Composer and opera impresario. Thomas Beecham was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, England, into a noted family that owed its fortune to the production of pharmaceutical products. Although educated at Oxford, musically, Beecham was largely self-taught. His first public appearance came in nearby Manchester in 1899, when he replaced conductor Hans Richter, who was taken ill just before a concert with the famed HallZ Orchestra. During his career, Beecham founded three orchestras : The Beecham Symphony Orchestra in 1909, The London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1932, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1946. For his services to music, Beecham received a knighthood in 1916. Sir Thomas Beecham's autobiography "A Mingled Chime" was published in 1943, and Beecham also published the biography of his good friend Delius in 1958.
Composer and opera impresario. Thomas Beecham was born in St. Helens, Lancashire, England, into a noted family that owed its fortune to the production of pharmaceutical products. Although educated at Oxford, musically, Beecham was largely self-taught. His first public appearance came in nearby Manchester in 1899, when he replaced conductor Hans Richter, who was taken ill just before a concert with the famed HallZ Orchestra. During his career, Beecham founded three orchestras : The Beecham Symphony Orchestra in 1909, The London Philharmonic Orchestra in 1932, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in 1946. For his services to music, Beecham received a knighthood in 1916. Sir Thomas Beecham's autobiography "A Mingled Chime" was published in 1943, and Beecham also published the biography of his good friend Delius in 1958.
Bio by: Steve Brown
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