SIR THOMAS BEECHAM

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 26, 30 July 1940, Page 6

SIR THOMAS BEECHAM

BATON HURLED TO FLOOR

TANTRUMS AT BRISBANE

(By Trans-Tasman Air Man, from "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, July 26, The English musician, Sir Thomas Beecham, now on an Australian Broadcasting Commission concert tour, exhibited in Brisbane this week some of the tantrums for which he is renowned. _ . , At a final rehearsal of Brisbane choirs for a performance of "The Messiah," he made them practise the National Anthem for 15 minutes, telling them that their singing of it was a tragic desecration of a masterpiece. Once he hurled his baton to the floor, covered his face with his hands, and wailed, "Oh, my God!" When told that Brisbane choirs were unaccustomed to singing the National Anthem right through, Sir Thomas Beecham shouted, "It's full of cuts, but I want it sung without cuts. Sing it as Sir Edward Elgar wrote it." ~ Sir Thomas Beecham described the audience at the performance of The Messiah" as the coldest he had encountered in Australia. "It was very cold very chilly," he said. There was "no emotion at all. After a performance like that in England, everyone would have got to their feet and shouted for 10 minutes. Here they sat and clapped politely for a few seconds. All Australian audiences are_ cold. I don't know whether it is their nature or lack of true appreciation of music. Sir Thomas Beecham reprimanded latecomers after the performance began. People were still seeking their seats while the choir sang the National Anthem, and the first few bars of "The Messiah/' Sir Thomas stopped the singing and, turning towards the audience, said, "Would you close the doors, please? This is an auditorium, not a cabaret."