ABSTRACT
W orld War II ended in 1945, but it took fifteen years before the New York Philharmonic broke the ice and played in Berlin. Bernstein explained to the audience, in German, that it was Rosh Hashanah eve (October 22, 1960), and began the concert with a prayer for world peace in Hebrew! The Berlin Philharmonic, under Von Karajan, was first welcomed to Carnegie Hall, and America, a year later during my time with the Philharmonic. John, Seiji, and I lay hidden on the floor of a box for the “closed” and very brief acoustic rehearsal; and I watched in awe that evening as Karajan came out of his limousine and walked directly onto the stage where his orchestra awaited.
