Christopher Columbus (play)

Sir Adrian Boult conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the cast was headed by Laurence Olivier in the title role.

The production was greatly admired on both sides of the Atlantic, but Walton was reluctant to have his incidental music played in concert or on record and only one number from the score was published in his lifetime.

[1] The production, broadcast live, used Prokofiev's music from the original film; Sir Adrian Boult conducted the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus.

Bower proposed to follow his Alexander Nevsky with a radio play celebrating America, and commissioned Louis MacNeice to write the words and William Walton to compose the music.

Bowers had wanted Vivien Leigh for the part, but the BBC's casting office mistakenly believed that her contract with her film studios barred her from broadcasting, and Margaret Rawlings was given the role.

Asked to allow any of the music to be published, he responded, "I can't believe that there is anything worth resuscitating from that vast and boring score".

The movements are: In 1988 Carl Davis arranged music from Christopher Columbus as a cantata, for mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone, chorus and orchestra.