Rodzinski Resignation, Feb 18, 1947 - May 4, 1947

Documents relating to termination of contract ("resignation") of Artur Rodzinski (AR) in Feburary 1947; Statement by Artur Rodzinski dated February 18, 1947, on termination of his contract as Musical Director of the New York Philharmonic, stating his mission and his conflict with Arthur Judson (AJ) in dual (and conflicting) roles as Manager of the Philharmonic and head of Columbia Concerts, which represents most celebrated conductors and soloists; Conflict of AR with the board over hiring of Manuel Rosenthal as guest conductor; Draft of letter from AR to Olin Downes, music critic of the New York Times, with hand-written annotations, outlining his reasons for resigning from the Philharmonic and objecting to the one-sided coverage of the events in The Times; Final version of AR letter to Downes; informal letter to Downes from AR describing the unacceptable "chains" attached to the three-year contract he was offered by the Board of Directors of the Philharmonic to replace previous one-year contracts; Issues with Sunday commercial radio broadcasts; Request of AR to be released from his contract as of October 1, 1947, leading instead to his dismissal in February 1947; AR stated goal to make the Chicago Symphony Orchestra "the finest orchestra in the country".