| Rudolf Kempe was associated with the Royal Philharmonic (RPO) from 1955. In 1960, he became its Associate Conductor, chosen by the orchestra's founder, Sir Thomas Beecham. From 1961 to 1962 he was Principal Conductor of the RPO, and from 1963 to 1975 its Artistic Director. A member of the RPO later said of Kempe, "He was a wonderful controller of the orchestra, and a very great accompanist ... Kempe was like someone driving a racing-car, following the piano round the bends." Kempe abolished Beecham's male-only rule, introducing women into the RPO: an orchestra without them, he said, "always reminds me of the army". In 1970, the RPO named him Conductor for Life, but in 1975, he resigned his post with the orchestra and died the following year, aged 65. Side One
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Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Rudolf Kempe Recorded on 28 & 31 January and 26 April 1961 at No.1 Studio, Abbey Road, London. Produced by Ronald Kinloch Anderson and engineered by Robert Gooch. |