This is an enchanting 1959 concert broadcast from London's Royal Festival Hall, conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham. Fabled for his wit, Beecham also inspired his Royal Philharmonic Orchestra virtuosi to play their hearts out for him. Beethoven's Symphony No.7, the main work on this program, has been called the "apotheosis of the dance," but the whole concert has that kind of buoyancy, from a gracefully romantic Mendelssohn overture, "The Fair Melusina," to "Carte blanche," a cheeky ballet by modern composer John Addison. Saint-Saë'ns's "Dance of the Priestesses" from "Samson et Dalila" has sinuous charm, and short encores by Debussy and Gounod also continue the dance theme. Sir Thomas was ineffably British, and to begin this concert he conducts "God Save the Queen" like a heroic opera in miniature, full of exciting drumrolls and swelling orchestral effects. In his spoken introduction to each encore, he sounds like a foxy old grandpa, rambling and grumbling sardonically. Have concerts ever been as amusing -- and musically charming -- as this? (Barnes & Noble - Benjamin Ivry)