Word: halled
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Fighting city hall...
...edicts from government offices is very often justified. Some countries have found the solution in an "ombudsman," an independent official who investigates citizens' complaints and curbs overzealous or arrogant bureaucrats. Americans might follow this example; create ombudsmen at all levels of government, who will help them fight city hall. City hall, wherever it is, will resist, but the effort must be made. One solution would be to form public-interest pressure groups to counter the lobbies and private-interest groups that inevitably will be out for their own game. Americans have not watched their elected representatives closely enough...
...residence since 1939. Boris Sokoloff, manager of the Philadelphia Orchestra, is on the line. Conductor Eugene Ormandy and Pianist Peter Serkin have disagreed on the interpretation of Beethoven's Piano Concerto in D Major, which Serkin was to play with the Philadelphians in Manhattan's Philharmonic Hall the following evening. Could Johansen fill in? Johansen has never even heard the piece, a little-known transcription by Beethoven of his only violin concerto. He dashes next door to the music library, glances at the score, agrees to do it. What he does not know is that twelve other pianists...
Tuesday, 9 a.m.: Johansen arrives at Philharmonic Hall to check the piano, decides that he needs a different one. He goes to the nearby Steinway building, chooses a piano, has it sent to the hall, then settles down for five solid hours of furious practicing. Then back to Philharmonic Hall for rehearsal, on the way gulping down a luncheon of carrot juice at a health-food store...
...goes on, with Ormandy concentrating on the passages where piano and orchestra play together. A messenger is dispatched to obtain a score of the cadenzas. Later Johansen practices backstage, then hurries to the hotel for his tails, which are due back from the valet. No tails. Back to Philharmonic Hall for more practice. Several of the Philadelphia musicians offer to lend Johansen their tails. None fit. Says Ormandy to his men: "Why aren't you on your knees praying...