James Walker (conductor)

Before and after his years with D'Oyly Carte Walker was a producer for Decca Records, working with a large number of international artists including Benjamin Britten, Pierre Monteux, Renata Tebaldi, Herbert von Karajan and Vladimir Ashkenazy.

[1] His musical talent became clear at an early age; when he was seven The Sydney Morning Herald printed an article headed "Child Wonder at Ashfield" reporting on a recital at which he performed on piano, organ and violin.

[3] At an Academy concert he played a movement of Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto under the baton of Sir Henry Wood, and was judged by The Musical Times to show great promise.

In that capacity he supervised or conducted recording sessions, working with leading British composers including Ralph Vaughan Williams.

[6] In the Christmas season of 1945–46 Walker made his professional London debut as conductor of The Glass Slipper "A Pantomime with Music Ballet and Harlequinade" by Herbert and Eleanor Farjeon at the St James's Theatre.

[9] In the later days of the company Walker gave the young flautist Peter Andry the chance to conduct and later encouraged him to pursue a career as a record producer.

Walker was co-producer of Decca's 1954 Vienna recording of Der Rosenkavalier conducted by Erich Kleiber, which has remained in the catalogues since its first issue.

[12] As one historian of the D'Oyly Carte company noted, "Godfrey left on a huge tide of affection and regret – and he was a hard act to follow".

[11] In 1964 Walker conducted the D'Oyly Carte company and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a soundtrack recording for an animated film of Ruddigore by Halas and Batchelor.

[16] In 1971 Walker resigned from the D'Oyly Carte company and returned to Decca, where for a time he concentrated on recordings of modern music, working with Pierre Boulez and others.