New Zealand-born conductor, Warwick Braithwaite, was a seminal figure in the musical life of Britain for more than fifty years. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and went on to tour with Joseph OMaras Grand Opera Company. At the time, he was believed to be the countrys youngest professional conductor.

Braithwaite worked with all the major British orchestras and many of the greatest artists of his day. He was associated with important musical institutions at key moments in their development, becoming the first Musical Director of the Welsh National Orchestra, and guiding the Scottish Orchestra through the difficult years of WWII. Much of Braithwaites career was spent conducting opera for Sadlers Wells, Welsh National Opera, Carl Rosa, and Covent Garden. He also worked with the Royal Ballet in London, and toured with them to Germany, France and Italy. Extensive post-war engagements took him to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Iceland and the Republic of Ireland.

Editor Roger Flury, former Curator of Music at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, had unique access to Braithwaites archive including the conductors substantial autobiography, published here for the first time. Flury contributes additional chapters covering Braithwaites musical legacy in Wales and his later years with Sadlers Wells Opera. The volume is enriched with several important appendices charting Braithwaites family, his significant recording career, his writings and most important of all his many compositions. Braithwaite emerges as an unsung hero in the history of music-making in the first half of the 20th century.

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