In April 1926 a silent-film version of Der Rosenkavalier was given its first showing in London at the Tivoli Theatre, and Strauss was persuaded to conduct the specially arranged orchestral accompaniment at the premiere. Conditions were not to his liking. ''Not a good orchestra, not like Covent Garden'', he remarked to his players, but almost immediately after the performance he and the Augmented Tivoli Orchestra visited the Queen's Hall and recorded excerpts from the revised score for HMV. The 'suite' contains orchestral excerpts from the opera, and some vocal passages transcribed for orchestra, plus a ''Presentation March'' which does not appear in the opera at all.
In fact, the playing is very good by contemporary London standards, and even though this was an early electrical recording the sound is more than adequate, and captures well a great performing artist at work. The way Strauss inflects the waltz rhythms is captivating; the manner in which he unfolds the long melodic lines is masterly, and his conducting has perfect clarity, balance and refinement of expression.