Few music lovers ever have any trouble appreciating Artur Schnabel, the great pianist. But in London last week, even 66-year-old Pianist Schnabel himself was afraid that many were going to have trouble with Schnabel, the composer. His atonal First Symphony is so formidable that he thought London audiences and critics ought to get a warmup on it before its premiere. So he invited them to the final rehearsal.
In huge, unlit Albert Hall, while cleaners dusted, the critics and the curious watched as Sir Malcolm Sargent stopped the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the 18th time to cry "No, no! ... Back to...
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