Hat's enough of hat
Sir: Michael Kennedy's letter (18 January) states that Toscanini never said, 'To Strauss the composer I take off my hat; to Strauss the man I put it on again.' I was close to Toscanini for many years, and I was present when he made that remark on more than one occasion. The exact quotation was, 'To Strauss the composer I take off my hat; to Strauss the man I put on three hats.' The statement was always accompanied by a graphic gesture with both hands. His daughter, Wanda Toscanini Horowitz, lives in New York and can confirm this.
Toscanini had a deep admiration for Strauss's music, but he could not tolerate his opportunism and greed.
On 8 September 1949, the day that Strauss died, I attended a concert conduct- ed by Toscanini at La Scala. Don Juan was in the programme. After the last note Toscanini left the stage, ignoring the ova- tion from the audience, so deeply was he moved by the news of Strauss's death.
Massimo Freccia
36 Eaton Place, London SW1
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