And I was absolutely horrified, because everyone was better than I was. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the talent which was around me. It was terrifying for the first few years. That was in 1939.
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And I was absolutely horrified, because everyone was better than I was. I was suddenly overwhelmed by the talent which was around me. It was terrifying for the first few years. That was in 1939.
Most of the players in the orchestras had jobs in cafes and cinemas and theatres during the week, and just gave concerts at the weekend. The standard of orchestral playing was pretty miserable then.
I just remember, was making a record, and Walter Legge asked him if he wouldn't mind doing it a bit faster so that it would fit on a 78rpm side, when four minutes was the limit. He was slightly pedestrian.
Whole months in the summer were devoted to making records. When Antal Dorati used to come over, it was 10 to 1, 2 to 5, 6 to 9, seven days a week, for a month. It was just like turning a handle. We were just making records all the time.
It was just one of those very fortunate things. And of course when CDs started, we had to start doing it all over again.
which is where we invite the best of the Russian artists and also some new, young talent
My schedule varies from year to year, but the main thing is the St. Petersburg Philharmonic
When any Russian musician or music lover talks about it, they speak in deep reverential tones