A Klemperer leader has died
RIPThe Colombian violinist Carlos Villa, appointed concertmaster of London’s New Philharmonia Orchestra in 1967 by Otto Klemperer, has died in Medellin at around 80 years old.
Carlos became artistic director of Bogota’s Orquesta Filarmonica de Colombia in 1980, and was still playing in the orchestra until quite recently.
He featured prominently on the Barenboim-Du Pre recordings with the Philharmonia.
I think he used to wear scarlet socks with his tails. Quite daring in the 60’s!
I remember those! That was when the NPO also started letting its ladies (there were more in this orchestra at this time than in any other London orchestra) wear short skirts. Also very daring, even if not in the Mary Quant league.