Sweet Souvenirs

Of all things, a piece of chocolate came to mind. Years ago, following an interview with a conductor who had just returned from France, I was presented with a foil-wrapped bonbon. On the foil was a portrait of composer Hector Berlioz and the word: “Damnation.” Yes, the reference was to his famous stage work The Damnation of Faust.  But knowing how tempting chocolate is for so many, my first reaction was one of mild amusement.

It was the perfect gift from one who was so fond of the music of Berlioz, and who was admired as an interpreter of the composer’s works. It also reminded me of his sense of humor.

A French confectionery, which traces its roots back to 1900, began to make the bonbons about 40 years ago. It was in response to the popularity of the Mozart “Kugeln,”  which have been around since 1890. I shared a bit of what I learned about those in my blog of January 27, 2022.

The confectionery had hoped that the “Damnation” chocolates would bring attention to the legacy of Berlioz and his home town of La Côte-St-André, Isêre. The annual Berlioz Festival takes place there.

Conductor John Nelson helped to keep the musical legacy of Hector Berlioz alive with the performances he led and the recordings he made of the composer’s works.  Nelson died on March 31 at age 83. I’ve thought about him quite a bit since then. And, in addition to being reminded of Berlioz and the bonbons, I’ve reminisced about those years, which were my very first in public radio.

I interviewed John Nelson many times in the early and mid-1980s, when he was Music Director of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.  I was a classical music radio host and producer in Indianapolis back then.  It was exciting to be there at the time of the orchestra’s move to the renovated Circle Theatre.  There were so many legendary performers who appeared with the orchestra.  And I had the chance to interview many of them.

One of my favorite memories of John Nelson was his impromptu interview of flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal at a pre-concert program.  Well-versed in French language and culture, Nelson nevertheless kept the conversation light-hearted, fun, and mostly in English. Rampal, with a thick French accent, responded casually and candidly as he told a story about a snoring front row audience member.  And he recalled performing while a child pounded on one of the seats.  Rampal’s disapproving facial gestures were interpreted by the child as an invitation to a game of making faces.

Even after I left Indianapolis, I was asked to produce, for national distribution, the program which featured Nelson’s final concert as Music Director.  As a part of that, I had the chance to interview him at length one last time at his home. That was in 1987. He told me back then that he had wanted to move on to other challenges.  And that he did, though I can’t say that I kept informed about his activities. I myself had moved on to other challenges in radio. Within a couple of years, the road led to WILL-FM.

I read about the passing of another conductor recently.  I never met Ronald Corp.  But I’ve played selections from his recordings with the New London Orchestra, which he founded in 1988.  The orchestra’s series of “Light Music Classics” included many pieces which could be considered musical bonbons.  They’re the kind of pieces you’d expect to hear at pops concerts.  And many of them have been heard on classical music programs on the radio, including Classic Mornings.

In their two volumes of British Light Music Classics, Corp and company introduced a number of pieces that are lesser-known on this side of the Atlantic. Calling All Workers by Eric Coates was written as a morale booster during the Second World War.  At the suggestion of his wife, Coates wrote it to accompany the rhythm of sewing machines.  And it was fun to learn the title and story behind the tune used for the children’s television show Captain Kangaroo. It’s called Puffin’ Billy by Edward White, and was inspired by a steam engine on the Isle of Wight. The Grasshopper’s Dance by Ernest Bucalossi  is another of the British pieces I’ve played over the years.

The American volume introduced us to the Symphony No. 5 ½ , subtitled: “A Symphony for Fun,” by Don Gillis.  He was one of the producers of Arturo Toscanini’s NBC Symphony broadcasts.

I’m reminded that although collections are labeled “classics” or “favorites,” listeners seem to find their own special pieces of music in the course of their regular listening.  Hopefully they come away with sweet souvenirs whenever they join us for Classic Mornings, Monday through Friday from 9-noon on FM 90.9 or online at will.illinois.edu.