John Sant' Ambrogio

The Day I Almost Destroyed the Boston Symphony and Other Stories John Sant' Ambrogio

This is a veritable who's who of the music world. The stories tell about the times the author spent with Charles Munch, Pablo Casals, Yo Yo MA, Leonard Slatkin, Itzhak Perlman, Leonard Robertson, and dozens of other musicians and conductors. Through all of this, the music we "hear" is divine and inspiring - in spite of the emergencies along the way. Included are dozens of stories that are dramatic, poignant, funny, and serious: the fateful day with the BSO when it almost ground to a halt; the nights he slept with rattlesnakes in the Army; the day his career started while painting a barn. John Sant' Ambrogio played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, was principal Cellist with the Casals Festival Orchestra, and Principal Cellist with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra for 37 years. A natural storyteller, he relaates the life and sometimes hilarious times he's experienced behind the scenes spanning over 50 years and 10,000 concerts.