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 SIR THOMAS BEECHAM OPERA COMPANY - 1
 

(1) Sir Thomas Beecham (St Helens, Lancs.: 29 Apr 1879 - London: 8 Mar 1961).

Sir Thomas Beecham, English musical conductor and opera impresario, sprang a sensation here today by announcing that he intended to shake the dust of England from his shoes forever and go to live in the United States. Sir Thomas, who lost a fortune trying to make grand opera pay in his native land, made bitter comments on England and the English people when he disclosed his intention of making the New World his home. "England is finished, not only musically but every other way," he told newspaper representatives. "The only thing for everybody to do is to give up and go to America. I am off very soon. I am going as a guest and will conduct the Philadelphia orchestra.... He fired this parting shot at England: "There is no hope for this country in any way. We are an imperial race like the Romans and work is distasteful to us. I suggest that we put our entire industrial population on doles, import Chinese and Japanese workmen and pay them the difference between the dole and what we would pay ourselves if we chose to work, and then the country would be run without our having to soil our imperial hands." NY Times: 5 Nov 1926.

(2) Sir Thomas Beecham.

(3) Sir Thomas Beecham.

(4) The Beecham opera postcards were sold in sets of six cards. They cards were sold in an envelope such as seen here.

The sets I know of were as follows (Note: The operas were performed in English) :

  • The Marriage of Figaro (set 1) (featuring Desire Ellinger, Frederick Austin, Miriam Licette, Powell Edwards)
  • The Marriage of Figaro (set 2) (featuring Alfred Heather, Miriam Licette, Clytie Hine, Frederick Austin, Frederick Ranalow)
  • The Marriage of Figaro (set 3) (featuring Bessie Tyas, Frederick Austin, Miriam Licette, Frederick Ranalow, Miss Owen Trevitt)
  • Tristan and Isolde (featuring Rosina Buckmann, Frank Mullings)
  • Madame Butterfly (featuring Edith Clegg)
  • Othello (featuring Miriam Licette)
  • La Bohème (featuring Powell Edwards, Olive Townend, Jeanne Brola, Frederick Austin, Webster Millar)
  • Ivan the Terrible
  • Aida (featuring Rosina Buckmann, Edna Thornton, Norman Allin, Powell Edwards, Frank Mullings)
  • I Pagliacci (featuring Robert Parker, Olive Townend)
  • Cavalleria Rusticana (featuring Rosina Buckmann, Maurice D'Oisly)
  • Boris Godounov (featuring Robert Radford, Powell Edwards)
  • Louise (featuring Edith Clegg, Miriam Licette, Frederick Ranalow, Maurice D'Oisly)
  • Faust (featuring Miriam Licette)
  • Samson and Delilah (featuring Edna Thornton, Norman Allin)
  • Sir Thomas Beecham (at least 3 postcards of the impresario and conductor)


(5) All of the Beecham opera postcards have a similar back.

(6) Frank Mullings as Radames (Aida): English tenor (Walsall: 10 Mar 1891 - Manchester: 19 May 1953). He made his debut in Coventry (1907) as Faust. He performed with the T.B.O.C. from 1916 to 1921. He was also associated with the B.N.O.C. from 1922 to 1926. He created the role of Hadyar in Nail (by De Lara) and Apollo in Alkestis (by Boughton). Otello was his greatest role, although he also excelled as Tristan.

(7) Norman Allin as Ramphis (Aida). (Ashton-under-Lyne: 19 Nov 1884 - London: 27 Oct 1973). English bass. His marriage to the mezzo-soprano Edith Clegg prompted him to concentrate on his singing. Allin made his debut with the Thomas Beecham Opera Company as the Aged Hebrew in Samon and Delilah (postcard number 15 on this page). Later, he became the director of the British National Opera Company (1922-29).

(8) Rosina Buckmann (Aida) and Powell Edwards (Amonarsro).

(9) Rosina Buckmann. New Zealand soprano (Blenheim, NZ: c1880 - London: 30 Dec 1948). She made her debut in Welling (1906) in A Moorish Maid (by Hill). She sang with the Melba Grand Opera Company in Australia (1909, 1911). She appeared at Covent Garden, and with the Beecham Company from 1915 to 1920. She excelled as Aida (seen here), Butterfly, and Isolde. She was married to the tenor Maurice d'Oisly.

(10) Edna Thornton as Amneris (Aida). English contralto (Bradford: 1875 - Worthing: 15 Jul 1964). She sang with Convent Garden (1905-1910, 1919-1923). She was especially admired for her Wagner roles, personally chosen by Richter as Waltraute and Erda in English Ring (1908-1909). She sang in the world premiere of The Perfect Fool (Holst, 1923).

(11) Walter Hyde and Norman Allin as Samson and the Aged Hebrew.

(12) Walter Hyde as Samson. English tenor (Birmingham: 6 Feb 1875 - London: 11 Nov 1951). Studied with Garcia, and appeared in operas as a student, and then in light musicals. He sang Siegmund in the English Ring at Covent Garden, and appeared there regularly from 1908 to 1923. After singing with the Beecham Company he became the director of the British National Opera Company.

(13) Edna Thornton and Walter Hyde as Delilah and Samson.

(14) Edna Thornton as Delilah.

(15) Norman Allin as the Aged Hebrew (his opera debut role) in Samson and Delilah.

(16) Frederic Austin as Iago (Othello). English baritone (London: 30 Mar 1872 - London: 10 Apr 1952).

London: Frederic Austin, operatic singer and composer who for many years was closely connected with the Royal Philharmonic Society, died here today at the age of 80. After singing at festivals and concerts, Mr. Austin took up operatic work and became the principal baritone for the former Beecham Opera Company. Writer of many orchestral works, pianoforte pieces and songs, he conducted in 1940 the Glyndebourne Festival's revival of The Beggar's Opera to his musical version. He also was the former president of the British Incorporated Society of Musicians. Obituary, NY Times : 11 Apr 1952.

(17) Frank Mullings as Othello, his most memorable role.

(18) English soprano Miriam Licette (1892-1969) as Desdemona (Othello). She was a pupil of Marchesi and of de Reszke. Licette made her debut (1911) in Rome (Madama Butterfly). She sang with Beecham's troupe (1916-20) and with the British National Opera Company (1922-28) that evolved from it. She also sang many important roles with the Royal Opera at Covent Garden (1919-29).

(19) Norman Allin as King Mark in Tristan and Isolde.

(20) Rosina Buckmann and Frank Mullings as Isolde and Tristan.

[During World War I] "During a Tristan und Isolde, with Mullings, Rosina Buckman (name parts) and Edna Thornton (Brangaene) on the stage, James Elliott, the assistant manager, suddenly appeared among them in dress clothes. Advancing to the footlights with upraised hand, he said to the audience, 'We have just been informed that enemy aeroplanes have crossed the coast and that an air raid is about to take place. I would like to tell you that the walls of this theatre are seven feet thick, but I don't think it's too good for you in the upper and grand circles. I suggest you all come down into the stalls.'"

(Source: Reid, Charles. 1962. Thomas Beecham. An Independent Biography. New York: E. P. Dutton & Co.)

(21) Frederick Austin (Marcel), Webster Millar (Rudolph) and Powell Edwards (Schaunard) in La Boheme.

(22) Olive Townend as Musetta in La Boheme. Olive Townend studied with Emma Nevada in Paris and made her operatic debut in The Boatswain's Mate (Dame Ethyl Smyth) under the baton of Thomas Beecham.

(23) Frederic Austin as Marcel in La Boheme. English baritone (London: 30 Mar 1872 - London: 10 Apr 1952).

(24) Powell Edwards as Schaunard in La Boheme.

(25) Jeanne Brola as Mimi in La Boheme.


   Sir Thomas Beecham  Sir Thomas Beecham  Sir Thomas Beecham  Envelope  Back of Beecham postcards
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
   Frank Mullings   Norman Allin   Rosina Buckmann and Powell Edwards  Rosina Buckmann  Edna Thornton
(6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
   Walter Hyde and Norman Allin   Walter Hyde   Edna Thornton and Walter Hyde   Edna Thornton   Norman Allin
(11) (12) (13) (14) (15)
   Frederic Austin   Frank Mullings   Miriam Licette   Norman Allin   Rosina Buckmann and Frank Mullings
(16) (17) (18) (19) (20)
   Disderi Composite  Olive Townend   Frederic Austin   Powell Edwards   Jeanne Brola
(21) (22) (23) (24) (25)

Sir Thomas Beecham Opera Company: Sir Thomas Beecham (1879-1961), the wealthy heir to the Beecham Pill manufacturer, established his Beecham Opera Company in 1915 with a short season at the Shaftesbury Theater in London. His company initially presented various English works such as Stanford's The Critic and Ethel Smyth's The Boatswain's Mate. It rapidly grew into a grand opera organization. However, Beecham's conflicting arrangements with his conducting duties at Covent Garden forced the company into liquidation by 1920. Beecham's company eventually evolved into the British National Opera Company. These postcards were published by the Rotary Photographic Company. There were at least 15 sets produced including The Marriage of Figaro (3 sets), Tristan and Isolde, Madame Butterfly, Othello, La Boheme, Ivan the Terrible, Aida, I Pagliacci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Louise, Boris Godounov, Faust, and Samson and Delilah. Each set came in a postcard envelope and cost one shilling.

Last update: 16 July 2010.