Oral Histories

Interview of Albert Goldberg

Los Angeles Times music critic.
Subtitle:
The Sounding Board
Series:
Z: Orphan Interviews pre 1999
Topic:
Journalism
Music
Biographical Note:
Los Angeles Times music critic.
Interviewer:
Arkatov, Salome Ramis and Treleven, Dale E.
Interviewee:
Goldberg, Albert
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Abstract:
Childhood in Shenandoah, Iowa; family background; early attraction to music; the University of Nebraska; decision to study with Glenn Dillard Gunn; first impressions of Chicago; first impressions of Gunn; history of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Frederick Stock; Eric De Lamerter; Stock performs Stravinsky and Schoenberg; Stock's reorchestration of musical pieces; the opening of the Chicago Auditorium; Rosa Raisa, Kirsten Flagstad, and Mary Garden; Mrs. Rockefeller McCormick; the Ravinia Festival; Goldberg and Gunn as critics for the Chicago Herald and Examiner; the circle of music critics in Chicago; social interaction with artists; Herman and Hattie Devries; connection between Herman Devries's reviews and advertising in the Musical Courier; writing halts with coming of the Depression; Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Music Project; Goldberg joins faculty of the Chicago Musical College; Musical America; purpose of the Chicago Civic Orchestra; Guy Maier; Izler Solomon; Goldberg becomes state director of the WPA Music Project; James Caesar Petrillo and the Chicago Federation of Musicians; organization of the WPA Music Project and bureaucratic problems; Nikolai Sokoloff and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra; Claudia Cassidy's reviews; remembering Frank-lin D. Roosevelt; Claudia Cassidy and a job writing for the Chicago Tribune; the Chicago Symphony Orchestra after Frederick Stock's retirement; Goldberg's move to the Los Angeles Times; associations with the Chandler family; impressions of Los Angeles; comparing the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times; the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra; establishment of the Hollywood Bowl; Alfred Wallenstein; Hollywood composers and players; on conductors and their art; Zubin Mehta; Dorothy Buffum Chandler's influence in the music community; Ignace Paderewski and his impact on Goldberg; music education; Goldberg's approach to teaching music criticism; Goldberg's "retirement"; Martin Bernheimer, Goldberg's successor at the Los Angeles Times.