Bela Wurtzler (BSO double bass, 1961-1993) oral history interview: Wurtzler, Bela, interviewee (Side A); Leone Buyse (BSO flute, 1983-1993) oral history interview: Buyse, Leone, interviewee (Side B), August 20, 1993; August 27, 1993, 2023-07-12T00:00:00+00:00

Cassette 45: Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on August 20, 1993 (Side A); Oral history conducted by Robert Ripley on August 27, 1993 (Side B).

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT

Tape 45, Side A

Interviewer: Bob Ripley Interviewee: Bela Wurtzler Date: August 20, 1993 Location: Tyringham, MA

0:07 INTERVIEW BEGINS

0:30-2:37 early life, born in Hungary; father was a professor of music; brother is a harpist and a composer; earliest musical training, started with violin with his father

2:37-8:50 father encouraged him to go to agriculture school to become a farm manager; was working on a farm at age 22; mother experienced bombing as war was beginning; Hungary was occupied by Russian army; moved to aunt's house during the war; Bela was arrested and brought to Russia for forced labor or army service; after his back was broken, he was released

8:50-14:58 returned to aunt's house after release from Russia; went to academy and began with secondary orchestra, quickly advanced; unions sponsored cultural organized; played with state opera, elected to Philharmonic (not an auditioned position)

14:58-22:04 went to play in Vienna, had a good job in the opera; used orchestra's bass; played on steel strings for the first time, then did always from then on; decided he wanted to travel to US

22:04-28:43 flew to the US from Austria, passed health screening; arrived to Cleveland, where there was a large Hungarian population; auditioned a position in Detroit, was accepted immediately and became 10th chair; was offered a principal position when he auditioned for the BSO

28:43-30:43 story as to why he wanted to go to Boston; a friend traveled to Vienna soon after the war, brought back recordings of KOUSSEVITZKY and TOSCANINI; enamored with the sound

30:43-32:30 had just signed contract in Detroit when he heard of an opening in BSO; had to remain with Detroit for five years but afterwards was invited to audition for BSO and Philadelphia, decided to go for BSO

32:30-35:00 audition for LEINSDORF; left preliminary early because he was very good; some back and forth but was ultimately accepted

35:00-36:10 sad to retire but glad for his time in the orchestra

36:10-38:47 Pops concerto solo; story of Arthur FIEDLER and debate over short versus long notes mid-concert;

38:47-41:41 marriage and family life; met while playing he was solos in Detroit; has children, a son who now plays bass guitar

41:41-43:55 retirement life and plans; friendship with Harry SHAPIRO; does not want to continue playing; has an unusual five string bass; will play with Florida community orchestra for fun

44:44 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES

Tape 45, Side B

Interviewer: Bob Ripley Interviewee: Leone Buyse Date: August 27, 1993

0:07 INTERVIEW BEGINS

0:28-3:28 early life, born in Oneida, NY; went to a summer camp and took flute lessons while there;

3:28-5:50 continued flute lessons after camp; took private lessons right away, studied with David BURMAN at Ithaca College; father was superintendent at Ithaca Public Schools; was involved in high school orchestra, marching band, and choir (with Frank BATISTI and Vito MASON)

5:50-9:46 went to Eastman, wanted to study with Joseph MARIANO; worked intensely while in college; began teaching and saved money, enjoyed her experience teaching; was a piccolo player in wind ensemble for US tour; would have preferred principal flute experience; graduated with distinction as valedictorian

9:46-16:17 received a Fulbright grant to Paris; some civil unrest in Paris from student protests in 1968; lived in Paris; had a lot of freedom in Paris, took lessons at the Conservatoire in the Special Section for Foreigners, and private lessons with Michel DEBOST; performed with other Fulbrighters and did some chamber music work, no orchestra experience but some piano as accompaniest

16:17-19:19 in time after Fulbright, remained in Europe; prepared for Geneva competition; stayed in Nice, France, then Holland; experience abroad shaped her as a musician, which shifted away from her earlier passion for teaching;

19:19-21:42 went to Emporia State University as a teacher and performer; began a Master's degree in flute at Emporia

21:42-25:47 joined Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra as a second piccolo; remained for seven years; taught at universities nearby and performed chamber music; played assistant principal flutist in San Francisco for five years

25:47-28:21 move to Boston Symphony Orchestra; had heard about the BSO many times, had visited Tanglewood; auditioned behind a screen in a series of auditions

28:21-33:28 first impressions of the BSO; played every season, including Pops; got along well with Doriot Anthony DWYER and Lois SCHAEFER; reflections on time in BSO, went to Europe, Japan, Hong Kong on tour; enjoyed working with John in Pops

33:56-34:12 taught at Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, and Boston University

34:12-35:13 finished Master's degree between San Francisco, Emporia State University

35:20-37:20 family and personal life; met husband, Michael WEBSTER, while students at Eastman; played together in San Francisco and fell in love; maintained a long distance relationship until Leone moved to Boston; married in 1987

37:20-38:15 post retirement from the BSO, will be professor of flute in Michigan, husband will be director of Youth Orchestra in Michigan; has an established piano group for chamber music performances;

38:15-39:57 memories of Leonard BERNSTEIN

40:17 INTERVIEW CONCLUDES