WFCC

Classical Fact

The day before pianist Idil Biret was to make her American debut with the Boston Symphony was her birthday. Conductor Erich Leinsdorf led the orchestra in a cheerful rendition of Happy Birthday, and then they settled down to rehearse Rachmaninov's 3rd piano concerto, which they would perform at 1 o'clock in the afternoon the next day - November 22nd, 1963. The Turkish-born soloist remembers a pale and stricken looking Leinsdorf finding her in her dressing room shortly before the concert was to begin, followed by Idil's father, who told her that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas Texas. The Boston Symphony's President, Henry Cabot, and Mr. Leinsdorf informed a stunned and grief-stricken audience that the concert would go on. The Symphony's players and soloist won raves for their brave and unwavering performance on that tragic and historic day.