Beecham as instrumentalist

[Dave2002]

Beecham did not have a ”standard” way into conducting when he stood in for a scheduled conductor at a Halle concert. There doesn’t seem to have been much evidence that he could play any instruments.

[rauschwerk]

Well, Berlioz could play only the flageolet and the guitar but that didn't stand in the way of him becoming a virtuoso conductor, by all accounts.

[smittims]

Sir Thomas Beecham played the piano to what appears to be an acceptable amateur standard and, despite his surely jocular/modest claim to be 'probably the world's worst pianist' made several records.

In 1929 he recorded six songs by Delius sung by Dora Labbette. Three of these were issued on 78 at the time, the others on Lp in 1976.
In 1940 he recorded two songs composed by his son Adrian Beecham, sung by Nancy Evans.

At other times he played the piano in radio talks, notably one on Delius' 'Mass of Life'. And there's an extensive private recording of him playing and 'singing' (if that's the word!) Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann for Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, in conjunction with their film of the opera, This has been issued on CD in the SOMM Beecham collection, and is a 'must' for all Beecham fans.

[Pulcinella]

Well, Berlioz could play only the flageolet and the guitar but that didn't stand in the way of him becoming a virtuoso conductor, by all accounts.

Or writing a book on orchestration!

[pastoralguy]

Beecham did not have a ”standard” way into conducting when he stood in for a scheduled conductor at a Halle concert. There doesn’t seem to have been much evidence that he could play any instruments.

Maybe not but he had access to large quantities of cash so that was possibly more advantageous than being able to play an instrument! Of course being rich will only get you so far but there’s no doubt he was a wonderful conductor.

[Dave2002]

Sir Thomas Beecham played the piano to what appears to be an acceptable amateur standard and, despite his surely jocular/modest claim to be 'probably the world's worst pianist' made several records.

In 1929 he recorded six songs by Delius sung by Dora Labbette. Three of these were issued on 78 at the time, the others on Lp in 1976.
In 1940 he recorded two songs composed by his son Adrian Beecham, sung by Nancy Evans.

At other times he played the piano in radio talks, notably one on Delius' 'Mass of Life'. And there's an extensive private recording of him playing and 'singing' (if that's the word!) Offenbach's Tales of Hoffmann for Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, in conjunction with their film of the opera, This has been issued on CD in the SOMM Beecham collection, and is a 'must' for all Beecham fans.

Interesting that he may have been a passable amateur pianist after all.

Surely some of us have heard some of his “singing” - in rehearsal recordings. Not quite up to the standards of Florence Foster Jenkins, nor to Caruso or Gigli either.

Regarding Berlioz - being able to play a guitar at least moderately well is not something to be sneezed at

[smittims]

Beecham was not actually 'rich' , pastoralguy. It's often assumed that because he was Sir Joseph Beecham's son he was rolling in money but the reality is quite different. John Lucas' detailed biography goes into his remarkably complex financial history. Much of the time he was deep in debt. And much of the money he spent was on promoting Britsh composers such as Delius and Joseph Holbrooke, who otherwise would not have got a hearing.

To retur to the main topic, I think it's,interesting to compare those conductors who could actually play an orchestral instrument to at least performing standard:

Richter, Toscanini, Koussevitzky, Barbirolli, Giulini, Maazel, Anthony Collins, Colin Davis;

with those who played only the piano:

Beecham, Sargent, Boult, Wood, Szell.

It doesn't seem to make much difference. Conducting is really the art of persuading people to do what you want. And Beecham was clearly a master at that!