Steve Schwartz:

>Indeed, people prized Bennett more for his orchestration skills than for
>his original music.

In 1944, on commission by impresario Billy Rose for his Broadway show "The
Seven Lively Arts," Stravinsky wrote his "Scenes de Ballet." After the
first preview performance, Stravinsky writes ("Dialogues and a Diary,";
Doubleday, 1963, p. 83) that he received a telegram from Rose:

    YOUR MUSIC GREAT SUCCESS STOP COULD BE SENSATIONAL SUCCESS IF YOU
    WOULD AUTHORIZE ROBERT RUSSELL BENNETT RETOUCH ORCHESTRATION STOP
    BENNETT ORCHESTRATES EVEN THE WORKS OF COLE PORTER

    I telegraphed back: SATISFIED WITH GREAT SUCCESS

GeneH