CONDUCTORS. A group of letters by conductors including:
BODANZKY, ARTUR. (1877-1939). Austrian-American conductor known for his interpretations of Wagner’s operas and conducting Enrico Caruso’s final performance at the Met. TLS. (“Arthur Bodanzky”). 1p. Small 8vo. New York, October 15, 1930. On his monogrammed stationery to composer GABRIEL WAYDITCH (1888-1969) letting him know he is too busy to review his work and suggesting that he “submit your opera to the Management of the Metropolitan Opera Company. This is the only authentic way.” Bodanzky studied violin and conducting with Alexander Zemlinsky and served as Gustav Mahler’s conducting assistant before becoming head of German repertory at the Metropolitan Opera, where he remained for his career. In very good condition.
BONYNGE, RICHARD. (b. 1930). Australian conductor and pianist who was married to soprano Dame Joan Sutherland. TLS. (“Richard Bonynge”). 1p. 4to. Les Avants, Switzerland, July 21, 1998. On his personal stationery to Mr. D.J. Mott. “I am honoured to be in such great company…” A native of Australia, Bonynge met soprano Joan Sutherland while giving private lessons in London. The pair married in 1954 and performed together until Bonynge filled in for a conductor in 1962, after which he conducted nearly all of Sutherland’s performances until her 1990 retirement. Folded and in excellent condition.
DORATI, ANTAL. (1906-1988). Hungarian-born conductor. TLS. (“Antal Dorati”). 1p. 4to. Minneapolis, May 1, 1956. Written on Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra stationery to James Schendel and sending a baton. A student of Zoltan Kodaly and Bela Bartok, Dorati went on to conduct the 1949 premiere of Bartok’s Viola Concerto with the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra and head numerous prominent orchestras including the Ballet Russe, BBC Symphony Orchestra and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Folded and in very fine condition.
GUIGUI, EFRAIN. (1925-2007). Panamanian-American clarinetist and conductor. TLS. (“Efrain Guigui”). 1p. 4to. Middlebury, March 15, 1976. On Vermont Symphony Orchestra letterhead to Mr. Robuck sending thanks for a letter. The youngest clarinetist to play first chair in the Buenos Aires Symphony Orchestra, Aaron Copland invited Guigui to conduct at Tanglewood and he performed with Leonard Bernstein’s New York Philharmonic. From 1974-1989, he was maestro of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra and taught at Dartmouth. In fine condition.
JOCHUM, EUGEN. (1902-1987). German conductor. TLS. (“Eugen Jochum”). 1p. 4to. Munich, January 24, 1958. Writing in German on the letterhead of the Bayerischer Rundfunk (Bavarian Broadcasting) to Dr. Kenkel sending thanks for the recipient’s approval. Jochum was the musical director of the Hamburg State Opera and founding music director of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. In fine condition.
KUBELIK, RAFAEL. (1914-1996). Czech composer and conductor, son of violinist Jan Kubelik. TLS. (“Rafael Kubelik”). 1p. 4to. Munich, July 1, 1971. On his personal stationery to Dr. Andor C. Klay sending thanks for congratulations on a new job. “I was pleased to read about the musical connection between your father-in-law and my father…”
LUDEWIG, WOLFGANG. (1926-2017). German composer, music critic and co-founder of the Gesellschaft für Neue Musik in Mannheim. TLS. (“Wolfgang Ludewig”). 1p. 4to. Stuttgart, September 19, 1975. On his Suddeutscher Rundfunk Stuttgart letterhead. To Ingo Bachmann. In German regarding the possible performance of an opera by Hungarian-American composer Gabriel von Wayditch (1888-1969). Folded with a marginal note and minor wear. In very good condition.
ORMANDY, EUGENE. (1899-1985). Hungarian-born conductor and violinist. TLS. (“Eugene Ormandy”). 1p. 4to. Philadelphia, April 25, 1958. On Philadelphia Orchestra Association letterhead to SENATOR EDWARD MARTIN (1879-1967; Pennsylvania governor and senator from 1947-1959). “We are happy to have the opportunity to take our music to other countries and we hope, through our music, we can prove that American culture should be recognized as being of the highest standard. We shall also take with us a message of friendship for the people of other nations, and perhaps we will return with their good will and understanding of the American way of life…” Folded with an ink date stamp in the right margin, some age toing and residue from prior mounting in the left margin. Ormandy led the Philadelphia Orchestra for 44 years, making many recordings with them. In very good condition.
PRITCHARD, JOHN. (1921-1989). British conductor. TLS. (“John Pritchard”). 1p. 4to. Cologne, October 3, 1979. On Oper Der Stadt Köln letterhead to Ralph Ferrandine sending thanks for tapes, sending photographs and stating “I will do what I can about FRAU… Let me know if I can ever be of help to you. Your list is really marvelous…” Pritchard was a guest conductor for orchestras around the world as principal conductor for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, London Philharmonic Orchestra and BBC Symphony Orchestra. From 1978-1989 he was Generalmusikdirektor of the Cologne Opera. Folded and in overall fine condition.
RODZINSKI, ARTUR. (1892-1958). Polish and American conductor. TLS. (“Artur Rodzinski”). 1p. Small 4to. Cleveland, April 3, 1935. Written on Cleveland Orchestra letterhead to Willem Van den Burg, in which Rodzinski rejects the possible employment for a string player, Mr. Grootegoed, noting “we do not intend to make any change in the string section of the Orchestra…” Rodzinski was discovered in Poland by Leopold Stokowski who made him assistant conductor in Philadelphia. He went on to lead the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra from 1933-1943, and serving as music director of the New York Philharmonic. During World War II, Rodzinski advocated increasing the number of women players in orchestras. Folded and trimmed.
ROZSNYAI, ZOLTAN. (1926-1990). Hungarian conductor and pianist. TLS. (“Zoltan Rozsnyai”). 1p.4to. Vienna, May 30, 1958. On his Philharmonia Hungaria stationery to Mr. Manfried sending an autograph. A student of Zoltán Kodály and Béla Bartók, Rozsnyai left his post at the head of the Hungarian National Philharmonia Concert Organization after the Hungarian Revolution and founded, in Vienna, the Philharmonia Hungaria, comprised of exiled musicians and which became world renowned under his leadership. Written on onion-skin paper and in very good condition; with the original envelope.
STOKOWSKI, LEOPOLD. (1882-1977). English-born, American conductor. Three TLSs. (“Leopold Stokowski”). 1p. each. Two 4to. and one oblong 8vo. New York, June 15, 1965, January 27, 1965 and November 1, 1963. All on his stationery to Mr. Wargo at London Records, Mrs. D.C. Martin at Robin Hood Dell Concerts and Ivan Walter von Wayditch. Regarding scores for an upcoming recording session, a contract for a concert mentioning Spanish performer and conductor JOSE ITURBI (1895-1980), and one requesting a list of compositions by Hungarian composer GABRIEL VON WAYDITCH (1888-1969) from his son. Stokowski began his professional career in his early twenties, first as organist and choirmaster at New York’s St. Bartholomew’s Church (1905-08), then as conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony (1909-12). It was, however, in his nearly twenty-five years as conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra (1912-1936) that Stokowski achieved his greatest acclaim, as a musician of exceptional technique and wide-ranging interests. Stokowski also conducted (with Arturo Toscanini) the NBC Symphony Orchestra (1942-43), was musical supervisor for, and appeared in, Walt Disney’s film Fantasia (1940), and founded (1962) the American Symphony Orchestra, which remains a forum for both established and new work. All letters are folded with normal wear. With an unsigned black-and-white photograph of Stokowski conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic in rehearsal.
STROWACZEWSKI, STANISLAW. (1923-2017). Polish-born conductor and composer. TLS. (“St. Strowaczewski”). 1p. 4to. Minneapolis, November 14, 1960. On Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra letterhead. To Jim Schendel. Sending a baton and photograph. “Enclosed is a broken baton… while calling the Orchestra’s attention to the short notes in the Brahms Third Symphony I shortened my baton in the process!” Strowaczewski’s career as a pianist was cut short when both his hands were broken during a Nazi bombing raid over Poland. He rose to prominence as a conductor in Poland during the 1940s and, in 1960, defected to the United States where he led the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra (later Minnesota Orchestra) until 1979. In fine condition.
