By 1950, Fabien Sevitsky had led the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for thirteen years. Under his direction, the symphony grew to the international prominence it still enjoys today. To cultivate the public’s interest in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Sevitsky took the symphony on the road, performing around the United States for radio broadcasts and major label recordings with famous soloists. Sevitsky stepped down as conductor a short time after this ad, in 1955, however, his influence still remains.
Sunday Adverts: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
Having grown up in Indianapolis in the forties and fifties, I certainly remember Fabien Savitsky. My parents often took me to the symphony and I loved watching the violinists, in particular. My mother was an excellent pianist . After WWII, my father encouraged her to resume her study. She took piano lessons from Saul Burnett, whom I recall played the first viola in the Symphony. He and my mother became friends, but he was a challenging teacher. He suggested mother and a younger student play two-piano together under Burnett’s direction. For weeks we had two pianos in our living room and the two practiced Greig’s Concerto in A Minor for hours. In time they performed at one of Burnett’s recitals.
Fabien Sevitzky did a lot to/for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. I personally have a few recordings that he did for RCA Victor. Fabien was actually the nephew of Sergey Koussevitzky, the conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1924-1949. Fabien dropped the ‘Kous’ from his last name to avoid confusion with his uncle.