"Goodbye, Koussy"

A year ago Serge Koussevitzky said that he would retire "at the highest point in my career." That, he explained, would be when he had rounded out a quarter-century on Boston's podium. Last week, the milestone passed, his fans gave him a proper Boston goodbye.

When Koussy appeared on the podium, looking fresh but a little frail--he will be 75 in July--the jampacked audience came to its feet. For his final concert, Koussy had planned an all-Beethoven program, including the Ninth Symphony, which he remarked "was Beethoven's last also." Through Beethoven's First, emotion ran high, but it was the mighty flood of the Ninth, played with love and understanding, that broke the dam.

"Let's Be Happy." When the audience burst into applause, Koussy seemed for a long moment unaware of the clapping; he was nodding his grey head and smiling to his musicians in appreciation. Then he turned and gravely faced the audience. Ten minutes and five curtain calls later, he quieted them for some words. Said he, so softly that some in the back could hardly hear: "I knew it would be hard to separate myself from you, my public, and my dear orchestra. But let's be happy that we have had 25 years together. Let's be happy that we have worked and created the greatest orchestra in the world."

On Both Cheeks. Outside his dressing room some of his most devoted admirers lined up to give him kisses, and to be kissed by him on both cheeks. It was a ritual oldtimers have followed at the end of Koussy concerts for a long time.

An hour later, he stepped out the stage door and into his waiting limousine. He was not stepping into permanent retirement, though French Conductor Charles Munch would have the Boston next season. Said Koussy: "Only now I can do what I want to ... I will conduct when and where I wish." Yelled a crew-cropped Harvard student as he drove away: "Goodbye, Koussy."

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