for EMI, including some in stereo. His recordings of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" and "The Sleeping Beauty" with the Philharmonia Orchestra has been reissued on CD on the Seraphim Records and Classics for Pleasure labels. Numerous other recordings by Weldon were also available on CD as of 2008. [amazon.com]

Notes

References

*cite book | last=Halstead | first=Jill | title=Ruth Gipps: Anti-modernism, Nationalism, and Difference in English Music | location=Burlington, VT | publisher=Ashgate | year=2006 | isbn=0754601781
*cite web | author=Dr. David C F. Wright | title=George Weldon, The Myths About Conductors | url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/performers/Weldon.html | publisher=MusicWeb International | date=1999 | accessdate=2007-08-18

External links

* [http://www.georgeweldon.co.uk George Weldon - A Life of Music and Very Fast Cars (2007)- Margery Law & Jean Powrie]