CRITICISM OF AUSTRALIA

Evening Star, Issue 23702, 9 October 1940, Page 6

CRITICISM OF AUSTRALIA

FAMOUS CONDUCTOR'S TIRADE “ BAD-TEMPERED OLD GENTLEMAN " Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, October 8. < The ‘ Sydney Sun,’ commenting editorially on Sir Thomas Beecham'* criticism of Australia at says: “ If the outbursts of Sir Thomas Beecham arouse any feeling at all iff will be one of regret at such an exhibition by a distinguished visitor old enough and educated enough to know, better. We have heard a good many criticisms of Australia, its people and institutions, but injured vanity or other personal reasons have never given us quite such a tirade as those we bad from this famous and irascible musician. It may be he has not been regarded as seriously as he believes he should be, but his shrieks merely indicate that whatever his stature as a musician his stature as a man of the world and philosopher is about equal to that of any bad-tempered old gentleman who cries ‘ Odi , profanuna vulgus ’ when inferior souls offend his vanity or disagree with his opinions. Sir Thomas Beecham’s mordant . wit always had some entertainment value in his native laud. If it often expresses itself in tirades of this kind, however, we can only wonder why it should attract any attention at all. We need not take too seriously a criticism so biased and so shrilly expressed. The only effect it will have is to ca >se surprise.” f