The Eighth Hungarian Tribe, 1984 (11. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1984-03-01 / 3. szám
opportunity to audition with the New York Philharmonic, and under the baton of Leonard Bernstein, who, in recalling the incident, said: “1 flipped!” ANDRE BEGINS HIS CLIMB TO FAME Andre Watts’ debut with the New York Philharmonic was such an outstanding success that Leonard Bernstein was compelled to call him back for repeat performances. Columbia Records got on the bandwagon and offers poured in from all over. But Mrs. Watts had other ideas. She wanted her son to grow up normally and to couple his musical ambitions with acquiring an education. Accordingly, when Andre graduated from the Lincoln Preparatory School, she enrolled him in the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. But the demand for him to perform was so great that the first year after his debut, under the conductorship of Leonard Bernstein, he performed six concerts. The second year he performed 12 and, the third year, he appeared on the concert stage 15 times. These included performances in most of the major American cities and with twelve different symphony orchestras. In 1966, Andre Watts performed in London with the London Symphony and, when he became 21, he signed a long-term contract with CBS Records. He also debuted in Berlin where, “Der Telegraf” reported, he had “conquered the Berliner audience.” His triumph in Berlin was followed by a world tour sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, which captivated audiences everywhere, and with a repeat engagement with the New York Philharmonic which, it was reported in the press, “all but tore the house down.” Today, he averages about 150 concerts a year here and abroad. ANDRE WATTS, Ph.D. At the age of only 26 years, Andre Watts became the youngest person to receive an Honorary Doctorate from Yale University in more than 200 years. In 1975, he was similarly honored by Albright College of Reading, Pennsylvania, and throughout the 16 years of his public career, has received numerous other honors and distinctions. But the great honor he will never forget is the time he gave a four-hour-long, televised concert under the direction of Eugene Ormandy, the great Hungarian conductor. That was a concert to remember, indeed! A FAVORITE OF KINGS, QUEENS, AND PRESIDENTS Andre Watt had the honor of playing a Presidential Inaugural Concert at Constitution Hall in Washington, and has performed for many other heads of state, including the King, Queen, and Queen Mother of Greece; Archbishop Makarious; and King Carlos of Spain and Queen Sophia. When Queen Elizabeth II of England visited the United States for the Bicentennial Celebration, she invited him to lunch aboard the royal yacht “Britannia”. He has also performed on state occasions in the White House. A NORMAL LIFE IN THE COUNTRY Andre Watts, at the age of 36, seems to be in greater demand and a bigger sensation today than he was 19 years ago. Success, however, has not gone to his head, which was precisely what his mother was worried about. He still practices many hours a day in the cathedral-ceilinged studio of his modest residence up in New York’s Rockland County, reads a great deal, practices Yoga for relaxation, and listens to records. Franz Liszt, of course, is still his idol. Yes! You can bet on it that he learned some Hungarian from his mother and has a pretty good idea what “kolbász” is and knows how good it tastes!” * * * * * Arad (continued from page H) general. The request was denied. When Leininger was offered wine by one of the guards, he refused saying that he didn’t need wine for courage. General Vecsey, who had been on bad terms with Damjanich, stepped up to the dangling corpse and kissed its hand in an act of reconciliation. One of the gruesomest acts of all was the hanging of a dead man. General Torok had become very agitated and kept on shouting at the officer directing the executions. He called the officer a “butcher”. All at once, he fell to the ground — dead from a heart attack. Although already dead, he was nevertheless hung! On the same day, a 14th execution took place at Pest. Prime Minister Lajos Batthany was in prison undera sentence of death. On the evening of October 5th, his wife smuggled a dagger into his cell and Batthany cut his throat. His life. however, was saved by a doctor. Since the wound made hanging impossible, the Austrians shot him the next day — October 6th. But, before hit by the fatal shots, Batthany refusing a blindfold, shouted “ELJEN A HAZA”, and then gave the order to fire himself! To Hungarians all over the world, October 6, 1849, is a day that will always live in infamy! W here our •'ravemound* shall rise. Our grandchildren 'hall prostate, \nd with prayers of blessing They 'hall say our sacred names. OX LINE PAINTS PLUMBING SUPPLIES HAMILTON HARDWARE INC. 598 HAMILTON STREET SOMERSET, N.J. Call: 545-0220 OPEN WEEKDAYS 8 AM - 6 PM JOSEPH L. TOTH, MGR. SUNDAYS TIL 2 PM WCTC - 1450 AM - New Brunswick, N.J. Sunday afternoon 12:15 to 1:30. Kara’s Hungarian Melody Time. * * * * * WJDM - 1530 AM - Elizabeth, N.J. Sunday mornings 8:45 to 9:15. Nándor Erdei’s “Hungarian Rhapsody.” ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN THIS SECTION! For advertising rates, call: 201-964-8464 or write: Bethlen Press c/o P.O. Box 2203 Union, NJ 07083 March, 1984 Page 15
