In Manhattan last week Arturo Toscanini conducted the Philharmonic Orchestra's 2298th concert, the last of the season, its valedictory before it merges with the New York Symphony and becomes the Philharmonic-Symphony of New York. Toscanini will be chief conductor of the blended band. As such last week he was painted by newspapermen:
He is 61, slight, grizzled, the highest paid conductor in the world.*
He conducts wholly from memory, with light, cork-tipped batons imported from Italy. He rarely uses the same stick twice. He often hums while conducting. He will have no guests at his rehearsals....