Toscanini an Intimate Portrait

Chotzinoff, Samuel ; [Paul Hume's Copy]

Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 1956

148 pages; New York: Very Good+ in Very Good- dust jacket. 1956. First Edition; First Printing. Autograph; 148 pages; Publisher's red boards with a black cloth spine -- spine lettered in gilt, front board decoratively stamped in blind with initials of the subject and the author - separated by a cleverly designed portrait of Toscanini's distinctive head. The book is fine, the dust jacket has edge wear, a bit more at the ends of the spine, and a wedge-shaped chip (no loss) at the top edge of the front panel. Not price-clipped. First edition, so stated on the verso of the title page. Signed in ink on the front free endpaper by Paul Hume. Samuel Chotzinoff's musical career had included a stint as a significant music critic for two New York papers. Although the author, working as a consultant to NBC, is credited with persuading Arturo Toscanini to conduct the Nationial Broadcasting Company Symphony Orchestra -- this memoir is considered by some to have a tenuous relationship to the facts. It cannot be denied that Chotzinoff was there, from the very conception of Toscanini's involvement with the orchestra he made so famous, both in performance and broadcast. From the music reference library of the late Paul Hume, long time musical editor of the Washington 'Post. ' Hume [1915-2001] earned a degree from the University of Chicago, and, in addition to his multi-decade career in musical journalism, served as as professor of music at Georgetown University (1950-1977) , as adjunct professor of music at Yale University (1975-1983) , and also hosted long-running classical music programs at WGMS-FM radio in Washington, D. C. He is best known for his substantial and influential term at the Washington 'Post" -- 1946-1982, for which he won numerous awards including a Peabody; Hume also wrote several books. Despite all this, during a couple of days fairly early in his tenure at the 'Post, ' Paul Hume became the most famous music critic in America. He achieved this unsought status by publishing a review of a recital December 5, 1950 at Washington's Constitution Hall, writing that the singer possessed "a pleasant voice of little size and fair quality. She is extremely attractive on the stage. Yet . . . There are few moments during her recital when one can relax and feel confident that she will make her goal, which is the end of the song. She is flat a good deal of the time . . . She cannot sing with anything approaching professional finish . . . She communicates almost nothing of the music she presents ." All in a night's work for a working music critic -- unless the subject of a review is the only child of a President of the United States. Such was the case for Paul Hume in 1950. The President was not at all pleased to read Paul Hume's review in the 'Post. ' He took two sheets of White House stationery and wrote (in longhand) an emotional and un-Presidential letter to the critic. One key phrase stands out: "Some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!" Margaret Truman initially told reporters "I am absolutely positive my father wouldn't use language like that. "In the first place . My father wouldn't have time to write a letter . . . Mr. Hume is a very fine critic. He has a right to write as he pleases." Cautiously, Hume and the Managing Editor of the 'Post' sought confirmation from the White House that the letter, signed only with the initials "H. S. T. " had indeed been written and sent by the President. Soon, after the Executive Office did confirm Presidential authorship of the note, a 'Post' competitor, the tabloid Washington 'Daily News' put the whole story on its front page. In 1951, Hume reportedly sold the original letter written to him by the angry President -- for $3500. It was resold once before being purchased by publisher/collector Malcolm S. Forbes in 1983, who displayed i; Music and Performing Arts, Most Recent Listing, Most Recent Listing. Seller Inventory # 44761

Bibliographic Details

Title: Toscanini an Intimate Portrait
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, New York
Publication Date: 1956
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good-
Edition: First Edition.