Charles Dalmas:

>I've had little respect for the NYP in my life.  I've found it to be
>cumbersome and inflexible.

 Well, maybe, but allow me  a  short walk down memory lane. I suddenly
became aware of this marvelous classical music as a teenager living in NYC.
As such I have the fondest memories of the Philharmonic in Carnegie Hall,
sitting as high as was possible in that hall, and having the illusion that
the orchestra was almost straight down. Dmitri Mitropolous was in charge,
but Bruno Walter showed uo often as well. I remember a concert performance
of Wozzeck (Mitropolous) and Mahler songs with Walter.  The programs were
adventurous, and while I could not go as often as I would  have liked, in
those days the NPO was broadcast by CBS on Sunday afternoons. Was the NPO
as mediocre and hard to deal with then as later? I certainly was in no
position to judge at the time, but whatever the truth of the matter those
concerts were joyous occasions - even Wozzeck!!

Professor Bernard Chasan
Physics Department, Boston University