Albert Sirmay

Paulette Attie reprises Dr. Sirmay's resume. He begins by apologizing for his European accent and talks about what was going on when he first arrived in the United States. The British musical stage and arrival of Americans for the London stage. The Viennese school, the European upheaval and the inability of European composers to compete with the American style of music. His association and friendship with George Gershwin. He tells a story about Leonard Bernstein seeking a job and made a great impression on him. "I told him a job with a publishing house would not help him but would hurt him. He is a genius."
He talks about contacts with Cole Porter and Richard Rodgers. "Rodgers career is glorious." What the editor in a music publishing firm does. The great American composers have found worthy successors for the American stage. "The American musical comedy is something unique."

WNYC archives id: 151942