Sir Thomas Beecham, a good if not great conductor, is a great instigator of orchestras. This week he conducted his sixth. His ready reason for the new venture: "There is no existing British orchestra of a high enough standard to maintain my reputation."
Wealthy Sir Thomas, who announced that his new Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was the highest paid in London, had lured some of Britain's best musicians. But no women. Explained he: "If the lady is not well-favored, the male instrumentalists do not wish to play near her. If she is well-favored, they can't." Sir Thomas, whose blonde young wife is both...
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