London Symphony Orchestra the composer conducted, the rest of the programme was conducted by Coates, who overran his rehearsal time at the expense of Elgar's. Lady Elgar wrote, "that brutal selfish ill-mannered bounder ... that brute Coates went on rehearsing." In "The Observer" Newman wrote, "There have been rumours about during the week of inadequate rehearsal. Whatever the explanation, the sad fact remains that never, in all probability, has so great an orchestra made so lamentable an exhibition of itself." Coates remained as chief conductor for two seasons, and after the initial debacle is credited by Morrison with "breathing life and energy into
The Sea (Bridge) own musical evocation of the sea, the symphonic poem "La mer" ("The Sea"), in 1905. Bridge was to die at Friston near Eastbourne in 1941. "The Sea" received its first performance at a Prom Concert in London on 24 September 1912, with the New Queen's Hall Orchestra conducted by Sir Henry Wood. The composer himself conducted the Cleveland Orchestra, Detroit Symphony and Boston Symphony premieres after the First World War. Bridge also conducted a recording of the suite. Later recordings have been conducted by Sir Charles Groves, Vernon Handley and Richard Hickox. Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, English Horn, 2