Beecham's Bark

As zealously as his father preached pills, Sir Thomas Beecham has preached music in England, spending 25 years and $10,000,000 on symphony concerts and operas. Often Sir Thomas has remarked good-naturedly that music in England is one long, promissory note. But at the season's gala opening in Covent Garden last week, England's No. 1 conductor was in no mood for suave epigrams. The opera was Fidelia, a heavy choice for Londoners less interested in Beethoven than in the King and Queen of Siam who sat in the royal box. The overture started but conversation buzzed on. Suddenly, without turning from the players. Sir Thomas barked: "Stop talking!''

In the last act Sir Thomas wheeled on the chatterers to shout "Shut up," never missed a beat. Next night he shushed the coughers in the audience. The two performances left Londoners repentant but not Sir Thomas. Said he: "If it happens again I shall halt the orchestra, wait for silence and begin the overture all over again. And I will go on beginning it again until it is played through in silence."

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