Told to me by John Georgiadis, one-time leader of the LSO. The orchestra had played Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade for Celibidache (RFH, c.1977, I was there) and John had been asked by Celi to portray the storyteller as the thirteen-year-old girl she is reported as being. The LSO’s next Scheherazade was with Evgeny Svetlanov (same venue, I was also there). During rehearsal John played the solos the same demure way as he had for Celi, and was questioned by Svetlanov as to why. John explained that Scheherazade is a young girl, to which Svetlanov bellowed: “I don’t want a young girl, I want Gina Lollobrigida”.
An anecdote featuring actress Gina Lollobrigida (who died yesterday aged 95).
Great story. Who wouldn’t want Lo Lola. Her transition from a dying film career is an object listen for stubborn ambition to return to her first love of photography. God bless this lovely lady.
I have always preferred Celibidache to Svetlanov as a conductor. Perhaps this story is socially unacceptable in this day and age. How we all change……