The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

The version of the Beecham story which I know (given in Charles Reid's biography) is that it took place in 1958, the year of Vaughan Williams's death and also that of Beecham's second wife, the pianist Betty Humby. Somebody who had not heard of Humby's death asked the conductor what she was currently doing. 'Oh,' said Sir Thomas, 'she's gone on tour with V.W.'

The story can scarcely be connected with Malcolm Arnold, who outlived Beecham (not to mention Vaughan Williams) by more than forty years.

Oliver Mundy.

Starkton wrote:

marcapra wrote:

I dread to think what will become of them once I have, in Sir Thomas Beecham's phrase, 'gone on tour with V.W.'

I'm not familiar with that quote from Sir Thomas. Can you explain the meaning of that idiom? thanks, Marc.

The complete phrase is: "I'm afraid Malcolm Arnold won't be joining us for the concert. He's recently gone on tour with Vaughan Williams", meaning that Arnold recently died.

Reminds me of a put-down to a bad singer:

"You should go sing for Caruso"
"But he's dead!"
"Yes, I know"

I wouldn't take most of Beecham's audacious comments at face value. He said them more for the effect than anything else.