Harry Shapiro (BSO horn, 1937-1944,1945-1975; assistant personnel manager, 1975-1992) oral history interview: Shapiro, Hary, interviewee, 1992-01-31T00:00:00+00:00, 2023-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Item — Box: 01 - MC5, Tape: 09, Side: A, B

Identifier: MC5, Box 01, Tape 09

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Cassette 9: Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on January 31, 1992.

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT

Tape 09, Side A

Interviewer: Bob Ripley Interviewee: Harry Shapiro Date: January 31, 1992

0:07 INTERVIEW BEGINS

0:20-7:33 Early Life, lessons with George BOETTCHER, Willem VALKENEIER; Julliard with Josef FRANZL; symphony in NY with conductor Albert STOESSEL; played with Chautauqua Symphony

7:33-14:20 invited to audition by Jacob RAICHMAN, auditioned at KOUSSEVITSKY's house, memories of George JUDD

14:20-17:30 first impressions playing with Willem VALKENEIER and Georges MAGER; KOUSSEVITZKY's conducting style

17:30-27:20 memories of KOUSSEVITZKY (see 20:44 for anecdote about tuning the horn section), 21:44 "I respected him because he stood up for the orchestra..."; did everything the same every performance

27:20-28:15 story of a violin player; stories of KOUSSEVITZKY being kind

28:15-29:40 story of KOUSSEVITZKY firing Germans, hiring Frenchmen to the orchestra

29:51-30:18 BSO programs

30:18 RECORDING ENDS

Tape 09, Side B

0:10 RECORDING BEGINS

0:10-2:40 Programs selected by KOUSSEVITZKY

2:40-4:40 plans for Tanglewood

4:40-5:40 fond memories of KOUSSEVITZKY

5:40-8:40 story of RACHMANINOFF AND Jascha HEIFETZ disagreements with KOUSSEVITZKY

8:44-9:40 "I think what we should remember him for... is that he was a leader... We are setting high standards, and the whole world should know it. Music is the healing spirit of the world."

9:40-16:50 Pops and Arthur FIEDLER; FIEDLER's donations to the Ballet; positive memories of FIEDLER

11:45 story of playing Rhapsody in Blue with Pops, tiff with FIEDLER

16:50-19:10 raising recognition for the city of Boston

19:10-20:50 administrative work, work with Players Committee, labor relations

20:50-24:11 union involvement, KOUSSEVITZKY's opinions on the union; Henry CABOT

24:11-28:09 retirement, more on administrative work, big-picture experience with conductors; pride in orchestra

28:27 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES