Adolph “Bud” Herseth was principal trumpet in the Chicago Symphony from 1948 until 2001 – that’s 53 years. Surely no other trumpeter has ever surpassed that length of service. Can you imagine how legendary he is? One afternoon, The Hungarian Conductor, Fritz Reiner, who was with the Chicago Symphony from 1953 to 1962, and well-known for his uncompromising overbearing manner, was directing a lengthy rehearsal of Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben (A Hero’s Life). This is a piece that even the good trumpeters fear because of one highly exposed trumpet passage deep into the piece. After the trumpeter waits through many long measures of rest – his lips have dried out and his heart is thumping – the orchestra falls quiet. The solo trumpeter goes tan-ta-dan-taaaaa – an octave leap to high D. Herseth played it flawlessly. Three measures later Reiner stops the orchestra and says, “Back to zee beginning of zee passage” – Herseth would have to do it again. Tan-ta-dan-taaaaa - It was again flawless. Reiner did it again. Each time it was flawless. Then prepared for a fourth time, Herseth takes the trumpet away from his mouth, stares straight into Reiner’s eyes and says in a calm voice, “Maestro, you can do it a thousand times, and I will never miss it.” Told to me as a true story.
Posted on: Thu, 14 Nov 2013 23:30:43 +0000
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