What Sawallisch Means To Philadelphia

“As Wolfgang Sawallisch ends his decade with three weeks of concerts that started last week and a forthcoming tour, he is as firm a personification of the Philadelphia Orchestra as Leopold Stokowski or Eugene Ormandy. He restored the Philadelphia Orchestra’s famously velvety sound, erasing the more generic, international svelteness Muti imposed. He could be a fiery podium presence – sometimes. He didn’t shrink from tough decisions, and several controversial moves only helped to concretize his leadership.”