Memory Lane

Last night it was Memory Lane. I began the evening watching the Boston Red Sox at home against Tampa Bay. When in Seminary at Andover Newton I was able on a few occasions to go to Fenway Park and watch the Sox. I vaguely remember watching Ted Williams. My full intention was to watch “Lincoln Center Live” from 8 pm to 10 pm. Of course there were moments I could flash back to Boston as the Sox won. Then there was the opening round of basketball. That didn’t demand much attention until the final minute or so.

The really significant memory of the whole night had to do with the music. In the opening piece Zubin Mehta was conducting and Pavoratti as singing. They were doing a collage of numbers from the past 30 years and both of these gentlemen were young. I first saw Mehta direct the Los Angeles Symphony in Seattle probably in the early - mid 70’s. He conducted that group from 1962 to 1978. I don’t remember what they played, but I do remember the excitement with which he conducted. It was still there as he was involved in a number of the presentations last night. On leaving LA Mehta went on to conduct the New York Philharmonic for many years.

Then there was one of Betty’s favorite artists, James Galway. He introduced his selection as being by the outstanding composer, Mr. Traditional, and then proceeded to play a very beautiful rendition of “Danny Boy”. As he stated: A lot of guys could wish they had composed it. I could only wish that Betty was hearing it all. If I ever had any question of what to get her for some special occasion Galway would do the trick.

Later in the program Leonard Bernstein was presented conducting Aaron Copeland. Again I can remember being at the Tanglewood Music Festival in the summer of 1947 and hearing the Boston Symphony under the direction of Serge Koussivitsky play Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Late in the concert a young Bernstein was presented and while I don’t remember what he conducted I do remember that this was very early in his career. Mehta, Galway, Pavoratti, Bernstein. Who needs baseball or basketball?