The Royal Choral Society - Hallelujah Chorus ('Messiah' - Handel) (Live, 1926)

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On 2 April 1926, Gramophone Company engineers Arthur Clarke and George Dilllnutt recorded the choruses from the performance of 'Messiah' at the Royal Albert Hall, plus 'God Save the King' which concluded the performance. Malcolm Sargent conducted the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, and I assume the organ was played by R. Arnold Greir. Two double-sided discs were ultimately issued. D 1108 contained 'Behold the Lamb of God' and the 'Hallelujah Chorus' and D 1135 contained 'And the Glory of the Lord' and the 'Amen Chorus.'

Some time ago, I uploaded the two sides issued on D 1135, but for some reason I didn't add the remaining two sides. We now hear the Hallelujah Chorus.

Despite the technical shortcomings of early live recordings, they are wonderful souvenirs. In this case, the problems are no doubt exacerbated because my pressing of this disc is quite a late one, where stamper wear becomes a problem. Stampers, of course, wore as time went by. I was reliably informed many years ago that Hayes steadfastly refused to send replacement stampers to Australia. Perhaps we were regarded as too insignificant a market! In any event, it certainly isn't difficult to close your eyes and find yourself transported back 95 years to a crowded Royal Albert Hall.