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Israel Acclaims Frederic R. Mann

Israelis continue to speak with
deep affection for the Philadelphia
philanthropist, Frederic R. Mann,
whose benefactions have made
possible the completion of the Tel
Aviv Cultural Center and the
establishment there of the Mann
Auditorium for the Israel Phil-
harmonic Orchestra.
It was back in 1936, when Mann
met the late Bronislaw Huber-
mann, the eminent Jewish violin-
ist who was deeply interested in
the-then-known Palestine Phil-
harmonic Orchestra. In 1951, Mann
promised the Israel Philharmonic
Orchestra a concert hall. His
pledge was fulfilled this year.
Through the America Israel
Cultural Foundation, which he
serves as chairman of its board
of directors, Mann undertook
his project which has attracted
worldwide interest.
The "Palace of Culture,". as the
Tel Aviv Cultural Center is re-
ferred to, was completed at a cost
to Israel of 5,000,000 Israeli
pounds. Mann donated•250,000 for

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the auditorium that now bears his
name.
Mann has become widely known
for. creating the Robin Hood Dell
summer concerts in his home city
of Philadelphia. These concerts
give 500,000 Philadelphians a
chance to hear good music during
a six-week summer period for three
cents a performance—the cost of a
postage stamp for a self-addressed
envelope for the mailing of the
admission tickets—plus carefare to
the park.
T h e Philadelphia benefactor
holds a membership card in the
Musicians' Union. At a party he
FREDERIC R. MANN
gave after the opening concert of
the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra,
dedication
when Leonard Bern-
in the new Mann Auditorium
Mann rolled up his sleeves and stein, who conducted the open-
played several numbers on the ing concert on Oct. 1, and his
piano. Thus his interest in music, wife, the actress Felicia Mon-
in Philadelphia and in Israel, came tealegre, narrated their expe-
naturally to him: he is a lover of riences in Israel. The emphasis
was on the Mann Auditorium
music and a musician himself.
festivities.
The Omnibus TV program
The distinguished artists who
last Sunday brought. back mem-
ories of the Mann Auditorium participated in the Tel Aviv con-
cert were seen in the Omnibus
program. There were in addition
to Bernstein, Isaac Stern the vio-
linist, Artur Rubinstein the pianist
and Paul Tortelier the cellist.
An exceptionally . fascinating
story relates to the latter. This
French non-Jewish musician, whose
interpretation of Ernest Bloch's
ance given in the advancement of "Schelomo" was one of the high-
culture and music in Israel.
lights of the Oct. 1 concert, was
He paid tribute to the efforts asked, 24 hours before the concert,
of the late Thomas McGrail who, to substitute for Gregor Piatigor-
as cultural attache of the U.S. sky who was rushed for an emer-
Embassy in Israel, made it possible gency operation in Paris. Tortelier
for, the Jewish State to receive accepted and thrilled his audience.
support for the orchestra and in
Tortelier had lived in a kibutz
the sale of recordings and books.
McGrail died in an air crash on in Israel for a year and fell in
his way to Burma where he was love with the country. "I fell in
love with Israel the same way that
transferred from Israel.
I fell in love with my wife," he
Dr. Salomon also paid honor said after the concert in the pres-
to Frederic R. Mann, president ence of his very charming Parisi-
of the America-Israel Cultural enne wife.
Foundation, for his help in
establishing the Mann Audito-
rium at the Tel Aviv Cultural tunities to attend the symphony's
Center, thus providing a new concerts, he said.
Eminent guest conductors are
home for the Israel Philhar-
brought to direct the orchestra
monic Orchestra.
Thanks to Mann and the Amer- and operatic stars appear with the
ica-Israel Cultural Foundation, Dr. symphony, the operatic demands in
Salomon pointed *out, it is now Israel thus being fulfilled by guest
possible to serve thousands more artists' appearances. The cost of
through the symphony's concerts. operation is provided 90 per cent
Previously, he said, each concert in box office receipts, and a major
had to be repeated 13 times. Now portion of the balance comes from
it is possible to limit the repeat the America-Israel Cultural Foun-
performances to nine—five in Tel dation.
Dr. Salomon, who was born in
Aviv, for 14,000 subscribers; three
in Haifa for 5,000 subscribers and Germany, is now an Israeli citi-
one in Jerusalem. But even the zen. He received a degree of Doc-
20,000 subscribers fill the con- tor of Both (German and Roman)
certs to overflowing, with a long Laws from the University of
waiting list remaining for oppor- Freiburg.

Detroit Included in U.S.
1959 Tour by Israel!
Philharmonic Orchestra

The remarkable advances made
by the Israel Philharmonic Orches-
tra were outlined here Tuesday
by Dr. Kurt Salomon, general man-
ager of the orchestra, at a lunch-
eon meeting given here in his
honor at the Fort Shelby Hotel.
The luncheon was arranged by
Miss Florence G. Cassidy, secretary
of the committee on foreign' visit-
ors of the United Community
Services.
Dr. Salomon revealed that the
Israel. Philharmonic will tour a
number of American cities in
1959 and that Detroit will be
included in its itinerary. He re-
'called with satisfaction the suc-
cessful visit of the orchestra here
four years ago and he praised
the efforts of local leaders in
the advancement of music and
in the musical organizations in
. Israel.
Here as a participant' in the
Foreign Leaders Program of the
International Education Ex-
change Service of the U.S. State
Department, Dr. Salomon ex-
pressed gratitude for the invita-
tion extended to him by the State
Department to study the adminis-
tration of great American orches-
tras. He said Israel is grateful
for the help received from the
United States and for the assist-

Friday, December 6, 1957—THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-32

Personality Sketch