Igor Markhevich and Oleg Caetani

 

Igor Markevich was indeed an excellent conductor. When I was in Bordeaux in 1963/4 working as Assistant de langue anglaise at the Lycee mixte de Libourne, Markevich gave the Bordeaux premiere of 'Le Sacre du Printemps'! Except in a sense he didn't because the last chord was obliterated by applause.

Much later, I represented his son, Oleg Caetani. Caetani's mother was a Caetani, ancient noble Roman family. Oleg is a charming and delightful person - until he remembers he is a Roman aristocrat and then can be tough with the orchestra.

He told me a funny story as to how his mother and father met. She was much younger than him and was taken to Markevich's  dressing room after a concert he had been conducting. While everyone was talking and no doubt feeling left out she sat on the sofa not realising she was sitting on his baton which had been lying there and which she broke with her derriere. An interesting introduction!

The Caetanis had a great fortune but it was denied to Oleg because his mother had 'run off' with Markhevich who being a musician - even a great one, may not have been regarded as a suitable match. The money went to a trust to establish the wonderful gardens at Ninfa, near Rome. They are described as the world's most romantic gardens.' I doubt if Oleg sees them that way.