For about 50 years, Albert Hirsh meticulously maintained dozens of scrapbooks containing nearly every concert program, review and interview covering virtually his entire career. Perhaps to make room for his ever-growing stamp collection, one day, without consulting any family members, he threw out the entire treasure trove. (If there’s something you want your parents to save for posterity, speak up while you have the chance!!) Most of the items on this page were saved by others or found through research, although he did leave a large envelope or two containing pieces he must have considered especially meaningful. (Click any image to enlarge, and again to magnify.)
An early program, Lake View, Chicago, age 10. (1926)
Another Chicago recital, 5 days before 11th birthday. (1926)
Canadian press interview, age 18. (1933)
Management flyer. (1935)
Town Hall recital. (1935)
Series notice, Detroit. (1936)
Series notice, Chicago. (1936-37)
1936-37 concert season poster.
Music Masters Series, Toronto. (1936-37)
Town Hall recital. (1937)
Press summary. (1937)
Town Hall recital. (1939)
Town Hall with cellist Emanuel Feuermann. (1941)
Emanuel Feuermann correspondence. (1941)
Recital with Emanuel Feuermann. (1941)
Replica of Emanuel Feuermann program two months before his death. (1942)
Letter from Jascha Heifetz. (1942)
Erica Morini joint recital. (1943)
With Nicolai Malko, Mexico City. (1943)
Poster, The Hague. (1948)
Announcing auditions. (1950)
Autographed concert program. (1950; courtesy of Robert Hairgrove.)
Menuhin interview and review, Texas Tech. (1950)
The Music Guild. (1951)
Houston Symphony. (1951)
Dartmouth College. (1951)
Houston Symphony 1951-52 season.
The Music Guild. (1954)
Town Hall with Fredell Lack. (1955)
Piatigorsky letter. (1956)
Extra, magazine of the UH Alumni Association. (October 1958; courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries.)
Monthly guide for classical FM listeners. (1962)
Pair of New York sonata recitals. (1962)
Teaching teachers. (1963)
Carnegie Hall. (1963; courtesy of Carnegie Hall; original © by High Fidelity Magazine)
J. S. Bach Society. (1966)
Houston Symphony. (1967)
Letter from Sir John Barbirolli. (ca. 1967)
Beethoven Bicentenary series. (1969)
Lincoln Center. (1970)
John Corigliano Sr. (1972)
Houston’s Jones Hall. (1972)
Fiedler and the HSO. (1973)
Cellist Lynn Harrell, Dallas. (1974)
HSO at Texas A&M. (1974)
Lincoln Center. (1975)
Lincoln Center. (1975; © Playbill, Inc.)
Perlman, Dallas. (1976)
University of Houston Symphony Orchestra. (1977)
Perlman, Victoria, Texas. (1979)
Leonard Rose, San Antonio. (1980)
Rose letter. (1980)
Leonard Rose, Kerrville, Texas. (1982)
District of Columbia. (1984)
Virtuoso Quartet reunion concert. (1993)
The last recital. (1999)
In Memoriam. (2004; illustration © Rolf Laub.)
A decade’s bookkeeping for non-UH performances. (1973-82)
[Counting practice, rehearsals and performance, concerts usually paid a lower hourly rate than private lessons.]