Josef

That evening Josef got a phone call from Benedetto Vicenzia, who was still acting as his agent. “Josef, I received a call

from Jakob Perelson’s agent. Jakob was scheduled to appear as the feature artist in a Christmas program in Prague on

December 21 and 22 but has become ill. Someone needs to substitute for him and your name was suggested. Are you

available?’

Josef was delighted at the prospect. “I would be happy to as long as I can leave Prague on December 23 to fly to

Trieste. Can that be arranged?”

“I’m certain that arrangement can be made,” Signor Vicenzia replied.

They spoke for several more minutes during which Josef got more information about Herr Perelson’s illness and where

he was hospitalized. When the conversation ended, with Signor Vicenzia assuring Josef he would make all the

arrangements, Josef called Jakob Perelson’s agent.

Herr Perelson was in Boston. He had collapsed on stage there shortly after a performance. The symptoms were those

of a heart attack so Herr Perelson was in a cardiac care unit and was listed as serious. The agent, who was on his way to

Boston, promised to deliver Josef’s wishes for a speedy recovery, and to locate a tape of Josef and Jakob playing a duet.

This was to be delivered also.

On Thanksgiving morning Josef went with Lucia to pick up Elena at the airport. Elena kissed Lucia and then, without

hesitation, rushed into Josef’s arms, smothering him with kisses. Lucia stood there flabbergasted, with a nervous smile on

her face.

Thanksgiving dinner was another boisterous affair. The entire Panelli family was there, including Christina’s fiancé, Peter

Geroni. Anthony, before dinner began, introduced a young woman who was his guest, an attractive redhead.

“Folks, this is Kathleen O’Connor.” He then introduced each of the others at the table, pausing when he reached Josef to

introduce him as ‘the world famous violinist and pianist.’

Following dinner Lucia shoved everyone out of the kitchen except Christina. “We’ll do the cleaning up; the rest of you go

sleep it off, or watch football, or whatever else you wish to do.”

Elena announced that she and Josef were going for a walk, alone. She took Josef by the hand and led him out of the

house. They were less than a block from the house when Elena stopped Josef, turned him to face her and declared, “I want

to get married.”

Josef was stunned. He didn’t know how to respond.

Elena continued, “As Christina is getting married this coming June I don’t want to step on her toes, so I’m willing to wait

until the following June.” As she finished talking Elena had tears in her eyes and noticed that Josef did also.

“Say something, Josef, please.”

“I don’t know what to say except that your family will think we’re too young, which we are. I know I love you, with all my

heart and all my soul. I also know that we’ll be happy together. But, we’re only eighteen. Also, we’re both in college, two

different colleges in fact. And, while money is no problem, I don’t have a job to support you with. And besides, isn’t it the man

who’s supposed to do the proposing?”

Elena, still with tears in her eyes, pulled Josef to her and kissed him even more passionately than she had at the airport.

“I know we’re young, according to our calendar age, but we’re both more mature than most 18 year olds. And, after we marry,

I’ll transfer to Columbia.”

“And what will your parents say to that?”

“We’ll see. Let’s go tell them.”

“Now?”

“Now! I’m sure Mom will be shocked, but she can’t really say no. She was only 18 when she married Dad.”

Lucia and Christina were still in the kitchen cleaning up when Elena and Josef walked in. Without hesitation Elena stated

“Josef and I are going to get married.”

This brought a startled look from Lucia and a quizzical one from Christina, but before either one could say anything Elena

added, “A year from next June, and then I’m going to transfer to Columbia.”

Finally, Lucia had a chance to speak. “Without consulting me, or anything? What if I say no?”

“But you won’t will you Momma? We love each other very much and want to be together all the time.”

Lucia turned to Josef, “And what do you have to say, young man?”

Josef reddened and stammered somewhat as he replied, “What I have to say is, I love Elena very much and she loves

me; I’m sure you have been aware of that. I know we will be very happy together.” As he gained confidence his voice

became stronger. “I think God made us for each other. I also think being apart so much makes us want to be together even

more. I love all this family, Lucia, but especially I love Elena. I ask you humbly to say yes to Elena’s proposal.”

By this time all of them had tears in their eyes.

Christina, who had been quiet up to this point, reached out to Josef and drew him into her arms. “Josef, I can’t think of

anyone who would make a better husband for Elena than you. You realize, of course, that she can be bossy and will want to

rule the roost. I expect she is the one who suggested you get married. Am I right?” When Josef nodded she continued, “I

thought so.”

Christina then turned to Elena to say, “Remember that Josef is an artist and that artists need a lot of freedom to follow

their creative needs. You will need to keep your own self-centered needs under control so that you don’t stifle Josef.”

“I know this,” Elena replied. “And I love Josef too much to ever try to inhibit his creativity.”

Lucia then added, “You’re both willing to wait a year and a half. Let’s put things on hold for a year and then see how you

feel. Are you both willing to do that?”

Both Elena and Josef nodded their heads.

Josef then threw another curve at Lucia. “I have a concert to do in Prague on December 21 and 22 as a replacement for

Jakob Perelson, who is ill. I would like Elena to go with me and either you, Lucia, or Christina to come as chaperone, if you

think that’s necessary. I personally don’t think it’s necessary but I would love to have one, or both of you, come anyway.

Come to think of it, I haven’t asked Elena either. Would you like to come with me, Elena?”

Elena glanced at her mother then nodded vigorously.

“If Elena comes with me,” Josef continues, “I would also like her to spend Christmas with me at Pietro and Francesca’s,

then visit Signor Marchetti before coming home.”

Here Lucia spoke up. “Josef, I love you as a son and trust you completely with my daughter, so I don’t think a chaperone

is necessary. Anyway, it will be too close to Christmas for me to get away.”

Christina interrupted with, “I agree with everything Momma said, but I would like to go, if Josef doesn’t mind. However, I

want to come back home before Christmas.”

“I’d love to have you come. I’ll contact Signor Vicenzia and have him make all the arrangements. I would like to arrive in

Prague at least two days before the performance, perhaps on the 18th. Would that be okay?”

“That’s fine,” both Christina and Elena agreed.

On Saturday Josef suggested that he would like to go to the jazz club that night and have Elena come also. “And anyone

else who’s interested. Besides, it would be easier to go by car.”

Christina looked at Peter, who nodded, and said, “Peter and I would like to go, Josef. We both like jazz and Peter has

never heard you play, either classical or jazz.”

Josef had returned to the club only once after his initial venture and discovered different musicians there. Of the original

group he had played with only two were there the second time, the piano/trombone player and the trumpet man. Other

musicians brought the total to six.

On this Thanksgiving Saturday night six musicians were again there when Josef and his group arrived, including

Alexander Griffith and his drums. Josef introduced his guests and sat with them at a table while the band ran through a few

numbers. The trumpet player then made the announcement, “We are happy to see Josef Rankovic has come to play with us

again. Wait until you hear his piano. Josef!”

Josef walked up to the mike and thanked the leader, then said, “I would like to dedicate this first number to my fiancée,

the beautiful Elena Panelli.” He sat at the piano and whispered his choice to the band then began a swinging rendition of ‘I

Can’t Give You Anything But Love.’

They stayed until after midnight, with Josef sitting in on several more sets, then Elena reminded him she had to catch a

plane in the morning. Josef said goodbye to the other musicians and informed them it would be late January before he could

join them again.

When they arrived at Elena’s house it was almost 2 A.M. Peter said his goodbyes as he had to return to his home in

Connecticut. Christina went to bed but Elena whispered to Josef, “Let’s watch a late movie.”

They went into the den and sat on the couch while Elena used a remote to tune the TV to a suitable channel. This is

where Lucia found them at 7 in the morning, both sound asleep, Elena with her head on Josef’s lap and Josef sitting up with

his head lolling to one side.

She decided it looked innocent enough and she wouldn’t make an issue of it, this time, she even had a smile on her face.

“Come on, you two, rise and shine. We have to leave for the airport at 8:30. Both of you go take a shower. By the time

you’re dressed I’ll have breakfast on the table.”

Josef woke up with a start, looked around and turned red when he saw Lucia standing there. When he realized she was

smiling he broke into a grin and said sheepishly, “I guess we fell asleep.”

Elena kissed Josef quickly on the cheek and rushed off to the shower.

The goodbyes at the airport were not prolonged. Josef and Elena knew they would be seeing each again in about three

weeks. Elena gave her mother a quick kiss on the cheek then turned to Josef, hugged him close and kissed him fully on the

lips.

Back at the apartment in Manhattan Josef found a package waiting for him from Signor Vicenzia. It contained all the

arrangements he would need for the concert in Prague. Accompanying the package was a note stating that individual

variations could be worked out with the conductor when Josef arrived in Prague. The note also asked him to notify Signor

Vicenzia about what travel arrange- ments needed to be made.

Although it was already 11 P.M. in Florence Josef decided to call his friend to let him know that both Elena and Christina

were coming and would need a hotel room and plane tickets. When he made the call he was saddened by the news from

Signor Vicenzia that Jakob Perelson had died on Thanksgiving Day.

For the next two and a half weeks Josef used every minute he could spare from his studies to prepare for the Prague

concert. He would have four violin solos, three in the first half of the program and one in the second half followed by two piano

solos. One of the violin solos was a Bach he was not very familiar with. The other numbers he knew well.

Signor Vicenzia had reserved a three bedroom suite in Prague. Elena and Christina would share one bedroom, with

Josef and Signor Vicenzia using the other two. There was also a large sitting room with a piano. Josef enthused at the sight

of the piano but it was Elena who sat at it to play her rendition of ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.’

On the next two days Josef had rehearsals that lasted most of the day. As neither Elena nor Christina had been in

Prague before they went with Signor Vicenzia to tour the city on the first day and shopped on the second day, both for

Christmas and for themselves. Elena bought a beautiful shirt and sweater comb-ination for Josef which she presented to him

that day, not wanting to wait until Christmas.

The two concerts went well. The music, for the most part, was standard arrangements of sacred Christmas music. On

the final night, as Josef was intro-duced, for the second half, with the conductor’s approval he made a brief state- ment about

the death of Jakob Perelson and then played, on the piano, Herr Perelson’s favorite, ‘Intermezzo’ by Heinz Provost.

On December 23rd, Christina flew back to New York; Josef and Elena flew to

Florence, then on a connecting flight to Trieste, where they were met by Pietro. Upon arrival in San Reino Francesca threw

her arms around both of them and exclaimed with delight when Josef told her he and Elena were engaged.

“Oh, tell me about when the big event is going to take place. I’ll buy a new dress no matter what Pietro says. And you,

young lady, take good care of my Josef or I'll come back from my grave to haunt you.”

“There’s no rush, Mamma,” Josef said. “We’re not getting married for a year and a half. Elena’s sister, Christina, is

getting married this coming June so we thought it best to wait a year after that.”

Josef then went on to tell Francesca and Pietro about his studies, about classes he was taking and how he planned to

use those classes. “In four years I should know a lot more about music theory and how to teach it.”

“And you, my dear?” Francesca asked Elena. “You’re going to college too. Do you also plan a career?”

“Yes, Mamma,” Elena replied. “When I’m not raising babies I’m also going to teach. Not music, though; I think I would

like to teach English, or perhaps Literature.”

Francesca, as worldly as she seemed, was overwhelmed by all this. Her limited education prevented her from really

understanding.

Christmas was a quiet affair. Carols were sung, in Italian, a roast pork dinner was eaten and small gifts were exchanged.

Josef had brought Francesca a crock pot with instructions in Italian (translated from the English by Elena). Francesca oohed

and aahed and then asked what it was used for.

In the afternoon Josef took Elena on a tour of the village, introducing her to those he knew by name. They paid a brief

visit to Antonio who was still fishing but in a limited way. All his children had left home to get married or to look for greener

pastures. The only help he got was from his aging wife, Maria. That evening Elena called her family, collect, and spoke to

them for more than an hour. She allowed Josef a brief chat.

Two days after Christmas Josef and Elena returned to Florence for a brief visit with Signor Marchetti. Again, Josef

made it known that he and Elena were engaged and would be married in a year and a half. Signor Marchetti congratulated

them but was another who questioned their readiness for marriage.

The flight back to New York on December 30th was a frantic affair. Crowds of prospective passengers, some with

reservations but many without, were in the terminal trying to return to the States in time for the New Year’s festivities.

Elena recuperated quickly from the jet lag and suggested to Josef that they spend New Year’s Eve at Times Square.

Josef politely declined. “To use an American expression you’ve taught me, I’m bushed.” They spent a quiet evening at home

with the Panellis, watching celebrations from all over the world.

XII: January - June, Year Three

Elena returned to Williams College on January 5 and Josef to the apartment on the 6th. Each would begin the second

quarter of their freshman year. Classes at Columbia were a continuation of Josef’s first quarter work. At Julliard he began

more advanced music theory with Dr. Samuels and moved on to ‘Arranging for Larger Groups.’ This latter included small

stage bands and orchestras. By now, as Josef was more fluent in English, he had less difficulty with that class. Computer

terminology still gave him trouble until he decided to treat it like music theory and use the same approach to study it.

In late January Josef received a call from Signor Vicenzia informing him that the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra had

requested him as their guest artist for a two day Easter program in early April. A second request had been made, by the

New Orleans Jazz Society, for Josef to appear as a jazz piano soloist for a three night engagement the last weekend in April.

Would he be available for either or both programs?

After consulting with Dr. Samuels at Julliard and Dr. Bauer at Columbia Josef agreed to accept both engagements, with

the understanding he would get assignments from his instructors for any classes he would miss.

Josef missed only one day of classes at Julliard (Thursday) and one day at Columbia (Friday) for the St. Louis program.

He flew to St. Louis on Thursday, participated in the programs Friday and Saturday evenings and flew back to New York

Sunday morning. The conductor, who was also a violinist, assigned Josef several difficult Brahm passages as his solo work.

Again, his performance received a standing ovation.

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