Former Oregon Symphony music director and Sunriver Music Festival music director Lawrence Leighton Smith has published a delightful memoir of his life in music, both as a pianist and conductor, entitled What a Ride!. He tells of his early associations with George Szell and Rudolph Serkin, to name just a few, all with his usual droll and self-deprecating sense of humor. He also touches briefly on his struggles with alcohol and drugs, which he successfully dealt with after a hard fought battle.
Larry was in the middle of a who’s who of the golden age of classical music, including working intimately with Franco Corelli, Sherrill Milnes, Zara Nelsova, Pinchas Zukerman, and many more.
I highly recommend this memoir to anyone with even a passing interest in the world of conducting and classical music.
The book should be available shortly at www.impavide.com for $20.
One reply on “what a ride!”
Larry told me that Szell made him come in and audition for him in Cleveland, sat at a piano, played a cluster of about 10 notes and asked Larry to identify them…and the piano was out of tune! Someone distracted Szell and Larry had a few extra moments to nail them all, which of course he did. Still didn’t get a gig, I don’t think. Maybe the book tells the story.