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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 1-25 of 52 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor CSHQ-71658 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of New York ; Mishel Piastro ; Alfred Wallenstein Orchestra, with violin and cello solos conductor  
Victor CSHQ-71659 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic ; René Pollain Orchestra, with viola solo conductor  
Victor LCSHQ-71660 12-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra, with violin, viola, and cello solos conductor  
Victor CSHQ-71661 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor CSHQ-71663 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor LCSHQ-71664 12-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor CSHQ-71665 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor CSHQ-71666 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor LCSHQ-71667 12-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor CSHQ-71668 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor CSHQ-71669 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor LCSHQ-71670 12-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor CSHQ-71671 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor CSHQ-71672 12-in. 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Victor LCSHQ-71673 12-in. (33-1/3 rpm) 4/7/1932 Don Quixote Thomas Beecham ; New York Philharmonic Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6559 12-in. approximately 1915 The magic flute overture Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6560 12-in. approximately 1915 The magic flute overture Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6563 12-in. approximately 1915 Manon: Menuet Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6564 12-in. approximately 1915 Der Rosenkavalier waltzes, act 2 Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6601 12-in. approximately 1915 Prince Igor Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6602 12-in. approximately 1915 Symphony no. 2, 2nd movement, abbreviated Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6603 12-in. approximately 1915 Symphony no. 2, 3nd movement, abbreviated Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6604 12-in. approximately 1915 Symphony no. 2 - Antar Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6797 12-in. approximately 1916 Firebird suite from ballet, part 1 Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
Columbia 6799 12-in. approximately 1916 Firebird suite from ballet, part 2 Beecham Symphony Orchestra ; Thomas Beecham Orchestra conductor  
(Results 1-25 of 52 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Beecham, Thomas," accessed November 13, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/101895.

Beecham, Thomas. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 13, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/101895.

"Beecham, Thomas." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 13 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/101895

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