Barbirolli: The Final Years

[Warlock]

[QUOTE=Barbirollians;642539]I don't buy the idea he was a drunk but he did drink whisky - he can be seen with a glass in the Monitor documentary at one point .

He drank whisky! A lot of people drink whisky. You only have to look at the space devoted to it on supermarket shelves. I went to very many of Barbirolli's concerts, rehearsals and recording sessions and often talked to him afterwards and he was never under the influence of alcohol. I can't understand why the inference that he was a heavy drinker keeps coping up. Boult may have drunk milk but I suspect most conductors consumed alcohol. Sergeant was supposed to like sherry. Also JB's whisky was always well diluted with soda water.,

[cloughie]

I don't buy the idea he was a drunk but he did drink whisky - he can be seen with a glass in the Monitor documentary at one point .

I think it is well documented that Kenneth Crickmore did steal a great deal of money from the Barbirolli's - eventually his widow had to settle proceedings and make a payment to them but it did not cover all he had stolen by a long chalk . Thus Michael Kennedy in his biography does say that Barbirolli did have to work to ensure financial security - I have no doubt , however, that the reason he worked so much even at the end of his life was because he loved conducting and music so much .

...and probably wanted to do as much as he could while he could - something many of us feel as we age!

[Conchis]

I don't buy the idea he was a drunk but he did drink whisky - he can be seen with a glass in the Monitor documentary at one point .

I think it is well documented that Kenneth Crickmore did steal a great deal of money from the Barbirolli's - eventually his widow had to settle proceedings and make a payment to them but it did not cover all he had stolen by a long chalk . Thus Michael Kennedy in his biography does say that Barbirolli did have to work to ensure financial security - I have no doubt , however, that the reason he worked so much even at the end of his life was because he loved conducting and music so much .

Yes, I think that's what I can recall reading. Plus, he was doing a lot of jet-setting to strange (and probably not that congenial) places like Houston.

As for the alcohol consumption - I doubt if it was anything out of the ordinary, especially considering the somewhat macho, 'man's man' profession conducting seemed to be in the post-war period.

[Barbirollians]

I don't buy the lies about him being a heavy drinker but whisky would not be the ideal libation for someone with a serious heart condition as his I would have thought - a glass of red wine would have been much more the thing and a Mediterranean diet .

[Petrushka]

I don't buy the lies about him being a heavy drinker but whisky would not be the ideal libation for someone with a serious heart condition as his I would have thought - a glass of red wine would have been much more the thing and a Mediterranean diet .

Probably so but I wonder if such things were known about in the 1960s particularly in the UK?

[Conchis]

Probably so but I wonder if such things were known about in the 1960s particularly in the UK?

To be fair, they're not much known about in the UK even today.

[teamsaint]

To be fair, they're not much known about in the UK even today.

I'd say they are known about, but perhaps not followed as they might be.

Anyway, wishing people who are good at what they do to be different to how they are .seems to me to be rather missing the point.
The person comes as a package.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The gossip, among Halle concert goers at the time, wasn't directed so much at Barbirolli, but more towards his associate conductor, George Weldon, whose death was reputed to be drink-related.

[Nimrod]

The gossip, among Halle concert goers at the time, wasn't directed so much at Barbirolli, but more towards his associate conductor, George Weldon, whose death was reputed to be drink-related.

Thanks for that, Alpensinfonie; coupled with the comments from Warlock it seems to set the facts straight. I too met JB a few times and have no recollection of alcohol on his breath. Perhaps now we can discuss his legacy, that wonderful music making over close on 70 years.

[cloughie]

The gossip, among Halle concert goers at the time, wasn't directed so much at Barbirolli, but more towards his associate conductor, George Weldon, whose death was reputed to be drink-related.

I remember from Halle concerts at Sheffield City Hall in the 60s that George Weldon as JB's No2 did OK concerts but JB was the one who we wanted there - GW was the stand-in.

[Barbirollians]

I remember from Halle concerts at Sheffield City Hall in the 60s that George Weldon as JB's No2 did OK concerts but JB was the one who we wanted there - GW was the stand-in.

I envy anyone who saw and heard him conduct .

[Beef Oven!]

Don't understand why drinking whisky is such a crime.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Don't understand why drinking whisky is such a crime.

Guilty as charged, m'lud.

[Conchis]

Before starting this thread, I'd no idea Barbirolli had a reputation as a drinker: his chain-smoking was already well-known and (presumably) unremarked upon in those days when literally everyone over the age of, say, 10 was some kind of smoker.

[vibratoforever]

Before starting this thread, I'd no idea Barbirolli had a reputation as a drinker: his chain-smoking was already well-known and (presumably) unremarked upon in those days when literally everyone over the age of, say, 10 was some kind of smoker.

I have no certain knowledge about Barbirolli as a drinker. Fischer-Dieskau, in his autobiography refers to the little bottle Barbirolli kept in his vest pocket, as well as noting he was a completely likeable, cordial and unaffected person and showed full satisfaction with their partnership. Beecham and Sargent did not get off so lightly personality wise.

I moved to Sheffield in 1969 so saw JB in his final season and it was transformative. Whilst his final years may have seen some less good performances there were many others that have fortunately been recorded for us to enjoy. These live recordings have often differed greatly from studio performances, none more so than the Mahler 6 at the Proms and the EMI recording in the following few days. That live Mahler 6 along with the Czech Phil Mahler 1 give some explanation as to why concertgoers look back with affection despite the 50 years that have passed.