Posted by Michael Tornick My greetings to you. Could you solve a mystery for me? With prideful amazement I recently discovered that your father made some of my favorite recordings with the New York Philharmonic at the St. George Hotel in my home borough of Brooklyn. He recorded, by my count, 38 pieces at that venue between 1957 and 1960. Can you tell me why he recorded there when Columbia Records apparently had access to their 30th Street Studio, Manhattan Center, and Carnegie Hall?? Who first recommended that location for recording, and why did your father stop recording there in 1960? By the way, I am grateful that your father was such a fine communicator both on and off the podium. As a young musician going to his concerts in New York, I can tell you that in the Green Room after concerts, he always answered my questions about music and the musicians he worked with in the most thoughtful and courteous manner. After he conducted Mahler's Tenth Symphony, I asked him about the piece, and he gave me a wonderfully cogent and clear explanation of what it was all about. It was a mini-lecture delivered to me alone, while well-wishers waited behind me to greet him. I still get a thrill just remembering this experience. If you will be able to answer my above question, that would be great. If not, I certainly understand. Nineteen-sixty was a long time ago. Michael Tornick
on 3/2/2006, 11:58 pm
Dear Alexander B.,
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