Music: Change of Hat

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Austrian Conductor Herbert von Karajan, 52, Europe's No. 1 man of many musical hats—and almost as many moods—is noted for having walked out on some of the best jobs in opera and symphony on the Continent. Last week he did it again. The post of artistic director of the famed Salzburg Festival was specially created for him four years ago. and he called it the achievement of a lifelong ambition. But Von Karajan has now refused to renew his contract.

As usual, rumors flew as fast as bow strokes in the William Tell overture: Von Karajan had quit over the mixed public reception to the new Salzburg Festspielhaus, whose massive design was considered by some inimical to the intimacy of Mozart operas (TIME, Aug. 8); or he had been forced out because he scanted Mozart during his tenure in favor of Richard Strauss and various modern composers. A more likely explanation was that he was just restless again.

After all, he has his other jobs to think about, too, such as his role as artistic director of the Vienna State Opera. Then there is the Vienna Philharmonic (conductor: Herbert von Karajan), which he plans to take on a three-week tour through

Germany, Italy and Switzerland this fall. He is also scheduled to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic in six concerts in its home city and then take it on tour to London for a Beethoven cycle. December calls for a production of Fidelia at La Scala. And since he is now free of Salz burg, Edinburgh may seek his services for its music festival next year. Finally, there are reports that Von Karajan has privately expressed his ambition to conduct the opening of the new Metropolitan Opera House in New York in 1963.

The President of Salzburg's Festival,

Bernhard Paumgartner, still hopes that Von Karajan will come back. But other Salzburgers express their feelings in a joke now making the rounds. Von Karajan jumps into a cab in front of the new Festspielhaus and tells the driver, "Hurry, hurry!" "Where to?" the driver inquires. Von Karajan answers: "It doesn't matter. I have things to do everywhere."