It is with regret that we have to report the death of the distinguished Scottish conductor, James Loughran, who died on 19 June at the age of 92.
In the UK he is best remembered as the conductor who took over the Hallé Orchestra after the death of Sir John Barbirolli and he remained in this post until 1983. He also led the Last Night of the Proms on five occasions between 1977 and 1984.
His activities were not confined to this country, however, and he appeared with distinction in Germany, Finland, Sweden and the USA., and was also elected guest conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra in 1980.
Regarded as a rather undervalued conductor in this country, many will still treasure his fine recordings with the Hallé of the Brahms Symphonies and the Piano Concertos (with John Lill), a fine Beethoven cycle, and memorable LPs of the Rachmaninoff Second Symphony and the Schubert “Great” C Major Symphony, the latter performed with all the repeats! He was also a fine Elgarian and recorded both the Symphonies.