Sir John Barbirolli

Sir John Barbirolli , 1899-1970, English conductor and cellist, b. London. After being cellist (1920-24) in the International String Quartet, he organized the Barbirolli String Orchestra. Barbirolli held positions as conductor of the British National Opera Company (1926), the Covent Garden Opera Company (1930-33), the Scottish Orchestra, and the Leeds Symphony (1933-36). In 1937 he succeeded Toscanini as conductor of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra (1937-42). After 1943, Barbirolli conducted the Halle Orchestra, Manchester, and was knighted in 1949. He became conductor of the Houston Symphony Orchestra in 1961. Barbirolli was noted for sensitive musical interpretation and for his transcriptions of early music for the modern orchestra.

Bibliography: See biographies by C. Reid and M. Kennedy (both 1971).

Barbirolli, Sir John (1899–1970) English conductor who won international acclaim for his sensitive interpretations. He conducted the New York Philharmonic (1937–42), and was then resident with the Hallé Orchestra, Manchester (1943–68), which he transformed into a world-class ensemble.

Barbirolli (Lady) Evelyn (née Rothwell) (b Wallingford, 1911; d Florence, 2003). Eng. oboist and teacher. 2nd wife of Sir John Barbirolli whom she married 1939. Oboist, CG Touring Orch. 1931–2, Scottish Orch. 1933–7, Glyndebourne Opera Orch. 1934–8, LSO 1935–9. Thereafter soloist and recitalist, member of various ens. Gave f.p. in modern times of Mozart's oboe concerto (K314), Salzburg, 1948. Author of several books on ob. technique. Prof. of ob., RAM, 1971–87. OBE 1984.