when the hallé orchestra announced in 1932 that its regular conductor, hamilton harty, was to spend some time conducting overseas, barbirolli was one of four guest conductors named to direct the orchestra in harty's absence: the other three were elgar, beecham and pierre monteux. barbirolli's programmes included works by composers as diverse as purcell, delius, mozart and franck. in june 1932, barbirolli married the singer marjorie parry, a member of the bnoc. in 1933 barbirolli was invited to become conductor of the scottish orchestra. it was not then, as its successor the scottish national orchestra was later to be, a permanent ensemble, but gave a season lasting about six months of each year. barbirolli remained with the scottish orchestra for three seasons, "rejuvenating the playing and programmes and winning most favourable opinions". notwithstanding his growing reputation in britain, barbirolli's name was little known internationally, and most of the musical world was taken by surprise in 1936 when he was invited to conduct the new york philharmonic orchestra in succession to arturo toscanini.