Robbins, Jerome. (1918–1998). Typed Letter Signed to Raymond Lewenthal.
Raymond Lewenthal (1923–1988) was an American pianist. Lewenthal made his debut in 1948 with Dimitri Mitropoulos and the Philadelphia Orchestra. The occasion marked the first time a soloist had been invited to play Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 under Mitropoulos's direction—that being a work which the conductor was famous for playing himself. The success of this performance was followed a few weeks later by Lewenthal's New York recital debut. These events launched his North American career, which flourished until it came to a sudden halt in 1953; while walking through New York's Central Park, Lewenthal was attacked by a gang of hoodlums and suffered broken bones in his hands and arms. Although he did recover and return to performing, with a particular focus on the works of lesser-known Romantic composers, his career never quite lived up to the promise of his debut.
Typed letter signed from the great dancer and choreographer to American pianist Raymond Lewenthal. February 20, 1973; 1 p. Robbins writes: "Dear Mr. Lewenthal: I had already gotten my own recordings and had listened to them way before I received your recordings, and rather than open yours or give them away I thought it only courteous to return them. You may be a tune detective but your other deductions are way off-key. Very truly yours, Jerome Robbins." Fine. 7.25 x 10.5 inches (18.4 x 26.6 cm).
Robbins, Jerome. (1918–1998). Typed Letter Signed to Raymond Lewenthal.
Raymond Lewenthal (1923–1988) was an American pianist. Lewenthal made his debut in 1948 with Dimitri Mitropoulos and the Philadelphia Orchestra. The occasion marked the first time a soloist had been invited to play Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 under Mitropoulos's direction—that being a work which the conductor was famous for playing himself. The success of this performance was followed a few weeks later by Lewenthal's New York recital debut. These events launched his North American career, which flourished until it came to a sudden halt in 1953; while walking through New York's Central Park, Lewenthal was attacked by a gang of hoodlums and suffered broken bones in his hands and arms. Although he did recover and return to performing, with a particular focus on the works of lesser-known Romantic composers, his career never quite lived up to the promise of his debut.
Typed letter signed from the great dancer and choreographer to American pianist Raymond Lewenthal. February 20, 1973; 1 p. Robbins writes: "Dear Mr. Lewenthal: I had already gotten my own recordings and had listened to them way before I received your recordings, and rather than open yours or give them away I thought it only courteous to return them. You may be a tune detective but your other deductions are way off-key. Very truly yours, Jerome Robbins." Fine. 7.25 x 10.5 inches (18.4 x 26.6 cm).