TLS. 2 pages, signed "Eugene Ormandy" in black ink at the foot of page one (second page continuing only the PS), on letterhead of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association. February 20, 1937, to Miss Roberta Jane Fisk at Beaver College, Jenkintown, PA. Two handwritten additions in ink by Ormandy within the text body. Mailing creases, else fine. Sold together with the postmarked, stamped envelope. An extraordinary TLS from the conductor, reflecting back six years later on his historic first Philadelphia Orchestra performance in 1931. In part:
"My experience with the Philadelphia Orchestra were the experiences of a young conductor who has had his first important, more difficult position with not only the greatest orchestra of the world, but in the place of a world-famous conductor, and who with self-confidence and sympathetic cooperation from the men had won their friendship, support, and confidence. The rest was less difficult because they already knew me.
When the great and difficult task of becoming the regular co-conductor of the Orchestra was given to me, I approached my position with confidence, and the experience that I had with this superb organization was an everlasting one.
It is always a new experience every day when I stand before these men rehearsing them, and it gives me a thrill not only at every rehearsal, but at every concert to be standing in front of them, and the be hearing the superb, and I dare say, incomparable sound which comes from their instruments."
In 1931, Ormandy substituted for the indisposed Arturo Toscanini with the Philadelphia Orchestra and this led to an appointment as musical director of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, a post he held from 1931 to 1936 and during which he became nationally known in the US through his recordings. In 1936 he returned to Philadelphia as joint conductor with Leopold Stokowski. After two years he became the orchestra's sole music director, a post he held for an historic 42 years (1938–1980), before stepping down to be its conductor laureate.
TLS. 2 pages, signed "Eugene Ormandy" in black ink at the foot of page one (second page continuing only the PS), on letterhead of The Philadelphia Orchestra Association. February 20, 1937, to Miss Roberta Jane Fisk at Beaver College, Jenkintown, PA. Two handwritten additions in ink by Ormandy within the text body. Mailing creases, else fine. Sold together with the postmarked, stamped envelope. An extraordinary TLS from the conductor, reflecting back six years later on his historic first Philadelphia Orchestra performance in 1931. In part:
"My experience with the Philadelphia Orchestra were the experiences of a young conductor who has had his first important, more difficult position with not only the greatest orchestra of the world, but in the place of a world-famous conductor, and who with self-confidence and sympathetic cooperation from the men had won their friendship, support, and confidence. The rest was less difficult because they already knew me.
When the great and difficult task of becoming the regular co-conductor of the Orchestra was given to me, I approached my position with confidence, and the experience that I had with this superb organization was an everlasting one.
It is always a new experience every day when I stand before these men rehearsing them, and it gives me a thrill not only at every rehearsal, but at every concert to be standing in front of them, and the be hearing the superb, and I dare say, incomparable sound which comes from their instruments."
In 1931, Ormandy substituted for the indisposed Arturo Toscanini with the Philadelphia Orchestra and this led to an appointment as musical director of the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, a post he held from 1931 to 1936 and during which he became nationally known in the US through his recordings. In 1936 he returned to Philadelphia as joint conductor with Leopold Stokowski. After two years he became the orchestra's sole music director, a post he held for an historic 42 years (1938–1980), before stepping down to be its conductor laureate.