Klarinet Archive - Posting 001026.txt from 2000/08

From: "David B. Niethamer" <dnietham@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] RE: Bernstein recording of West Side Story
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 22:50:19 -0400

on 8/30/00 3:04 PM, Kenneth Wolman wrote:

>Ha. The great Canadian tenor Jon Vickers is supposed to have told the
>story about being signed to do his earliest major recording, Beecham's
>somewhat overorchestrated production of Handel's Messiah, I think from
>about 1958. He was still a bit diffident and approached Sir Thomas rather
>cautiously. "Sir Thomas," he said, "you should know...I'm not
>English." Beecham exclaimed "Thank GAWD!"

Speaking of Beecham and the Messiah...

There is a story about a soprano soloist for one of Beecham's Messiah
performances who was unprepared for the first rehearsal. Beecham
threatened to fire her if she cam to the next day's rehearsal unprepared.
She appeared the next day and reported "Sir Thomas, I've been up all
night with the Messiah!" to which Beecham replied "Good, I'm sure your
conception will be immaculate!"

David Niethamer
Principal Clarinet, Richmond Symphony
dnietham@-----.edu
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/

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