Marcel Tabuteau First-Hand

MT era oboe

The Curtis Institute of Music

Early Stokowski and the Curtis Orchestra, circa 1926
In the earliest years of the Curtis Institute orchestra, certain positions could not be assigned to the students for performances because they had not yet attained the proficiency required by their conductor, Leopold Stokowski. As a remedy, Stokowski pressed some members of the Philadelphia Orchestra into service including Tabuteau. In the above photograph, Tabuteau can be seen to the right of the conductor, on top and slightly to the right of the first harp’s crown (see closeup below).
Closeup of early orchestra showing Tabuteau
Marcel Tabuteau, conductor, with the Curtis Institute Orchestra and Members of the Philadelphia Orchestra; KYW Studio; Philadelphia, PA April 22, 1945; Photo by Tyler Fogg
Marcel Tabuteau with several of his students
Marcel Tabuteau with several of his students on the steps of the Curtis Institute of Music in 1949. L-R: Louis Rosenblatt, Laurence Thorstenberg, Laila Storch, John Mack, and Walter Bianchi. Photo by Daniel Sagarman
Marcel Tabuteau backstage giving last-minute instruction to three Curtis violinists.
(L-R) Daniel Majeske, unidentified, Michael Tree, and Marcel Tabuteau
Marcel Tabuteau conducting a woodwind ensemble
Marcel Tabuteau conducting a woodwind ensemble. The Curtis Institute of Music; Philadelphia, PA; 1953

The following photographs of Marcel Tabuteau were taken by bassoonist Arthur Grossman, who attended the Curtis Institute of Music from 1952 to 1955. They were taken at Curtis in January or February 1954, shortly before Tabuteau retired. The Tabuteaus departed for France on February 26, 1954.

The three photos below provided courtesy of Kristina Wilson, Archivist at the Curtis Institute of Music

Five photos of Marcel Tabuteau by Fritz Henle, four of which appeared in the
December 12, 1938, issue of Life Magazine

Marcel Tabuteau by Fritz Henle
At Curtis, from Life Magazine
Photos conducting wind class

The above photos from Life Magazine, December 12, 1938, were given to David Weber during his student days at Curtis Institute of Music (1966-1970) by Howard Ferguson, who was Assistant Librarian at Curtis.

Next: Philadelphia Teaching Studio

See What's New...

Sections

Much of the material on this website is being presented with kind permission of the copyright owners. Any use and/or duplication of certain materials must be approved by the copyright owners. Therefore, you must seek permission at msmostovoy@comcast.net before using or duplicating any material to ascertain whether it is presently under copyright. Certain excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given as per the instructions you will receive from your inquiry. If this website has inadvertently posted material without the proper attribution or authorization, to remedy, please contact msmostovoy@comcast.net.

Copyright © 2017-2024 Marcel Tabuteau First-Hand and www.marceltabuteau.com. All rights reserved.

What's New!

An audio interview with Joan Browne (Champie), a private Tabuteau student in the early 1950s.

A photograph of the music stand that was in Tabuteau’s private studio in Philadelphia.

An autographed photo of Marcel Tabuteau inscribed to Vladimir Sokoloff.

An autographed photo of Marcel Tabuteau inscribed to Joan Browne Champie.

With the passing of Wilbur Isaac Hilles in August 2023 and now Martha Scherer-Alfee in February 2024, no oboe students of Marcel Tabuteau at the Curtis Institute are still living.

A letter sent to the Curtis Institute by Laila Storch’s mother about Tabuteau not teaching at Curtis—and the reply.