RECORDINGS

They say that Frederick Delius (1862-1934) is an acquired taste, and the British, so far, are mainly the ones who have acquired it, thanks largely to the efforts of conductor Thomas Beecham. The present disc goes down easy enough, though, and it has some claims on American interest. There is the “Florida” Suite, an evocative half-hour of music inspired by Delius’ stay on an orange plantation in the 1880s (it sounds like Southern Grieg), and the final scene of the opera “Koanga,” based on a George Washington Cable novel set on a 17th century Louisiana plantation. Three first performances are given of early works found among Beecham’s papers: one, “La Quadroone,” is a charming, Rimsky-Korsakovian affair; another, Scherzo, is an interesting crib on Berlioz’s “Queen Mab.” Though there are grand, heroic and sparkling moments in Delius’ music, its basis is a Romantic sweetness and quietude; and though it is often simple and repetitive it also avoids cliche and a cloying aftertaste. Lloyd-Jones and the English Northern Philharmonia offer elegant, warmly felt performances, full of stylish portamento touches. The recorded acoustic is lush and spacious.