Not even the appearance of Marilyn Monroe made such a hit in Japan. The new, triumphant visitor: New York City's Symphony of the Air, Arturo Toscanini's former orchestra, which has been looking for a job ever since the maestro's retirement. Occupation for the next six weeks: U.S. cultural ambassador abroad.
As the first Western symphony orchestra to tour the Far East (sponsored by the U.S. State Department, ANTA and Japan's Mainichi newspapers), the Symphony of the Air packed Tokyo's 2,600-seat Hibiya Hall for the opening concert. Scalpers were collecting $22 for $5 tickets. Conductor Walter Hendl of the Dallas Symphony led a...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
