This collection is located on-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
Unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are available onsite via links in the container list. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized.
Letters, notes, programs, photographs, and printed materials. The collection is comprised primarily of handwritten correspondence between Reiner and notable music figures including Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Lukas Foss, Darius Milhaud, Arthur Nikisch. Arnold Schoenberg, Richard Strauss, Igor Stravinsky, and Leo Weiner. Also of note, letters from writer and conductor Gian Francesco Milpiero and his wife Auna detailing wartime conditions in Italy (1946).
This collection is arranged into 2 series.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located on-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
Unique time-based media items have been reformatted and are available onsite via links in the container list. Commercial materials are not routinely digitized.
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Fritz Reiner papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Gift of Carlotta Reiner.
Papers: Source of acquisition--Reiner, Carlotta. Method of acquisition--Gift/Transfer from Music Library; Date of acquisition--2001. Accession number--M-2001.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Papers processed JS/HR 07/27/2002.
2010-02-24 Legacy finding aid created from Pro Cite.
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Reiner was born in Budapest in 1888. He graduated from the Budapest Academy of Music in 1908 where he studied with Bela Bartok. Various conducting and directing appointments followed in Budapest and in Dresden, including that of chief conductor of the Royal Opera House in Dresden for 1914-1922. An acquaintance of Richard Strauss, Reiner was influenced by conductor Arthur Nikisch and Hungarian composer Leo Weiner. In 1922 Reiner left Europe to become the appointed director of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a post he held until 1930. In 1928 he became an American citizen. He married his second wife, Cincinnati actress Carlotta Irwin, in 1930.
From 1931-1941 Reiner served as head of the orchestra and opera departments at the Curtis Institute of Music, where Leonard Bernstein was his student. He supervised activities of the Philadelphia Academy of Music and was a frequent guest conductor at the Philadelphia Grand Opera. During that time he also participated in opera festivities at Covent Gargen in honor of King Edward VIII's coronation and Wagner performances at the San Francisco Opera from 1936-1938.
In 1938 Reiner was appointed conductor and music director of the Pittsburgh Symphony, resigning in 1948 over financial disputes. He became conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City where he debuted with an historic performance of Strauss' Salome on February 4 1949. Among the 113 performances conducted during that brief tenure were acclaimed performances of Tristan und Isolde and Der Rosenkavalier and the organization's premiere of Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress.
From 1953-1962 Reiner conducted the Chicago Symphony. He died in New York City on November 15 1963.
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 1
[Thank you note]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 2
[With postmarked envelope and unsigned acknowledgement form.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 3
[With envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 4
[Emotional personal announcement of Bernstein's appointment as assistant conductor of NY Philharmonic. Stationery: M. Witmark & Sons, Publishers, NY.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 5
[Stationery: The Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York. With envelope. ]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 6
[Thank you note on stationery: The Philharmonic Symphony Society of New York.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 7
[Thank you note on stationary: Samuel Bernstein Hair Company.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 8
[In Italian. With envelope]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 9
[In Italian. With unposted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 10
[. In Italian. With unposted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 11
[ In Italian.With envelope postmarked NY, NY: 5 September 45]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 12
[In Italian. With postmarked envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 13
[Copland appeals to Reiner to "try out" his then new work, "Danzon Cubano" with Sunday Philharmonic concerts.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 14
[On stationary: Hotel Majestic, Paris.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 15
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 16
[References to collaboration with Robert Shaw.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 17
[References to collaboration with Robert Shaw.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 18
[Includes the composer's detailed description of an unfinished work (an "unborn child").]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 19
[Request for recommendation replacing Leonard Bernstein, NY Philharmonic. References to Bernstein and Robert Shaw.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 20
[ Regarding NY Philharmonic recommendation and pianist position for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. References to Koussevitsky.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 21
[ References to new work expanded into a symphony.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 22
[ Agreement to present new work followed by travel arrangements.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 23
[Travel arrangements, references to Boston Symphony Orchestra.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 24
[ Regarding changes and publishing of new symphony. With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 25
[ Completion of last movement of 226 page new symphony.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 26
[Regarding new community orchestra: American Youth for Democracy.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 27
[Regarding American Youth for Democracy.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 28
[Regarding performance of new symphony. References to Koussevitsky. With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 29
["Surprise Dinner to the Master Leopold Godowsky," 65th anniversary. ]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 30
[Acceptance of dinner invitation.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 31
[Returned performance ticket. With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 32
[ Returned performance tickets. With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 33
[On Kingsley stationery (NY) in Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra envelope. With note from Otto Klemperer.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 34
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 35
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 36
[With note from Sgra. Malpiero to Mrs. Reiner. With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 37
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 38
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 39
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 40
[With envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 41
[With envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 42
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 43
[With envelope postdated 15 October 1932.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 44
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 45
[Reference to postwar conditions and request for provisions from Reiners to Malipieros. With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 46
[Death in Treviso, Italy.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 47
[Stationery: Mills College.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 48
[ In French.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 49
[Response to Reiner. Stationery: Mills College.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 50
[In French. Stationery: Mills College.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 51
[Request to play Milhaud concerto for two pianos with handwriting on the back possibly response from Reiner. Reference to Vronsky.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 52
[Regarding Milhaud concerto.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 53
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 54
[Letter of gratitude for performing his work. With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 55
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 56
[Apologies for inability to attend concert. Reference to Babin and Vronsky.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 57
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 58
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 59
[With note from Arthur Nikisch and posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 60
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 61
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 62
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 63
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 64
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 65
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 66
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 67
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 68
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 69
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 70
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 71
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 72
[On Montreux Palace stationery with posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 73
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 74
[ Copies faxed from newphew of Richard Strauss. ]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 75
[With postmarked envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 76
[With posted envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 77
[Stationery: Rozsavolgy & Tarsa, Budapest, Hungary.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 78
[With envelope.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 79
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 80
[With handwritten note, possibly to Reiner. Regarding Pittsburgh Orchestra business.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 81
[ Regarding Pittsburgh Orchestra business: conductor's vacation time.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 82
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 83
[Regarding remarks by Jean-do Mondolini.]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 84
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 85
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 86
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 87
[With envelope dated 24 February 1989]
Box Cataloged Correspondence Box 1 Folder 88
[ Regarding contents of collection to be archived.]
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