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Vol. XIX No. 8 May 2004 |
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 Dear Editor: I too am an admirer of Aram Khatchaturian. However, I feel I should tell you some things stated in the article ( "When the Twain Did Meet," March Juilliard Journal) need correction. When I performed the Piano Concerto with the St. Louis Symphony in the 1950s, there was never a problem to obtain the orchestral parts. I also conducted the Violin Concerto with not a concern about rental fees. It is unfair to not realize that Sam Weintraub (as I knew him when we were students at school) went to the Soviet Union to conduct orchestras. He was not allowed to take any money out of the country. Instead, he bought much music and brought it back to the U.S. Notorious? Willie Kapell was managed by Arthur Judson, who also managed the New York Philharmonic. Willie told me that he played the Concerto for Rubinstein to seek his musical opinion. Rubinstein told him it was trash and that he should discard it. Then Rubinstein scheduled it shortly thereafter to play with the Philharmonic. When Willie told Judson the story, Judson called Rubinstein. He told him that if he persisted, it would end any engagements with the orchestra. Rubinstein then played another concerto. A victory for Kapell!
William Schatzkamer Juilliard Graduate School ('40, piano)
Mr. Arzruni responds: I was thrilled to hear that the distinguished Mr. Schatzkamer values, and was an early champion of, Khachaturian. I should clarify (since it appears to have been misunderstood) that my reference to Mr. Weintraub was certainly not meant to be derisive (the basic information appears in The New Grove Dictionary of American Music, Vol. IV, P. 504) but merely colorful. God forbid it should ever be considered impolite to make a living (even and especially a good one) in music. The Rubinstein anecdote is quite tantalizing. He definitely played the Khachaturian Piano Concerto in 1943, but this is the first I have heard of Rubinstein's early "review"—whatever its underlying intention may have been. The episode cries out for elaboration; I wonder if any Journal readers could oblige?
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