Cultural Cocktail Hour

Rachmaninov’s Retort

According to author Norman Lebrecht, in his Book of Musical Anecdotes, virtuoso pianist Sergei Rachmaninov was in the midst of performing a violin and piano recital in New York when his partner, violinist Fritz Kreisler was struck by a memory block.

A nervous Kreisler inched towards the piano, whispering intensely at Rachmaninov,

“Where are we?”

To which Mr. Rachmaninov cooly replied, “Carnegie Hall.”

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