Abbey Road Studios large garden behind the townhouse, which permitted a much larger building to be constructed to the rear; thus, the Georgian façade belies the true dimension of the building. Pathé filmed the opening of the studios in November 1931 when Edward Elgar conducted the London Symphony Orchestra in recording sessions of his music. In 1934, the inventor of stereo sound, Alan Blumlein, recorded Mozart's "Jupiter Symphony" which was conducted by Thomas Beecham at the studios. The neighbouring house is also owned by the studio and used to house musicians. During the mid-20th century, the studio was extensively used by leading British
London Symphony Orchestra which was unique at that time". Since then, according to the orchestra's website, the LSO has made more recordings than any other orchestra, a claim endorsed by "Gramophone" magazine. In 1920 the LSO signed a three-year contract with the Columbia Graphophone Company and what Jolly calls "a magnificent series of recordings" followed. Under Felix Weingartner the orchestra recorded Mozart (Symphony No 39), Beethoven (the Fifth, Seventh and Eighth Symphonies) and Brahms's First. Other recordings from this period included the premiere recording of Holst's "The Planets", conducted by the composer, and Richard Strauss's "Don Juan", "Ein Heldenleben" and "Tod und Verklärung",