I am sorry to say, the conductor David Lloyd-Jones has died. A founder of and driving force behind Opera North (originally English National Opera North) and its orchestra (once identified as the English Northern Philharmonia), he made many fine recordings for the Naxos, Marco Polo, Dutton, Chandos, and Hyperion labels. His cycle of Arnold Bax symphonies received particular acclaim and his series of English string music recordings revealed many delights.

His discography also includes works by William Alwyn, Lord Berners, Arthur Bliss, Frederick Delius, George Dyson, Edward Elgar, John Gardner, Gustav Holst, Constant Lambert, Alan Rawsthorne, Charles Villiers Stanford, Arthur Sullivan, Ralph Vaughan Williams, and William Walton. In the opera house, he also earned respect for his outstanding performances of the Russian repertoire.

Sadly, solid, high-profile interpreters of English music are thin on the ground these days. Happily, Lloyd-Jones lived to a ripe age. He was 87 years-old.

Thank you, and R.I.P.