Beecham, Thomas, -
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Biography
Sir Thomas Beecham (), 2nd Baronet, conductor, composer and operatic impresario, was the founder of several orchestras including the London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, and the Beecham Opera Company which led to the formation of the British National Opera Company. He was for 40 years one of the world's greatest conductors.
He was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, the son of a wealthy pharmaceutical manufacturer, and educated at Rossall School and Wadham College, Oxford. In , at the age of twenty and with no special musical training he founded an amateur orchestra, and seven years later created the New Symphony Orchestra which performed at the Queen's Hall. Two years after this he formed the Beecham Symphony Orchestra. In the generous commitment of his personal fortune to the world of musical performance he notably supported new music, including that of Richard Strauss, and in particular during these years and ever after he championed the works of Delius, whose reputation he effectively established. His career as an operatic impresario began in with a production of Ethel Smyth's The Wreckers at His Majes
Born April 29, , in St. Helens, Lancashire, England; (died March 8, in London, England); son of Joseph (a chemist) and Josephine (Burnett) Beecham; married Utica Celestia Welles, (divorced, ); married Betty Humby Thomas (a pianist), (she died in ); married Shirley Hudson, ; children: Adrian Welles (one of two sons from his first marriage). Education: Attended Wadham College, Oxford,
Sir Thomas Beecham's influence on classical music during a span of several decades across the twentieth century was unparalleled. Founder and principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Beecham depleted much of his own fortune to present before British audiences orchestral works and operas that had heretofore been considered daring, avant-garde, or even too "foreign"; as a result, he introduced a generation of London music-lovers to some outstanding composers, especially the lighter French artists of the previous century. Beecham was known for a legendary wit and his cutting manner, but many of the artists who worked with him recalled him as a delightful taskmaster.
Beecham was born in St. Helens, a town in the Lancashire area of England, on April 29, He was the namesake of his
Thomas Beecham
| English conductor and impresario Date of Birth: Country: Great Britain |
Content:
- Biography of Thomas Beecham
- Early Career
- Founding Orchestras
- Legacy
Biography of Thomas Beecham
Thomas Beecham was an English conductor and impresario who was born on April 29, , in St. Helens, near Liverpool. He came from a prosperous manufacturing family, which later allowed him to create and finance several English orchestras and opera companies.
Early Career
Beecham made his debut as a conductor in with the Queen's Hall Orchestra in London. In , he opened his own opera seasons. He served as a conductor at the Covent Garden Opera House in London from and conducted performances of Diaghilev's "Russian Seasons" in London in Beecham was knighted in
Founding Orchestras
In , Beecham founded the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and in , he founded the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, he embarked on a concert tour of the United States in Beecham had a particular interest in English music from the 18th century and compiled and orchestrated a series of orchestral suites from the works of Handel and his contemporaries.
Legacy
Beecham, Thomas
Conductor
For the Record
Selected discography
Sources
Sir Thomas Beechams influence on classical music during a span of several decades across the twentieth century was unparalleled. Founder and principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Beecham depleted much of his own fortune to present before British audiences orchestral works and operas that had heretofore been considered daring, avantgarde, or even too foreign
; as a result, he introduced a generation of London musiclovers to some outstanding composers, especially the lighter French artists of the previous century. Beecham was known for a legendary wit and his cutting manner, but many of the artists who worked with him recalled him as a delightful taskmaster.
Beecham was born in St. Helens, a town in the Lancashire area of England, on April 29, He was the namesake of his grandfather, who had created a tremendous family fortune with his own brand of digestive pills that also bore the name Beecham. The young boy enjoyed close ties with the elder Beecham; relations with his own parents were never wholly amiable during his adult life. His gift for music was eviden
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Beecham, Thomas
Conductor
For the Record
Selected discography
Sources
Sir Thomas Beechams influence on classical music during a span of several decades across the twentieth century was unparalleled. Founder and principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Beecham depleted much of his own fortune to present before British audiences orchestral works and operas that had heretofore been considered daring, avantgarde, or even too foreign ; as a result, he introduced a generation of London musiclovers to some outstanding composers, especially the lighter French artists of the previous century. Beecham was known for a legendary wit and his cutting manner, but many of the artists who worked with him recalled him as a delightful taskmaster.
Beecham was born in St. Helens, a town in the Lancashire area of England, on April 29, He was the namesake of his grandfather, who had created a tremendous family fortune with his own brand of digestive pills that also bore the name Beecham. The young boy enjoyed close ties with the elder Beecham; relations with his own parents were never wholly amiable during his adult life. His gift for music was eviden
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Biography of thomas ian nicholas Thomas Ian Nicholas is an American film actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and writer. Nicholas is best known for playing Henry Rowengartner in Rookie of the Year and Kevin .
Biography onew shinee 2016 Lee Jin-ki, better known by his stage name Onew, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and actor. Born in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, Onew was discovered at the SM Academy Casting and signed a contract with SM Entertainment the day after his audition. He debuted as the lead vocalist and leader of See more.
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