Music: Barbirolli’s Diploma

In the 18 concerts of the New York Philharmonic-Symphony which John Barbirolli, dynamic little Italo-French Londoner, has conducted since his debut last month (TIME, Nov. 16), Manhattanites have increasingly been impressed by his vigor, his sure musicianship, his catholicity as a program-arranger. Philharmonic-Symphony directors have been gratified by Conductor Barbirolli’s “amazing” pull at the box office. They had hired him as a freshman experiment, along with four other conductors for this season. Last week they voted him his diploma, hired him as the Philharmonic’s full-time director and conductor for the next three seasons. Unlike other great U. S. orchestras which have gained smoothness and strength from one man, the Philharmonic had its last permanent conductor in Josef Stransky in 1920-21, thereafter relied for its greatness on the periodic appearances of Arturo Toscanini. Manhattan critics hailed the Philharmonic’s new arrangement as making for stability.