Gerard Hoffnung - Hoffnung Music Festival

Foreword by Ronald Searle

The conductor sharpens his baton on a pencil sharpener, Stravinsky checks his tempi against a metronome, the tenor controls his voice with the help of knobs on his waistcoat and the Hoffnung Music Festival is underway in a riotous happening of symphonic caricature. The Hoffnung Festival Chorus, with one or two exceptions is performing with confidence and enthusiasm and the Maestro himself looks well pleased. Visiting prima donnas are perhaps rather alarming and it is a pity the Battle Symphony ends the way it does. In contrast a piscatorial Trout Quintet brings an element of calm to the scene. This book is one not to be missed.