A Musical Family
Beatrice was the sister of May Harrison, violinist, a student of Leopold Auer; Margaret Harrison, a pianist; and Monica. Like the family of Mark Hambourg, this was one in which the children were taught separate instruments so that they could play in ensemble. May had once stood in for Fritz Kreisler in a Mendelssohn concert at Helsingfors. Both May and Beatrice won the Gold Medal of the Associated Board for violin and cello respectively. The Harrison family became friends with Roger Quilter and his circle through the Soldiers' concerts in 1916. On 11 March 1918 Beatrice performed Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Thomas Beecham.
Hugo Becker had spoken to Sir Henry Wood of his admiration for Beatrice Harrison's playing even before her debut. Both Edward Elgar and Wood were great admirers. May and Beatrice performed together under Wood's baton in Brahms' Double Concerto.
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Famous quotes containing the words musical and/or family:
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—Anonymous. Popular saying.
Dating from World War I—when it was used by U.S. soldiers—or before, the saying was associated with nightclub hostess Texas Quinan in the 1920s. It was the title of a song recorded by Sophie Tucker in 1927, and of a Cole Porter musical in 1929.
“The same dreadful set,
the same family of orange and pink faces
carved and dressed up like puppets
who wait for their jaws to open and shut.”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)