Eduard van Beinum (1900-59) succeeded Willem Mengelberg as conductor of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra having previously been involved with the ensemble prior to that appointment. For a couple of seasons, from 1947, van Beinum was also appointed to the London Philharmonic, although ill-health forced him out (the LPO sending for Boult) and his weak heart would eventually prove fatal (collapsing during a Concertgebouw rehearsal), by which time he was also music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Van Beinum made numerous recordings for Decca and Philips, with his Amsterdam and London orchestras (the greater percentage with the former), handsomely collected here with the original artwork. He was a fine musician – thoughtful and wholesome in his approach, tasteful and watchful, yet penetrating – making for performances that have stood the test of time and which will continue to do so. Orchestra members admired him greatly.

Included here are beguiling accounts of Bach’s four Orchestral Suites happily accommodated on an eighty-two-minute disc, and a complete Handel Water Music, with some of the movements also heard in Hamilton Harty’s scoring. There’s much Mozart (Symphonies and Concertos) neatly appendixed by Max Reger’s Mozart Variations, several Haydn Symphonies (all nicely judged, especially No.97), as well as Beethoven, Schubert and Bruckner, the latter’s Symphonies 5, 7 (twice), 8 and 9 – that last-mentioned unfinished work in this very recording being the first time I wrote a review for a fee (Tower Classical News, edited by John Pattrick). Nor are Mahler (Symphony 4 & Das Lied) and Sibelius (En saga & Tapiola) forgotten.

Brahms gets a substantial look-in with the Four Symphonies – including a great account of Symphony 1 (two other versions, too) and “great” also informs Ravel’s La valse – shattering – and some wonderful Debussy from Amsterdam that paved the way for Haitink’s acclaimed recordings. (In ‘Gigues’ from Images pour orchestre a trumpet refrain is twice muted and should then be without – here mutes are left in.) Bartók and Stravinsky are represented with masterpieces, respectively The Rite and Concerto for Orchestra, and there are Russian favourites from Borodin, Rimsky (Scheherazade) and Tchaikovsky (Romeo and Juliet; Serenade for Strings).

Soloists include Anda, Casadesus, Curzon, Grumiaux, Haefliger, Olof, and others, in choice repertoire. Van Beinum recorded Malcolm Arnold (Beckus the Dandipratt) and Elgar (Cello Concerto with Anthony Pini; Wand of Youth) in London and Britten (Spring Symphony) in Amsterdam; nor did he overlook Dutch composers who may not be household names. And there are rare 78s, for Dutch Decca, Telefunken and DG. Fascinating listening!

The sound is mostly good, or better than that, well-remastered, whether stereo or mono (some of the latter are wonderfully tangible), and those that are a bit scratchy have been restored with due diligence. Presentation is excellent – a booklet with essays, photographs, discographic information and a handy index for exploring the current release, a treasure-trove of selfless yet characterful music-making that defies the ravages of time. Decca 485 1387 (43 CDs + Audio Documentary Feature) will continue to give.

Bach, J S: Orchestral Suites Nos. 1-4, BWV1066-1069

Clarke, Jeremiah: Trumpet Voluntary ‘Prince of Denmark’s March’

Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV351

Handel: Water Music Suite

Bach, J C: Sinfonia in B flat major, Op. 18 No. 2

Bach, J C: Symphony in D major, Op. 18 No. 4, W. C27

Handel: Water Music Suite

Mozart: Flute & Harp Concerto in C major, K299

Mozart: Symphony No. 29 in A major, K201

Mozart: Symphony No. 33 in B flat major, K319

Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D major, K385 ‘Haffner’

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K491

Mozart: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K622

Mozart: Serenade No. 9 in D major, K320 ‘Posthorn’

Reger: Variations and Fugue for Orchestra on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 132

Haydn: Symphony No. 94 in G Major ‘Surprise’

Haydn: Symphony No. 96 in D major ‘Miracle’

• 1952 recording

Haydn: Symphony No. 97 in C major

Haydn: Symphony No. 96 in D major ‘Miracle’

• 1947 recording

Haydn: Symphony No. 100 in G major ‘Military’

Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus, Op. 43

Beethoven: Egmont Overture, Op. 84

Beethoven: Coriolan Overture, Op. 62

Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b

Beethoven: Consecration of the House Overture, Op. 124

Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheus Overture, Op. 43

Beethoven: Fidelio Overture Op. 72c

Beethoven: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61

Beethoven: Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36

Schubert: Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D417 ‘Tragic’

Schubert: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major, D485

Schubert: Rosamunde, D797: Overture

Schubert: Symphony No. 3 in D major, D200

Schubert: Symphony No. 6 in C major, D589

Schubert: Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759 ‘Unfinished’

Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26

Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, Op. 21

Beethoven: Leonore Overture No. 2, Op. 72a

Rossini: La scala di seta Overture

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture, Op. 21

Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 in A major, Op. 90 ‘Italian’

Rossini: La gazza ladra Overture

Rossini: Guillaume Tell Overture

Rossini: Semiramide Overture

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14

• 1946 recording

Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24 (orchestral excerpts)

Berlioz: Marche troyenne (from Les Troyens)

Berlioz: Le carnaval romain Overture, Op. 9

Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14

• 1951 recording

Berlioz: Le carnaval romain Overture, Op. 9

Berlioz: La Damnation de Faust, Op. 24 (orchestral excerpts)

Brahms: Variations on a theme by Haydn for orchestra, Op. 56a ‘St Anthony Variations’

• 1952 Recording

Brahms: Symphonies Nos. 1-4

Brahms: Variations on a theme by Haydn for orchestra, Op. 56a ‘St Anthony Variations’

• 1949 Recording

Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68

• 1958 Recording

Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90

• 1958 Recording

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15

Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81

• 1952 Recording

Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80

• 1952 Recording

Brahms: Alto Rhapsody, Op. 53

Brahms: Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77

Brahms: Variations on a theme by Haydn for orchestra, Op. 56a ‘St Anthony Variations’

• 1958 Recording

Brahms: Tragic Overture, Op. 81

• 1958 Recording

Brahms: Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80

• 1958 Recording

Bruckner: Symphony No. 5 in B flat major

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E Major

• 1947 Recording

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 in E Major

• 1953 Recording

Bruckner: Symphony No. 8 in C minor

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 in D Minor

Mahler: Symphony No. 4

Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen

Mahler: Das Lied von der Erde

Mahler: Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen

Lalo: Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for strings in C major, Op. 48

Tchaikovsky: Andante Cantabile (from String Quartet No. 1 in D Op. 11)

Tchaikovsky: The Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a

Tchaikovsky: Romeo & Juliet – Fantasy Overture

Rimsky Korsakov: Scheherazade, Op. 35

Borodin: Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances

Bizet: L’Arlesienne Suites 1 & 2

Debussy: Danses sacrée et profane

Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring

Stravinsky: Le Chant du Rossignol

Kodály: Háry János Suite

Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, BB 123, Sz.116

Bartók: Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta, BB 114, Sz. 106

Stravinsky: The Firebird Suite

Sibelius: Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47

Sibelius: En Saga, Op. 9

Sibelius: Tapiola, Op. 112

Sibelius: Finlandia, Op. 26

Sibelius: Valse Triste, Op. 44 No. 1

Franck, C: Psyche Suite

Franck, C: Symphonic Variations for piano & orchestra, M46

Ravel: Rapsodie Espagnole

Ravel: Boléro

Ravel: La Valse

Debussy: Trois Nocturnes

Debussy: La Mer

Debussy: Images for orchestra, L. 122

Elgar: Cockaigne Overture, Op. 40 ‘In London Town’

Elgar: Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85

Elgar: Elegy for strings, Op. 58

Elgar: The Wand of Youth Suite No. 1, Op. 1a

Elgar: The Wand of Youth Suite No. 2, Op. 1b

Britten: The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34

Pijper: Symphony No. 3

Britten: Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia from Peter Grimes, Op. 33

Arnold: Beckus the Dandipratt, Op. 5 – Comedy Overture

Britten: Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia from Peter Grimes, Op. 33

Britten: The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34

Debussy: Berceuse héroïque

Debussy: Marche Écossaise

Thomas, Ambroise: Mignon Overture

Grieg: Two Elegiac Melodies, Op. 34

Nicolai, C O: Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor overture

Sousa: The Stars and Stripes Forever

Pijper: Zes symfonische epigrammen

Pijper: Piano Concerto

Henkemans: Violin Concerto

Diepenbrock: Marsyas concert suite

Brahms: Variations on a theme by Haydn for orchestra, Op. 56a ‘St Anthony Variations’

Bizet: L’Arlésienne Suite

Reger: Valse d’amour

Smetana: Vltava (from Má Vlast)

Berlioz: Benvenuto Cellini Overture

Wagner: Lohengrin: Prelude to Act 3

Beethoven: Egmont Overture, Op. 84

Bach, J S: Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV1067: excerpts

Bach, J S: Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV1068

Strauss, R: Don Juan, Op. 20