"I Did It My Way"--Thomas Beecham"s Remarkable Career and 10 Best Recordings Previewed

[@davidaltschuler9687]

I dare anybody to top this Beecham recollection: "I was walking one day and saw a prominent woman walking towards me who I did know but whose name unfortunately escaped me. She greeted me, 'Hello, Sir Thomas, how are you?' 'Oh, fine, very fine...fine...' 'And how is your family, Sir Thomas?' 'Oh, just fine, thank you... um... and how is YOUR family' I asked, hoping for a clue as to her identity.' She said, 'Mostly well, but my brother has a bit of a cold.' 'So sorry. Ah, and what is your brother doing lately??' A long pause as her eyes began to squint and she replied, 'Oh... he's still the King.'

[@daigreatcoat44]

My favourite Beecham remark is his description of Karajan as "a sort of musical Malcolm Sargent"

[@allthisuselessbeauty-kr7]

Another Beecham remark about Sargent was he referred to him as 'Flash Harry'. When Sargent did a tour of Japan Beecham apparently remarked 'It's just a flash in Japan'

[@patrickcrowley9523]

I believe when Malcolm Sargent's car was hit by machine gunfire in the Middle East, Beecham remarked "who knew the Arabs were such music lovers".

[@paulkampen3687]

Here's one which was remembered by the late Ben Horsfall who was a member of the Halle orchestra in the pre WW2, pre Barbirolli (Harty) days. They were doing a concert in the Eastbrook Hall in Bradford with Beecham who was a great advocate of Sibelius but not the 6th Symphony which he could not stand. Beecham waved his arms disinterestly through the 6th symphony and, when it finished, there was tepid applause. Without turning to face the audience, Beecham said to the orchestra in a loud voice which rang around the hall "Good God!- are some of them still here?"

[@willduffay2207]

I bet the younger generation have never heard of Sargent! It's remarkable to read back and see how dominant he was at the Proms and elsewhere. But now? A footnote in musical history. And yet, Beecham apparently had great affection for him and respect - according to the wikipedia article - for his choral conducting in particular.

[@henrygingercat]

A great summary of Beecham's life and influence in the UK. My favourite bon mot is his comment to a not very good orchestral cellist in Australia: "Madam, you have between your legs an instrument capable of giving pleasure to thousands and all you can do is scratch it."

[@willduffay2207]

See, that one and the "What's your name?" "Ball, Maestro" "How very singular" just to me demonstrate his tendency to vulgarity and bullying. The cellist comment is unfunny and unforgivable, especially at a time when women were rare in orchestras.

[@henrygingercat]

@@willduffay2207 I suppose so, if you're lacking any sense of humour. And at least he didn't rant like Toscanini and Reiner (bullies to the nth).

[@willduffay2207]

@@henrygingercat Picture it: a rare woman in an orchestra - maybe single figures out of 70 or 80 - and the conductor, a major figurehead, an iconic personality, a man in charge at a time when conductors were all men and were permitted to bully and denigrate and shout, targets a clearly sexual joke at her, making a crude comparison between cello and vagina. And you find that funny? I suggest you take a course in empathy.

[@davidaiken1061]

Many thanks for this Beecham encomium. I hope it inspires your viewers to explore his vast recorded legacy. I was brought up on many of those recordings. My father, an inveterate music lover and record collector prized Beecham above all conductors, and I inherited his enthusiasm. Elegance, charm, wit, sensuous allure and loads of affection went into his best recordings--too many to number. I will conclude with a radical statement: I wouldn't trade Beecham's Handel recordings for all the historically informed Handel in the world. Beecham's Handel was a marvel mixture of majesty, intimacy and charm. Yes, recorchestrated and virtually recomposed Messiah and Solomon. Stuffy? Gaudy? Not a bit of it. Handel would have loved it, even as he raised an eyebrow or two. Long live Beecham's legacy!

[@jgesselberty]

So glad you said this. The elite musical establishment has made us feel less than intelligent for actually liking what Beecham did with Handel. I often think of it, not as re -orchestrating Handel, but imagining what Handel might have done if he had a modern orchestra. A definite "what if" but still very well worth listening to. And, Dave's chats and reviews, make it okay to like it.

[@davidaiken1061]

@@jgesselberty Absolutely. Though Handel wrote effectively and charmingly for modest forces (cf. the original version of "Acis and Galatea"), there's no doubt that he relished opportunities to impress with large ensembles and, within the means of Baroque instruments, lavish scoring ("Saul" a great example, as Dave H. points out). Handel was out to entertain and impress. His musical genius enabled him to do so consistently. Thanks for the feedback!

[@Dorset21]

At the height of my Delius-mania in the late 1990's, I visited the composers grave in a small churchyard in southern England. I was a little surprised to find the grave of Thomas Beecham directly next to Delius's. I guess that is a display of where his musical and personal eccentricities lay.

[@jefolson6989]

You had Deliusmania? A very rare affliction in deed! I guess the only treatment is time. Most people eventually get over it. Luckily it isn't usually fatal , but there can be many after efects!

[@davidblackburn3396]

I saw the Powell/Pressburger (The Red Shoes) film adaptation of Tales of Hoffman more than 30 years ago in a revival house here in the Village. Remember them? Beecham and his Royal Philharmonic provided the soundtrack. Beautifully done all around, in my opinion. One of my favorite moments in the film comes at the very end. The final credits roll, then suddenly there's Sir Thomas on the podium, conducting the final few exhilarating bars of that amazing score. Silence, then with a satisfied smile Sir Thomas makes the last sound we hear: the click of the baton as he plunks it down on the desk. Then and only then does the screen go dark. Delightful.

[@afischer8327]

What Beecham did for Sibelius has a lot of appreciation in Finland. I have some of these recordings, restored by Dutton Labs.

[@davidhickey1182]

I have never clicked over to ClassicsToday faster than I did after listening to this broadcast!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I hope you enjoyed it!

[@FREDGARRISON]

One of your best videos yet. I've watched videos of Sir Tommy on KZbin and he was definitely a character. Like the one where he couldn't lower the music stand when he was doing the FAUST Ballet music. For me, his recording of LALO'S: Symphony in G minor with the O.R.T.F is the best. Keep 'Em Coming, Dave.....

[@vincentspinelli9995]

Another superb analysis. One of my most favorite conductors. As you said, you can sense his enjoyment in all his work. The La Boheme was the first complete opera recording I bought many, many years ago. It captures the soul of the opera like no other. Some jerks will point out a wrong entrance here or there, a too slow tempo, a self indulgent rubato, etc. Tough beans. Still the best.

[@richardegarr1441]

Hi David... I just listened to Beecham's Beethoven 7 (on vinyl) ... wow you were so right - absolutely fabulous. Thanks for the knowledge. R

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

My pleasure. So glad you enjoyed it!

[@stephenjennings3844]

Thank-you for shedding light on Sir Thomas Beecham and his back story. I've lived in St Helens for over 23 years and I'm indebted to find an esteemed music critic from the US knows more about its most famous historical figure than I do. Because of boundary changes, the town is no longer part of Lancashire and it is now part of Merseyside. Nevertheless, the Beecham name has international recognition as you described in your video. Beecham's Tower, a building in the centre of town, remains a monument to the Beecham family enterprise. One of these days the town council will find a suitable way to acknowledge its importance hopefully. Like many others, I'm so grateful for your exceptional KZbin channel which has provided me with so much information, not to mention your great sense of humour during the pandemic. Now off to subscribe to Classics Insider.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you!

[@Bezart34]

Great talk, David. I didn't know about the Poulenc connection. Beecham HAS to be one of the wittiest and most comic musicians ever! True - without him, the Brit music scene probably would never have evolved to its current standard.

[@AlexMadorsky]

An inspirational reminder that spoiled rich kids can still do a great deal of good in the world. Their hallowed ancestors can apparently also cure biliousness, lumbago, scurvy, consumption, rickets, beriberi, neurasthenia, and all manner of illnesses. Can’t wait to scoot over to Classics Today and the Top 10 video!

[@bobross7005]

lol I’m so happy I found your channel. And it introduced me to Classics Today, at about the same time I encountered IDAGIO.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Welcome and have fun!

[@davidrowe3356]

Great choices over at Classics Today. His Faust Symphony might make a weird also-ran. I know you've done many overture reviews, and the beautiful melodies, but a video on the Beecham Lollipop would be great fun. Thanks, Dave. (You could even shave your beard to match his for the video...)

[@richardduffin7993]

I'd like to suggest the book "Thomas Beecham an obsession with music" by John Lucas published by Boydell Press as an excellent all round biography of the man and his music. Tells you all you need to know,

[@WestVillageCrank]

MUSIC BY GERSHWIN, the radio program that was so lucrative to Gershwin in the early 1930s, was sponsored by Feen-A-Mint (another laxative). And it was during that period that Gershwin composed PORGY AND BESS. So once again, laxatives contribute to art!

[@paulharmon557]

There's the one of Beecham showing up at a rehearsal in a hurry. He quickly informed the orchestra what would happen and dismissed them. A young musician spoke up "Sir Thomas, I've never played this symphony!" Beecham exclaimed, "You'll love it!"

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Please read the comments. We've already had this one.

[@paulharmon557]

@@DavesClassicalGuide I have read all 58 comments over and over without seeing the duplicate.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@paulharmon557 I saw it, but never mind. I appreciate your checking.

[@bbailey7818]

One of the great Sibelius conductors (and a champion of the Tempest music you once did a video on), and symphonies by Lalo. Balakirev, early Schubert, a complete Berlioz Troyens. and so much else nobody else was playing at the time, yet I don't think he ever conducted all of the Beethoven Nine or the Brahms Four.

[@grantparsons6205]

In his surprisingly affectionate assessment (given that they didn't get on), Walter Legge probably got the mark that ultimately Beecham shone in lighter music.

[@henrygingercat]

On the whole true but his recordings of Electra are pretty amazing and there’s a live Otello from Buenos Aries on youtube which is superb.

[@grantparsons6205]

@@henrygingercat yes the Electra is amazing. Thanks for the tip about Otello, which I haven't heard.

[@loganfruchtman953]

Beecham is a great Classical era symphonies particularly Mozart and Haydn and even the really unknown classical era French composer Ettiene Mehul. Also is that a reference to the song in the title or is that an actual quote by him?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

It's the song.

[@leeturner1202]

Another great Beecham recording (IMHO) is the Balakirev Symphony 1. Once again, something a little "out of the way" that he felt deserved class A treatment.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yep!

[@issadad]

Is it true that Beecham once compared the sound of the harpsichord to skeletons copulating on a corrugated tin roof? About La Boheme, any notable sonic improvement in the 2007 Naxos set compared to the 1986 EMI box (which includes libretto)? Thanks as always.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes and no

[@josephgreen8149]

Beecham recognised the woman who spoke to him in an exclusive Piccadilly Grocer but couldn’t for the life of him put a name to her. “How are you Sir Thomas”he was asked “oh very well” he replied and still trying to work out who she was asked “and how is your husband” She replied “very well still King“

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Please read the comments before repeating the same anecdotes.

[@ThreadBomb]

Beecham was renowned for his bon mots, and I recall there was actually a book of his witty remarks, but sadly it is long out of print.

[@MarauderOSU]

What do you think? Do we need a complete Sir Thomas Beecham box from Warner?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

That's what I said.

[@MarauderOSU]

@@DavesClassicalGuide Sorry. I must have missed it. BTW, the Beecham quote that I remember best (or at least one attributed to him) has to do with a female cellist in his orchestra.

[@dandickstein6513]

And Swiss conductor Paul Sacher married into Hoffman La Roche

[@paradisi12]

So without laxatives we'd have never had the March of the Mogul Emperor! Food for thought...

[@jasonquinlan731]

An appropriate shirt for Valentine's Day Dave!

[@moshegoldstein4663]

Hi dear David. Would like,if i may, suggest anoter rare gem..the concertino bianko for piano,by georgs pelecis... especially the first amazing chapter.. indeed its sweet , maybe to sweet..but my god so much beuty...

[@quinto34]

Interesting stuff, thanks!

[@robertdandre94101]

i love the carmen opera with beecham and victoria de los angeles ( emi)...i'ts fresh,lively,émotionaly intense....i like...ok the french prononciation is not remarquable.but that stay my best versions

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

I concur with Sir Thomas' observation that the harpsichord sounds like two skeletons copulating -- thus necessitating the invention of the piano.

[@philipadams5386]

There's nothing wrong with a steamed suet pudding.

[@henrygingercat]

Isn’t that, albeit in Latin, the Society of British Cardiologists’ motto?

[@afischer8327]

I have no idea what you're talking about when you mention the indigestibility of British cuisine. I have just had some kipper and haggis starter, followed by tripe and cabbage with burnt potatoes, then cider vinegar pudding with boiled eels. Oh, hang on, where's the Beechams?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yum!

[@tomthumb2361]

He was Northern English, not simply English. Very independent as a result. Southerners tend to hunt in packs.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Sure. Whatever. And I'm from upper Delaware, but was raised in Lower Connecticut. That made all the difference. Naturally.

[@chrishaines1677]

To find out what his best recordings are I have to pay 49 dollars?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Yes, that and much else besides, and you should be thrilled to have the opportunity!

[@williamwhittle216]

How did it go: "Beecham's pills are just the thing....." Can anyone finish this?

[@thiinkerca]

Well we know what won't be his ten best bach which he couldn't stand , strange man that he was.

[@Plantagenet1956]

I think his Scheherazade (Rimsky), is one of the best.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I don't.

[@Plantagenet1956]

@@DavesClassicalGuide ah, yes true. I seem to remember it was Reiner? IIRR?

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

@@Plantagenet1956 I think so.