Never smile at the brass.

The review in this morning’s paper by Corinna da Fonseca-Wollheim reminds me of story told to me by one of my early mentors, Dick Kapuscinski, Oberlin cello professor and principal cello at the Boston Symphony for decades. Dick related that at a BSO rehearsal with conductor Fritz Reiner, the players were frustrated by his economic but nearly invisible beat. At one point one of the players whispers to himself “Maestro, maestro, the beat!” and Reiner ignored him and continued the rehearsal. A second time and in a conversational tone, the player says, “Maestro, maestro the beat!” and again Reiner ignored him. A third time, the player stands up and screams “Maestro, the beat; it’s too damn small.” Reiner puts, down his baton, stops the rehearsal and smiles slyly, “Small but good,” he replies.