WOLFGANG SAWALLISCH -- When this venerable maestro took over the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1993, at 70, many expected him to be little more than a caretaker as a search for a younger music director took place around him.
Collins, however, graciously let the maestro take over his cockpit with 15 of the 50 laps to go, handing Fangio a share of second place and the three points that secured a fourth title.
Sunday, which will be hosted by the party maestros over at Flying Circus, opens up the grounds for The Martinez Brothers, Audiofly, Martin Buttrich, Guti (Live), Jozif and a few more skilled selectors.
The choir used to be awful, known as the Sistine Screamers, until Maestro Palombella took over five years ago and changed rehearsals from three hours a week to three hours a day.
It had been no secret that the orchestra was hoping to entice the perfectionist Italian maestro to take over the music director's post when Kurt Masur steps down in 2002.
The Met might make him a better offer, but the more probable scenario is that Peter Gelb, the Met's general manager, will keep Luisi on a short-term contract while seeking a younger maestro to take over for the long haul.
The Maestro came over to inspect my work.
But his father sent him, on his deathbed, to a man they called The Maestro, who over years taught him the craft.
Clearly enjoying playing the host, the maestro fussed over the menu, chided the waiters, critiqued the decor for its deliberately half-finished look ("something like SoHo, no?") and tended to his guests, toasting them with vodka and listening attentively as they rambled on about personal reminiscences of past operas.
It also came trailing rave notices for its work under the Finnish maestro Osmo Vanska, who took over as music director in 2003, and its performances largely bore them out.
