Back before 1978, when he was appointed music director of the New York Philharmonic, Zubin Mehta made an infamous remark about America's most fractious ensemble: "A lot of us think, Why not send our worst enemy there and finish him off once and for all?" For the past 1 1/2 years, ever since Mehta announced he would leave his post in 1991, it has sometimes seemed doubtful whether any conductor could be found to take over the Philharmonic, either worst enemy or best friend. Various high-powered names were floated, among them Leonard Bernstein, who has already served one tour of duty...
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