Selected text
It was good (to work at
the Kolozsvar Philharmonic) because we went on tour. It was only difficult
in that before 1989 we were cold, cut the fingers off gloves and played in
those. It was so cold that when conductors came from abroad they did not
want to conduct. They said that they couldn't in such cold. One bought
about 15 radiators so we would not be cold, and when he went they were all
collected up because a decree was passed - during Ceausescu - that
radiators were forbidden. It was hard to heat the rehearsal rooms as it was
very large and they didn't heat it well. So we froze as they were mean with
the heating during rehearsals and performances. Ceausescu passed a law
about conserving electricity. Otherwise they were good years, we were
abroad a lot. But we didn't get a big enough daily rate so we always took
tins with us and ate those to save money and to buy something for those at
home. Once, I believe in Italy, the boys cooked something in the hotel and
blew the fuses. There was a big row and articles were written (in the
papers there) about how the Romanain musicians live, and have to bring tins
(with them on tour). We went to many places. We were in France several
times, and in the ex-socialist countries: Bulgaria, Hungary,
Czechoslovakia, Poland and Russia.
the Kolozsvar Philharmonic) because we went on tour. It was only difficult
in that before 1989 we were cold, cut the fingers off gloves and played in
those. It was so cold that when conductors came from abroad they did not
want to conduct. They said that they couldn't in such cold. One bought
about 15 radiators so we would not be cold, and when he went they were all
collected up because a decree was passed - during Ceausescu - that
radiators were forbidden. It was hard to heat the rehearsal rooms as it was
very large and they didn't heat it well. So we froze as they were mean with
the heating during rehearsals and performances. Ceausescu passed a law
about conserving electricity. Otherwise they were good years, we were
abroad a lot. But we didn't get a big enough daily rate so we always took
tins with us and ate those to save money and to buy something for those at
home. Once, I believe in Italy, the boys cooked something in the hotel and
blew the fuses. There was a big row and articles were written (in the
papers there) about how the Romanain musicians live, and have to bring tins
(with them on tour). We went to many places. We were in France several
times, and in the ex-socialist countries: Bulgaria, Hungary,
Czechoslovakia, Poland and Russia.
Period
Location
Cluj Napoca
Romania
Interview
silvia nussbaum