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Thomas Beecham

Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet, CH (29 April 1879 – 8 March 1961) was 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.

Born to a rich industrial family, Beecham began his career as a conductor in 1899. He used his access to the family fortune to finance opera from the 1910s until the start of the Second World War, staging seasons at Covent Garden, Drury Lane and His Majesty's Theatre with international stars, his own orchestra and a wide repertoire. Among the works he introduced to England were Richard Strauss's Elektra, Salome and Der Rosenkavalier and three operas by Frederick Delius.

Together with his younger colleague Malcolm Sargent, Beecham founded the London Philharmonic, and he conducted its first performance at the Queen's Hall in 1932. In the 1940s he worked for three years in the United States where he was music director of the Seattle Symphony and conducted at the Metropolitan Opera. After his return to Britain, he founded the Royal Philharmonic in 1946 and conducted it until his death in 1961.

Beecham's repertoire was eclectic, sometimes favouring lesser-known composers over famous ones. His specialities included composers whose works were neglected in Britain before he became their advocate, such as Delius and Berlioz. Other composers with whose music he was frequently associated were Haydn, Schubert, Sibelius and the composer he revered above all others, Mozart.

Birth and Death Data: Born April 29, 1879 (St Helens), Died March 8, 1961 (London)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1915 - 1932

Roles Represented in DAHR: conductor, arranger, speaker

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 52 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 6800 12-in. approximately 1916 Midsummer night's dream : Scherzo Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6904 12-in. approximately 1916 Minuet in D Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6905 12-in. approximately 1916 Barber of Seville overture Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6907 12-in. approximately 1916 Roman carnival overture Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6908 12-in. approximately 1916 Marriage of Figaro overture Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6918 12-in. approximately 1916 Valse triste Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6919 12-in. approximately 1916 Bartered bride overture Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6920 12-in. approximately 1916 Symphonic dance, no. 2, op. 64 Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6921 12-in. approximately 1916 Romeo and Juliet : Processional March Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6922 12-in. approximately 1916 Oberon overture, part 1 Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6923 12-in. approximately 1916 Oberon overture, part 3 Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6924 12-in. approximately 1916 Damnation of Faust march Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 75414 12-in. approximately 1917 Have you news of my boy Jack? Thomas Beecham ; Clara Butt Female vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  
Columbia 76036 12-in. approximately 1917 Fair maid of Perth : Minuet Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 76037 12-in. approximately 1917 Marriage of Figaro : Sarabande Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 76225 12-in. approximately August 1918 Petite suite : En bateau Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 76226 12-in. approximately August 1918 Petite suite : Ballet Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX2924 12-in. either June or July 1927 His yoke is easy B.B.C. Chorus ; Thomas Beecham Vocal chorus, with organ and orchestra conductor  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX2958 12-in. either June or July 1927 Every valley shall be exalted Thomas Beecham ; Hubert Eisdell Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3158 12-in. between August 1927 and January 1928 March Thomas Beecham ; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra conductor  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3159 12-in. between August 1927 and January 1928 Symphony "Antar" Thomas Beecham ; Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Orchestra conductor  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3925 12-in. between June and August 1928 O patria mia Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3928 12-in. between June and August 1928 Suicidio Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3929 12-in. between June and August 1928 Vissi d'arte Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  
Columbia (U.K.) WAX3930 12-in. between June and August 1928 Voi lo sapete Thomas Beecham ; Eva Turner Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra conductor  
(Results 26-50 of 52 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Beecham, Thomas," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101895.

Beecham, Thomas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101895.

"Beecham, Thomas." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/101895

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