Customer Reviews

Those Fabulous Philadelphians: Philadelphia Orchestra

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It was fun reading this book again. It was published in 1968 and dealt with the history of the Philadelphia Orchestra up till that time. Loaded with photos--many "behind the scenes"--and anecdotes, the book makes us feel as though we're with this great musical institution from its inception. We witness the orchestra's first two conductors, who got things off the ground, relive the maverick experiments and eccentric doings of Leopold Stokowski, and enjoy nearly half a century (it would be 44 years before he retired) of Eugene Ormandy's rock-steady stewardship.

The text is fast-paced and fun and while I would have liked perhaps a little more depth and a little less white-washing (about disputes between musicians and management, or conductors and management, for example), this is a great book about the life of a great musical organization. It's amusing when reading it to realize how proud even "average" Philadelphians once were of their great orchestra, in this age of indifference to classical music. Another important take-away is Ormandy's stewardship with the orchestra--in this age of jet-set conductors, where a five-year tenure is lengthy, it's remarkable how one conductor was happy to stay identified with one orchestra for so long, and how the two of them became as inseparable from Philadelphia as cheesesteaks, hoagies, and soft pretzels. (Sadly, those days are long over.) Also there was a time, only two generations or so in the past, when people were as passionate about their cultural institutions as they are now about their sports teams and pop culture icons. There also was a time, as the book points out, when people chatted casually at concerts and propped their shopping bags up on the foot of the stage when they ambled in. Stokowski changed all that, and demanded complete silence and attention at concerts of serious music. (When asked if he planned to conduct only sacred music during his newly-established Sunday concerts, he replied "All music is sacred.")

If you're interested in what cultural life was like in Philadelphia (and by extension most other American metropolitan cities) not very long ago, you should get a second-hand copy of this book. Things sure have changed.

This is the most informative book I've ever read on the subject of orchestral musicians. It's perfect for the layperson who knows nothing about what goes into being an orchestral musician, yet still holds the interest of the seasoned professional. "...Philadelphians" is a wonderful account of the daily life of what was the greatest orchestra in the world at the time this book was published.

I hope that this great orchestra continues to produce wonderful music forever. I have been a member of the Philadelphia Orchestra Association for years and will continue to support the orchestra for as long as I can so that it will play great music for as long as possible. If you or anyone you know has never heard this orchestra you have missed out on one of the greatest experiences in this life. If I could afford to do it I would attend every concert that this orchestra plays in Philadelphia.