Lindsey Orcutt rather puts down Koussevitsky for needing the Rite of
Spring rebarred.  (Done by Slonimsky.) Have you listened to any of those
old BSO recordings with him? For all his eccentricities, he was a powerful
and persuasive interpreter of classics, romantics and moderns.  And boy is
his BSO a crack band!

I wouldn't condemn the man just because he was born with a silver spoon in
mouth and married a lady with a golden spoon.  Beecham, too, did not come
from a pauper's house and he too spent lavishly on his art -- much to our
great enjoyment.  Neither of these men had to pander to their critics and
publics to further their career.  They left a great mark on the history of
musical interpretation and their art holds up very well today (for the most
part).

I'd loosen up a bit and try both of these wealthy and worthy conductors.
You might even enjoy what you hear, even if what you've read has left you
rather cold on them.

Eric Kisch