Sir Thomas Beecham Severely Criticises Festival Of Britain
NZPA—Copyright LONDON. Aug. 21. Sir Thomas Beecham to-day described the 1951 Festival of Britain as a “ most monumental piece of imbecility and iniquity.” Sir Thomas, who was speaking in Edinburgh, where he is to conduct the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the opening concert of Edinburgh’s international festival, added: “We are broke. Underline that three times. We have been misgoverned worse than any nation in the world. Lunatics have dragged us into two world wars. We are going to celebrate 50 years of the most abominable misgovernment by having an exhibition and a festival at the expense of United States money. To what depths have we sunk? " Speaking of the national theatre project, Sir Thomas said: “The country has gone potty! I strongly object to money being provided for musical enterprises by the whole body of taxpayers. As we have' not the money for our necessities, we. cannot afford luxuries. The Americans, therefore, are paying for our music.”
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Otago Daily Times, Issue 27166, 23 August 1949, Page 5
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165Sir Thomas Beecham Severely Criticises Festival Of Britain Otago Daily Times, Issue 27166, 23 August 1949, Page 5
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