Andre Kostelanetz recordings collection
Collection
0213-SCPA
Andre Kostelanetz (1901-1980) was a Russian conductor, orchestrator, pianist, and composer known for his radio programs and concert series. He began his work in radio in 1928, and by 1930, was the conductor the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) orchestra. His programs featured a blend of classical music and popular music, much of which was orchestrated by Kostelanetz himself to suit the radio format. This collection contains recordings of Kostelanetz's broadcasts and interviews conducted with Kostelanetz, as well as supporting materials. Interviews conducted by Robert Sherman and George Jellinek were for radio broadcast on WQXR, and interviews conducted by Gloria Hammond were for Kostelanetz's memoir, Echoes: Memoirs of Andre Kostelanetz.
The collection is open for research use. Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room during SCPA’s operating hours. Please contact the curator for an appointment or if you have questions related to digital access of the materials.
Copyright was not transferred to the University of Maryland with the gift of any copyrighted materials. All rights remain with the creators and rights holders. The University of Maryland Libraries is granted permission for the use in scholarly research by the Libraries’ patrons under fair use in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.
To inquire about duplication of materials for research or for publication, please contact SCPA’s curator.
2.00 Linear Feet
The Andre Kostelanetz recordings collection covers the period from 1932 to 1980; the bulk of the materials date from 1942-1945 and 1979. The collection consists of recordings from Kostelanetz's radio broadcasts and interviews with Kostelanetz, both for radio and for his memoir. This collection also contains an index of the recordings, a copy of his memoir, a photocopy of a periodical feature on Kostelanetz, and correspondence regarding the acquisition of the collection. Most of the broadcasts in this collection were made for the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), and frequently featured soprano Lily Pons. The radio interviews were conducted on WQXR-FM by Robert Sherman and George Jellinek, and the interviews for his memoir were conducted by Gloria Hammond.
Andre Kostelanetz, born December 22, 1901 in St. Petersburg, Russia, was a conductor and orchestrator. Kostelanetz studied composition at St. Petersburg Conservatory under Alexander Glazunov. He came to the United States in 1922 as a refugee, and worked in New York City as a vocal coach and accompanist. In 1928, he became a United States citizen and began working for Atlantic Broadcasting System, which would be acquired by Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS). He then became the conductor for the CBS orchestra in 1930, and conducted a series of programs including the Chesterfield Hour. These programs often featured arrangements made by Kostelanetz of both classical music and popular music of the time.
In 1963, he began a series of spring concerts with the New York Philharmonic known as the Promenades, which would feature symphonic music, folk songs, dance, and spoken word. Kostelanetz guest conducted the New York Philharmonic for twenty-seven consecutive seasons, from 1952 to 1979. He commissioned several works for orchestra, including Aaron Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait." Kostelanetz died in Haiti on January 13, 1980.
This collection is organized into two series:
Gift of Robert Frank. Received on February 20, 2009.
Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library