When Maurice Abravanel, former music director of the Utah Symphony for 32 years, receives the illustrious 1991 National Medal of Arts from President Bush at the White House next week, it will be a fitting ceremony for someone who richly deserves the high honor.
The Utah Symphony, which ranks among the nation's finest, owes its lofty reputation to Abravanel, who came to Salt Lake City in 1947 looking for a place to have his own orchestra.He took the symphony, scarcely more than an amateur concern that played a half-dozen concerts a year, and turned it into a full-time professional group that does as many as 150 performances a year, has 100 recordings to its credit and has made several world tours.
It has always seemed a little incongruous that Abravanel would end up in Utah. He is truly a citizen of the world. He was born in Greece of Spanish-Portuguese Jewish parents, was reared in Switzerland, studied music in Berlin, worked in Paris and Australia and came to New York City in 1936 to conduct the Metropolitan Opera orchestra.
His search for a place to build an orchestra brought him to Utah, and the state has been richly rewarded by the musical talent and dedication he applied to his task. Much of the reputation the state enjoys as a center for the arts can be directly credited to the 88-year-old maestro.
Despite his years, Abravanel remains active in behalf of the music he loves. Each summer he serves as an artist-in-residence at the prestigious Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood in Lenox, Mass.
The National Medal of Arts is a significant recognition. Among those who have received it at the hands of a president of the United States are some of the most famous artists, writers, composers and performers to be found in the country. Abravanel is a most worthy name to be added to this national artistic roll of honor.