Richard Bratby

A short history of millionaire composers

Art is supposed to emerge from poverty but extreme wealth does not preclude talent, as the history of composers proves

It’s not entirely stretching a point to say that the Royal Philharmonic and London Philharmonic — both founded by Big Pharma millionaire Sir Thomas Beecham (above) — owe their existence to constipation. Credit: Watford / Mirrorpix / Getty Images 
issue 24 July 2021

Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me, though if you’ve spent much time in the world of classical music, and you hadn’t realised just how different, you could do worse than attend an opening night at Grange Park Opera. True, Grange Park’s founder, Wasfi Kani, is famously adept at cultivating donors: you don’t build an opera house on the late Duchess of Roxburghe’s Surrey estate without a certain fundraising flair.

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