Papers of conductor and arranger André Kostelanetz have been donated to the Library of Congress by the musician’s estate, marking a significant expansion of the collection Kostelanetz provided to the Library during his lifetime. Kostelanetz, who died in 1980, was a major figure in U.S. popular music and on radio for half a century.
Early in his career, he was best known for his interpretations of classical pieces, and over his lifetime he was credited with selling more than 50 million recordings that tapped a public appetite for popular arrangements of classical and Broadway music.
“From his musical imprint to his innovations in broadcasting, André Kostelanetz was a fascinating figure of the 20th century,” said Susan H. Vita, chief of the Library of Congress’ Music Division.
“During his lifetime, Kostelanetz donated hundreds of his unique orchestral arrangements and ‘off-air’ recordings to the Library, added Vita. “This addition of his personal and professional papers adds a tremendous resource for researchers and students of American music. It will be of great value to students and historians of American music, show business and broadcasting,” Vita said.
Born in 1901 in St. Petersburg, Russia, Kostelanetz was conservatory-trained in piano as a teenager and learned conducting in his native country, then came to the United States in 1922, and began conducting concerts for radio broadcast. By the 1930s he was named conductor of the CBS Orchestra and had his own show on CBS radio, “André Kostelanetz Presents.”
Over the years he became well-known for arranging and recording light classical pieces and instrumentals of songs and Broadway material that appealed to general audiences.
The Kostelanetz papers, comprising 73 containers of correspondence, scrapbooks, photos, clippings, posters, business papers, posters, sound recordings, and materials related to his USO tours with his wife, opera star Lily Pons, will supplement Kostelanetz’ previous gift to the Library during his life of full scores and parts for many of his arrangements.
The newly donated material includes love letters in French between Kostelanetz and Pons from the first years of their relationship, 1935 and 1936; correspondence with four former U.S. presidents and numerous musical figures including Beverly Sills, Irving Berlin, Leopold Stokowski, Cole Porter, George M. Cohan, Jerome Kern, Richard Rogers and Harold Arlen; documentation of Kostelanetz’ role in Leonard Bernstein’s 1943 debut as conductor of the New York Philharmonic; thousands of photos, sketches, drawings and cartoons; documentation of Kostelanetz’ 1955 worldwide trip; and personal letters to the avid art collector from artists Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse and Claude Monet.
