Adrian Beers
Adrian Beers MBE | |
---|---|
Born | Glasgow, UK | 6 January 1916
Died | 8 April 2004 London, UK | (aged 88)
Education | Royal College of Music |
Occupation | Classical double bassist |
Organizations |
Adrian Simon Beers
Career
Beers was born in Glasgow on 6 January 1916, the son of double bass player Aloysius "Wishy" Beers. He attended
After the war he was a member of the newly formed Philharmonia Orchestra until 1963, occasionally returning until 2002. He also played in the Goldsbrough Orchestra, which later became the English Chamber Orchestra (ECO). "His secure intonation, precise sense of timing and sonorous tone earned him the respect of everyone, particularly Benjamin Britten, Daniel Barenboim and Raymond Leppard during many years with the ECO, and also Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta, Otto Klemperer and others who conducted the Philharmonia."[2]
In 1950 Adrian Beers was a founding member of the Melos Ensemble that "set new standards of music-making".[1] Their cellist Terence Weil became a close friend. Beers recalled: "Looking back at old diaries, I don't know how I did it. Three sessions a day – sometimes travelling up north and coming home at night – then on again at 9:30, rehearsing sometimes at midnight with the Melos."[2]
His close working partnership with Benjamin Britten led to performances at the
Beers became a teacher at the Royal College of Music and in 1973 at the newly formed Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. His student Rodney Slatford described his teaching, concluding: "One gleaned most from Beers from sharing an orchestral desk with him."
Beers was appointed
Recordings
His long discography includes many notable
References
- ^ a b c Yorke, Gerald (16 July 2004). "Obituary: A versatile orchestral musician, he also helped found the Melos Ensemble". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
- ^ a b c Slatford, Rodney (24 June 2004). "Obituary: Double-bass player and teacher who began his career in the Glasgow music halls". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 14 December 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Amadeus Quartet and Benjamin Britten[permanent dead link] p. 7
- ^ "No. 51981". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1989. p. 11.
- ^ "No. 52050". The London Gazette. 16 February 1990. p. 2161.
- ^ "Monteverdi Madrigals". Akuma.de. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Purcell Dido". Americanpoems.com. 25 October 1990. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ Vivaldi Laudate Pueri[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Handel Saul". Musicalheritage.com. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Bach Brandenburg concertos". Musicalheritage.com. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Bach St John Passion". Alibris.com. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Mozart Symphonies". Americanpoems.com. 11 April 1995. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Mozart Idomeneo". Akuma.de. Retrieved 13 January 2012.