An archetypal character. A narcissist. Rich and arrogant and rude and shallow--but with genuine musical talent. Opposed to foreign conductors working in England -- and to homosexuals in general. He referred to Benjamin Britten, the noted English composer, as "homo, sweet homo." I saw Beecham on a TV program with the humorist Victor Borge. Borge made a funny remark. Beecham loudly told Borge he was not a serious musician. Borge was in shock for the remainder of the program.
Lesson: You can be a gifted artist, or a gifted anything, and still be an ass. (Richard Wagner may be the perfect example.)
