George Szell: A Life of Music by Michael Charry

Author:Michael Charry [Charry, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography & Autobiography, General, music, Genres & Styles, Classical
ISBN: 9780252093104
Google: 1FFq1A_nE5YC
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Published: 2011-06-01T00:26:39.309551+00:00

A Chapter Closes in Amsterdam but Reopens in New Amsterdam

In February Heuwekemeijer notified Szell that the Concertgebouw planned to appoint two first conductors, Bernard Haitink and Eugen Jochum, as of September 1961. He expressed regret that Szell had not had more time in the three seasons of his coconductorship as they had planned. He added, “We sincerely hope, however, that also after the next season, we shall have the pleasure in welcoming you regularly at Amsterdam.”

Szell replied magnanimously, congratulating the Concertgebouw “most warmly on the solution of the conductors problem,” but could not refrain from a slight correction of Heuwekemeijer’s dates:

I want you to know that I sincerely share your regret that it has not proved possible for me to put a longer period per season at the disposal of the Concertgebouw Orchestra and I am sorry to have disappointed you in this respect after what we both had envisaged in our talks in Berlin in 1957 (not 1958). At that time it was impossible for me to foresee the spectacular further growth of the Cleveland Orchestra’s fame and prestige. This development had, among other consequences, the result that touring has become an ever-increasingly important part of our operations from the point of view of finances. In this connection, we found that touring engagements of the Orchestra with me as conductor were increasingly in demand, while the Orchestra without me was very difficult to sell. You will readily understand that under the circumstances I could not ask my Board to release me for a longer period than provided by my contract.

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