Déjà Review: this review was first published in May 2011 and the recording is still available.
Sir Thomas Beecham: The Great Communicator
An audio documentary written, narrated and produced by Jon Tolansky
Includes contributions by Lucina Amara, Nicolai Gedda, Jon Vickers, Dame Eva Turner, Giovanni Martinelli & John Lucas.
rec. stereo/mono ADD/DDD
Originally reviewed as EMI Classics release
Warner Classics 9099642 [4 CDs: 314]
The compliments heaped on Beecham and his technique in this commentary set can initially seem excessive. Even in Track 1 a feeling of foreboding arises: “there are four discs are they all going to be flowery and wordy?” The conductor’s qualities recited can seem excessive to say the least. Hardly any performance would seem to match the description of a ‘fusion of lyrical expressiveness polished refinement, rhythmic élan and virtuoso brilliance.’
All of that said, it is the finest compliment of all that when Mendelssohn’s music is turned up the result seems even greater than the words could convey. The difficulty of describing musical qualities in words has rarely been made more obvious! Jon Tolansky is an enthusiastic and intelligent host however, and his history of Beecham is certainly an engaging and intriguing insight into the life and accomplishments of this famous conductor. It is most interesting to see Beecham’s ‘genius’ – a word which crops up often in this celebration – within the historical context perhaps making his achievements even more arresting. Elements which are easy to forget because of his charming manner – such as the scope of his repertoire including the English debuts of the ‘shocking’ Strauss operas Elektra and Salome as well as the beautiful Der Rosenkavalier – are clearly and concisely relayed. I find the contributions a very welcome source of entertainment as well as knowledge. There are some truly charming contributions. For me the most memorable is that of John Lucas, the author of a biography of Beecham; he sounds like someone you could talk to all day long.
Walter Legge who was a huge force at EMI throughout the inter-war years and throughout much of the post-war era had lots of dealings with Beecham at Covent Garden through EMI. The portrait in his book ‘On and Off the Record’ is one which overall suggests an appreciable artist who was maddening to work with. I appreciate the chance to hear another more complete analysis here. Even here – in a celebration – there is space for a discussion of his impish nature under ‘Controversy’ – Disc 4 Track 6. I find this quite endearing in a way foreign to Walter Legge’s rather more cynical viewpoint. I think their relationship is an illustration of ‘egos in mortal combat!’. In all these contributions it is the ‘human’ element I find most interesting – the stories from the background and how singers and orchestras got on with Beecham. That is the chief pleasure of this set.
Anyone who scrapes the surface in classical recordings will know about Beecham. The danger is taking him for granted. It was an achievement in his time to make excellent records which stood out as prime recommendations on 78 and then on LP. However, the achievement is even greater when one considers just how many recordings of the repertoire have been made since then; Beecham’s discs still stand out as exceptional.
If Beecham was a great symphonic conductor on the evidence of this collection he was, especially in the 1920s and 1930s, an astonishing opera conductor. I enjoyed Eva Turner’s contribution from Aida. If his later opera records from the 1950s do not quite match this level of inspiration they remain excellent. I thought Lucina Amara’s waltz song from Boheme lovely and Nicolai Gedda’s contributions regarding Carmen intriguing. A special pleasure is Jon Vickers’ funny contribution about his work on Beecham’s Messiah – always one of my favourite recordings.
This set is an excellent experience – offering insight into the human relationships and stories behind some of the great symphonic and vocal music on record.
David Bennett
Other review: Jonathan Woolf
Contents
CD 1
Introduction
Early Life – The Beecham Symphony Orchestra
Early opera seasons – The London Philharmonic Orchestra Covent Garden
Mozart in Berlin
CD 2
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Marking parts
Rehearsing
Beecham’s improvisatory conducting
Lollipops
In the US
The National Anthem
Conducting technique
The Grande Messe des morts
Conducting choruses
Beecham’s Handel arrangements
Beecham as a guest composer
CD 3
Delius – French music
Beecham’s breadth of repertoire
German Music
Scandinavian Music
CD 4
In concert
Audiences
Controversy
The late opera recordings
Casting
Messiah
Beecham’s 80th birthday
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