José Iturbi, turbulent-tempered Spanish conductor-pianist, got on his high horse last week with one angry bound. Reason: he was slated to conduct a program (July 10) at Philadelphia's Robin Hood Dell, on which Swingster Benny Goodman was scheduled to play one of his specialties, the Mozart clarinet concerto. From California, Conductor Iturbi telephoned Philadelphia: "[Goodman] is a jazz-band leader. It would be beneath my dignity to conduct for him." (Iturbi has accepted dignified fees for appearing with Bing Crosby on the radio, playing piano accompaniment for Bob Burns' bazooka.) Drawled Benny Goodman: "Well, let's just get a better conductor." He...
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