Explore the life and legacy of the remarkable British conductor Sir Malcolm Sargent

A study day marking the 50th anniversary of his death. Sargent’s name is indissolubly linked with the Henry Wood Promenade Concerts, where he was Chief Conductor from 1947 until his death in 1967. He became a household name for presiding at the Last Night of the Proms with his trademark élan and for his frequent appearances on the BBC Home Service, notably the popular programme The Brains Trust.

This event draws on unpublished recordings of Sir Malcolm Sargent’s performances held in the Library’s Sound Archive as well as documentary material in the extensive Sargent Collection, including his voluminous correspondence. Speakers include broadcaster Tom Service, record producer Andrew Keener, conductors David Lloyd-Jones and Sian Edwards, music historians Donald Burrows and David Kidger, timpanist Pat Brady, clarinettist Colin Bradbury, Sargent’s biographer Richard Aldous, and Sargent’s secretary, Sylvia Darley OBE. The event coincides with the Last Night of the Proms which will feature a rare performance of Sargent’s orchestral work ‘An Impression on a Windy Day’.

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