Word: rodzinskis
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Dates: during 1940-1949
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Wherever the command had come from, Rodzinski was also moved by a strong negative reason. New York is a big place, in a sense, but it cramped Rodzinski's style; the town was not big enough to hold both him and Arthur Judson. "You cannot play music with one ear on the box office," says Rodzinski. And the box office means Judson. He is not only the man behind the Philharmonic, but the man who conies nearest to controlling classical music in the U.S. The 30-man Philharmonic board, a collection of socialites, Wall Streeters, amateurs of the arts...
...stubborn handful of U.S. conductors (some exceptions: Toscanini, Koussevitsky, and for the past year Rodzinski) are under contract to Judson. Conductors are glad to pay his stiff commissions (up to 20%) simply as unemployment insurance; if they need a new job they will need his help. There are only 24 major symphonies in the U.S., and Judson alone has some 50 conductors on his rolls...
...Bruno Zirato (once secretary to Enrico Caruso), to handle such things as conductors' contracts. Judson & Zirato have done so much handling, say their critics, that in 20 years the Philharmonic has had 20 conductors-while in the same period Boston has had one, and Philadelphia two. This winter Rodzinski demanded a three-year agreement, and no strings...
...said, "it had no strings-but chains!" The contract gave him first choice of what pieces would be played during the season, but no control over what guest conductors played, no say in the choice of his guests and soloists unless the board and Judson chose to consult him. Rodzinski was fuming over these terms when Edward L. Ryerson, board chairman of Inland Steel Co. and head of the Chicago Symphony, called on him in Manhattan during the holidays...
...When Rodzinski faced the Philharmonic executive committee last week, he knew he could have the Chicago job with the crook of a finger. So did the committee. He blew off at Arthur Judson, but if anyone thought Rodzinski was a white knight out to unseat music's Mr. Big, he was mistaken. "I don't hate Judson," Rodzinski said. "I've learned to eliminate hatred...