Evening star., 1946-07-14

~.
ised to go through to Lima in one
day tand a superb day it was). we
left Santiago at l pm. instead of 7
a m, and got only to Antofagasta
which, its beautiful name notwith-
standing, is hell hole. There We
spend the night in what is known
as a guest house" 1t certainly
justifies this moniker The last tins
there, had several right in my bed.
~ EVERAL pleasant happenings
occurred during my last days
~ in Chile. Our Ambassador,
Claude Bowers gave a luncheon
for me at which he invited a num-
ber of the Chilean intelngentsia,
professors of the university, we'll
known composers, etc. The next
day the Youth of Chile a group
of young men of the same category,
invited me to similar but more
informal function. But the incest
of all took place after my farewell
concert on Sunday morning at IL
o'clock.
When the concert was over at !,
and the last of the public and auto
graph seekers had left, the concert
master and the first cellist of the
orchestra asked me to 60 with them.
They had asked me the day before.
IN the name of the orchestra, to
reserve an hour or so for them after
the concert, and, of course, l had
agreed to do so. But I was not pre-
pared for what followed.
They took me to another part Of
the Teatro Municipal. and there. in
one OF the large vestibules was the
entire orchestra gathered around
three large tables which were
groaning under huge amount of
wonderful things to eat and count
less glasses of "pisco sours," the
favorite "cocktail' down here. and
'vermut" for the ladies,
Surprise Party Staged
BY Orchestra Friends
1t was by way of surprise party.
1t was the second time in the history
Of the orchestra that they had done
this (the other time was for Fritz
Busch, next seasons principal con-
ductor of the New York Metropoli-
tan Opera. Busch is very much be-
loved down there.
After the applause the dean Of
the fine arts of the UNIVERSITY well
coined me. Then followed countless
speeches and toasts. These were
started by the first cellist, Mr..
Ceruttl, who is to the Chilean Or
chestra what Mr.. Gaul is to Wash
ington. He ended by calling me
Maestro Busch by mistake. to his
immense confusion, and the hilaritv
OF every one else So he explained
that this had happened because
they liked Mr.. Busch so much etc
answered and told him, of course
what a compliment I considered
this. and I thanked him as .'Mr
Piatigorsky."
Ihls and the pisces broke what
ever official atmosphere was left
and from then on every one pro-
posed toaSts-to the United States
10 the entire National SYMPHONY
orchestra, to Ia Musica." to Mozart.
10 the cello section of the Washing
ton Orcnestra-this one BY the last
celllSt Of the Santiago Orchestra
VINO said how scared they had all
peen Before I came because of nv
having once heen a cellist, and how
feHoVed they had been when, during
me first rehearsal. I hadn't said
anFth'ng to th"m except "muy bien."
Then the trumpet section said
theE were poor at speeches. but
they'd brought their instrument,
and would play fanfare instead
Then the first flute shouted "Por IA
Holanda,' and 7 shouted back "por
la Flauta.' not knowing that thi,
means not only TO the flute" but Is
also slang expression meaning the
equivalent of TO heck with every-
thing. And so it went on and on,
Toward the end. the nine ladies
OF the orchestra had a whispered
conversation, anG then a very nice.
albeit rather buxom, lady cellist
asked if the maestro would allow
her to give me an "abrazo" In the
name of the ladies of the orchestra.
So said, by all means" and she
gave me a flying tackle, as il she
were Jacob and I the Angel of
Death or the Masked Marvel. Bv
then the parman IN charge said he
wanted to say that his mother had
been a Dutch lady, and that this
made me "muy simpatico" to him
and could he drink my
health? More abrazos.
1t all ended in very much of a
rosy glow. and wonderful spirits all
round (no pun meant. Then they
took me to the hotel. and I don't
think the stately Crillon had ever
seen anything quite like it, But
every one agreed that it had been
a wonderful, wonderful party, and
a glorious finale. And SO to bed.
(Another article from Mr.. Kin.
dler will appear-When it gets