Back in my college daysI was the volunteer manager of the Tanglewood Festival Chorusthe chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. I also managed to wrangle a part-time office gopher job at the BSO. Between the two positionsI spent a lot of time hanging around Symphony Hall and got to know Victor Alpertthe orchestra's librarian.
Victor died recentlyand his obituary was published today by the Boston Globe. Writer Walter Dawkins captures him perfectlyand I have little to add.
Just this. I was a nobody in the BSO organizationand Mr. Alpert always treated me like a respected colleague. I would drop by the libraryand he would tell me stories and joke aroundand we had a great time together. Whether at Symphony Hall or in the Tanglewood shedhe would give me a warm welcome. Walking out onto the stage to place the conductor's score on the podiumhe would look up to the back row of the chorus and give me a wink and a wave.
Victor died recentlyand his obituary was published today by the Boston Globe. Writer Walter Dawkins captures him perfectlyand I have little to add.
Just this. I was a nobody in the BSO organizationand Mr. Alpert always treated me like a respected colleague. I would drop by the libraryand he would tell me stories and joke aroundand we had a great time together. Whether at Symphony Hall or in the Tanglewood shedhe would give me a warm welcome. Walking out onto the stage to place the conductor's score on the podiumhe would look up to the back row of the chorus and give me a wink and a wave.
I will miss this fixture of Boston cultural life.