| Music in the Mail - P.O. BOX ONE - BRIGHTWATERS, N.Y. 11718 Classical Music CDs Also, Music Articles, Audio History Explored! |
I will now humbly endeavor to relate my impressions of Toscanini
the Conductor as well as humanitarian as I perceived them from
behind my Kettle-drums.There were many outbursts of temper to
individuals and to the entire orchestra, accompanied by profanity.
These tirades sounded vicious and vindictive, but I believe they
were neither. All was soon forgotten by us and Toscanini as well.
He showed interest in the welfare of his friends and in many cases
of the men of the orchestra. From1908 to 1915 he conducted the
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and made many friends. He went back
to Italy during the first World War. On his return to America
when he heard of the serious illness and dire financial straits
of a member of the Metropolitan Orchestra, his secretary was immediately
instructed to do everything possible to help his old friend.
When we arrived in Buenos Aires all instrument and wardrobe trunks
were delivered with the exception of my wardrobe trunk. I wore
a nile green pinstripe suit on arrival and since my wardrobe trunk
was not on hand, I was compelled to play the opening concert with
a nile green pinstripe suit, a borrowed white shirt and a black
bow tie, I knew from a former trip to Buenos Aires, that the Teotro
Colon audience was an elite and fashionably dressed one, that
worried me. The huge stage was tiered for our orchestra and I
was placed alone on the top tier . I had to step in front to climb
up to the top tier in full view of that great audience. The Maestro
heard of my dilemma, he came up to me, grabbed me by my lapels,
vigorously shook them and me at the same time and said: "Caro
this does not play the Tympono."
Prior to the initial concert of our South American tour, one of
our men was fatally crushed under a bus in Rio de Janeiro. At
the concert Toscanini noticed the empty chair and inquired the
reason for his absence. Our manager told him that the player was
ill. After the concert we boarded the ship for our return. When
Toscanini was told of the fatal accident, he refused to come to
the dining room for three days.
The NBC Symphony was founded in 1937 especially for Toscanini.
Rehearsals and preliminary concerts were under Conductors Monteux
and Rodzinski who warned us at every stop at rehearsals "WAIT
TILLToscanini comes". The page boys took it up also and the
operators of the elevators "WAIT TILL Toscanini comes"
became a nightmare for us. The great day came. We stood at attention
and through out minds came the words. "WAIT TILL Toscanini
comes" . He came, lightly mounted the steps to the podium,
a benign smile on his lips, raised his arms in greeting and said
"B-r-rahms" --"WAIT TILL Toscanini comes"
was never heard again.
Our First Concert was Christmas night 1937 and so started musical
culture for millions of people at home and abroad over the NBC
network and shortwave stations. The Personnel Manager gave us
orders that no one should stop to talk to Toscanini on entering
the building nor intrude into his studio and dressing roorn. On
hearing of this order the Maestro had it rescinded immediately.
That is the first time I heard him say "STUPID ."
At rehearsals the players were addressed by their instrumenfs
for instance- Primu Trumpet- Arpo Corno. Likewise the composition
to be rehearsed was always the composer's name only. On our transcontinental
tour, encores were constantly demanded and Toscanini graciously
responded. The final encore in the South, was always Dixie, and
Stars and Strips Forever elsewhere. In Los Angeles, when encores
were exhausted, the audience stood and roared for rnore, looking
at one of the players nearest him, he asked for a suggestion,
the player answered "Stars and Stripes Forever." Toscanini
said "no, no, we play Sousa!"
Not very often did he praise one for a good performance. just
"BeneBene"'. Opening the Brahms Tragic Overture is the
Tuba Solo. He asked the tuba player to repeat it three times.
He was fearful that he wasn't playing well -- then Toscanini told
the orchestra that in all his experience he had never heard it
played so well.
The camaraderie between the Maestro and the men of the Orchestra
was evident on board ship or train stops. He was always surrounded
by groups, graciously posing for camera fiends and always engaging
in excited conversations. It was not always music, world conditions
and the politicals causing them were always excellent material
for a tirade as only the Maestro could command -- accompanied
by gesticulating arms Italian style.
We stopped for a rest from our Transcontinental Tour at Sun Valley.
Arriving about 6:30 in the morning, there was a High School Band
to greet us. Heated wine, which was customary in that region was
served. He was very pleased with the reception and made a speech
to the Band tellling them how pleased he was with the development
of music in America. He enjoyed every minute of his stay with
everything the resort had to offer. He took the ski lift up Mt.
Baldy. I was coming down and met his lift halfway. When he saw
me, he smiled, raised his arms and conducted me-- saying Tympano-Tympano-Tympano
one to the bar as is done in the Scherzo-Beethoven 9th·
At the conclusion of that tour, we and our wives were invited
to his home in Riverdale. All our wives were agog at meeting the
Maestro. My wife suggested she would like to meet him before the
crowd arrived. We were there before all others were ushered in
and found him standing at the stone wall surrounding the huge
patio facing his garden. He was an impressive figure immaculately
dressed, snowy white hair, bristling white mustache, with that
wonderful smile --walking toward us. I greeted and thanked him
for the invitation to his party and then introduced my wife as
Senora Tympano. He took her hand, shaking it vigorously all the
time looking at me and said. " Is she in tune? Has she rhythmos
and never t-o -o -o-o loud?"
He was the personification of sincerity in every respect. Honest
in his convictions of World Aftairs, faithful and sympathetic
to old friends and family and his approach to all composers in
rehearsals was the same -- for a Sousa March - Opera - or Symphony.
I marveled at his stamina for his age. He always rehearsed standing
up, never rested in a ten minute break, forever talking to those
nearest him. I was farthest from him and never got into those
jam sessions with those fortunate to be near him.
We were finished with a strenuous rehearsal, the men packing their
instrurnents and going for the locker room when we heard that
famous voice roar. "Seniori , Seniori! Ancoro Ancoro Da Capo
." He wiped the perspiration from his brow and face, tied
a red bandana around his neck and down came the Baton on "Da
Capo Senori!" He was impressed with the compositions of Gershwin
and Grofe. After a Concer t of the Grand Canyon Suite he graciously
invited Grofe on stage amid tremendous applause. He also liked
The Rhapsody in Blue and An American in Paris by Gershwin. Rehearsing
An Arnerican in Paris, he was displeased with the spirit in which
we played it.. Time after time, he sang the way he wanted it played
.Then with a roar he said D-o-o-o-n't sleep. D-o-o-o-n't sleep!!."Senori".
Then he dropped his Baton to the floor. We were amazed and didn't
know what was coming next when he said. .."You don't krow
what is there in Paris -- NO-N0? Be alive, Don' t SLEEP'-- Some
day I die No? When I come back.... I will not be Conductor-- I
will be a doorkeeper In Bordello and not one of you will be allowed
inside!!! No, No, Not one of you" and he laughed with us.
It is true there was sometimes a great deal of profanity and I
firmly believe it was never intended to be vindictive nor vicious
or personal. Just his way of arousing the Orchestra to be alive..
" don' t sleep Dio Santi . The following are a few Bouquets
he threw at us.. Asino --Stupid ...Tutti Musicanti il Ignoanti·:.
Vergognio ... CorpoDelVestroDio·.. Dio Sonti
Capa de Asino.. Molto Pistacio ... Be Intelligent .. Cantari Cantari
.. Non Solfegiato Canta Canta-.. Tutti Orchestra Del Monso Asino..,
Ance Toscanini- Brava Brava! .. Zuccini!.. Nonc'e male - Put one
drop of blood in your playing, First biting it his baton then
breaking it... See there is more blood in my stick!- Dio Santi.!"
I will never forget the Spring of 1954, we were called to a meeting
of the Orchestra by our Personnel Manager. It was held in as dingy
storage room, amid boxes, trunks, dust, and trash. just one tiny
electric light bulb above. There he told us that the orchestra
would be disbanded after the final concert of the season. I saw
tears in his eyes. We walked away stunned. I was told the reason
for disbanding the Orchestra was financial. That NBC had in view
a Grand Spectacular Show which would take our place. In order
to recoup their losses, The Spectacular Show was put on-- and
soon was known in the vernacular of Broadway...a Total Flop.
To have disbanded the NBC Symphony Orchestra in such a way was
to me as if one would take an axe and destroy a valuable Stradivari
a crime against culture and an everlasting discredit to NBC.
Karl Glassman
Tympanist 1937-54
NBC Symphony
| Music in the Mail - P.O. BOX ONE - BRIGHTWATERS, N.Y. 11718 Classical Music CDs Music Articles, Audio History Explored! |