Beecham Back

Four years ago when Sir Thomas Beecham made his U. S. debut with Manhattan's Philharmonic Orchestra he conducted so vigorously that he popped a suspender. Last week he was back in Manhattan to lead the Philharmonic through the rest of its season in place of Arturo Toscanini, whose arm. although still lame, is improving. In a leisurely, almost halting fashion Sir Thomas took his first stand on a railed-in podium. He likes to walk about as he conducts. At rehearsal he had misjudged the width of his dais, fallen headlong among the first violins. Set back on his feet, he demanded a drink. Genial Maurice Van Praag, the Orchestra's personnel manager, brought him a glass of water. Said Sir Thomas afterwards: "I almost went back to England." But he stayed again to prove himself an expert leader, equal to such contrasting music as Balakirev's insinuating Thamar, Haydn's simple, forthright D Major Symphony, Strauss's striding Heldenleben.

In England people all know Sir Thomas as a potent chip off the late Sir Joseph Beecham, who made pills, like white BB shot, compounded of aloes, ginger and soap. Joseph Beecham, one of the first great advertisers, plastered all England with his slogan WORTH A GUINEA A BOX.* (The British Medical Association found that each box of pills cost a quarter of a cent to make.) Loud was his claim that his pills would cure constipation, pains in the back, cold chills, bad legs, maladies of indiscretion. ... Sir Thomas Beecham has preached music to Britishers just as his father preached pills. He has spent much of his fortune providing them with symphony concerts and opera. Wise-eyed and quick-thinking as his father, he has managed always to keep the Press provided with epigrammatic copy. In London one chill, foggy day, he started out on a long walk. The weather suddenly cleared. His topcoat was too warm to wear, too heavy to carry. He hailed a tottering taxi, opened the door, flung his coat in on the seat, ordered the driver: "Now, follow me!" In London some years ago he was named as a corespondent in a divorce case. There was a great deal of unpleasant publicity. When he came on stage to conduct the first concert afterwards there was not even a flutter of applause. Gravely remarked Sir Thomas to his musicians: "Well, gentlemen, shall we play a hymn?" In the U. S. four years ago Sir Thomas told interviewers that music in England was "one long promissory note." This time he insists that the English are the most musical people on earth: "We have 4,000 choral societies and we sing from morning until night. That's what's wrong with us. . . ." Sure of good copy, a radio commentator asked Sir Thomas last week to say a few words on the development of air music. Sir Thomas's few words never saw print: "Radio gets worse & worse year by year."

*U. S. slogan: "The Nation's Laxative." U. S. headquarters: Niagara Falls. U. S. demand for Beecham's Pills persists, although Carter's Little Liver Pills, a domestic product, have risen to outsell them.

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