Thomas Beecham
Thomas Beecham
Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet, CHwas an English conductor and impresario best known for his association with the London Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic orchestras. He was also closely associated with the Liverpool Philharmonic and Hallé orchestras. From the early 20th century until his death, Beecham was a major influence on the musical life of Britain and, according to the BBC, was Britain's first international conductor...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionComposer
Date of Birth29 April 1879
opera immortality achieve
If an opera cannot be played by an organ grinder, it's not going to achieve immortality.
too-much protestants
Too much counterpoint; what is worse, Protestant counterpoint.
couple boys brass-bands
As you'll never hear the thing again, my boy, why not throw in a couple of brass bands?
stars soon-enough enough
No operatic star has yet died soon enough for me.
attractive i-can ifs
If she is attractive, I can't perform with her; if she is not, then I won't.
pregnancy miscarriage musical
In the first movement alone, I took note of six pregnancies and at least four miscarriages.
jumping musical yaks
What can you do with it? It's like a lot of yaks jumping about.
funny music brass-bands
Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away.
music men classical-music
A musicologist is a man who can read music but cannot hear it.
years age four
If I were a dictator I should make it compulsory for every member of the population between the ages of four and eighty to listen to Mozart for at least a quarter of an hour daily for the coming five years.
sick smoking ifs
When asked whether he minded if someone smoked in a non-smoking compartment. Certainly not if you don't object if I'm sick.
music symphony firsts
Elgar's first symphony is the musical equivalent of St Pancras Railway Station.
play orchestra rehearsal
At a rehearsal I let the orchestra play as they like. At the concert I make them play as I like.
memories inspirational-music great-music
Magical music never leaves the memory.