“Four of the world’s greatest
conductors, or so the joke goes, are bickering about which one is best. “My Chicago sound” is revered everywhere," says Sir Georg Solti, “and I’ve been knighted by the Queen of England.” “Ah, but my tours with the Boston Symphony
have been a triumph,” says Seiji Ozawa. “I’m
the most respected Japanese name since Sony.”
“Yes, but who else here is as celebrated a composer as he is conductor?”
interjects Leonard Bernstein. “It was God
himself who inspired me to write my ‘Mass’.”
“No I did not!” snaps Herbert von Karajan. -Newsweek 10/82
“Between 1305 and the early 1800’s. the House of Taxis ran a form of pony express service all over Europe…. Its couriers clad in blue and silver uniforms, crisscrossed the continent carrying messages between princes and generals, merchants and money lenders.” –Alvin Toffler, The Third Wave We may think we are the first generation consumed by rapid communication but we are not. Throughout our history it has been a priority. Of course, now in the 21 st century we must ask: are we better or worse for it?
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