European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - January 13, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday january 13, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 17 conducting for opera no longer Only a Man s Job by Mary Campbell associated press w Hen Judith Somogi decided some 20years ago she wanted to be a music conductor most of he mends old Herto forget it. It s a Man s Job they said she decided logo Lor it anyway and since 1982, Somogyl. An american has been one of three principal conductors of Itie Frankfurt opera in West Germany. I Haven t tried to break anything Down she says. I on a want to conduct. In the course of trying to full ill my musical growth certain Lences have tumbled. The Only Way a person like me has an effect in changing people s Alli Ludes is to do what we do Well and make the Best impression we possibly can. Sooner or later people Are going to understand hat conducting does t have to do with your color or religion or  but she eels women still have a Long Way to go. A read articles thai depress me that say women Are paid Leas than men in business. Ii the business world in t equal the artistic world will remain a struggle. Businessmen sit on boards of symphonies and  Somogyl in t one to sit and Wall for openings to appear or woman. I think women themselves must Ace up to the tact that it they want to achieve things they must be the first to reach for  top a fall Somogi is conducting Aida at the Tulsa opera where she has appeared every year or two since she mid-19703. But Theis have been no oilers to take her away from Frankfurt where he contract has been renewed through 1987. Guest conducting offers Lor the 4ft months she does t have to be in Frankfurt Are few she says. This season besides the four tuba  her Only guest engagement will be conducting a symphony concert in Lubeck. West Germany in january. Erma Bombeck forget the whales. Can your ban on nuclear Power. And Knock it Oil with he honking you love anything. This is serious. The brow paper bag is under attack. That s right. The big Brown sack that for 103 years has gone on living Long after it has Tell the supermarket is facing extinction. It is being replaced by fils is amours than a simple matter of change. It pits the City against the suburbs youth Aga not Loci age tradition against questionable Progress. It threatens the very fiber of our  children would never have enjoyed the Fraulis of halloween without the Brown bag. For veers Cut ing holes for the eyes and Mouth was my Only shot at creativity. Not Only is a plastic bag Una a when worn Over the head the handles Dangle giving the bearer the mentality of a Crook who wore pantyhose Over his head to Rob a Bank ._,._. Cin a Muthe Brown bag covered schoolbooks stored my Judith Somogi Tinea was one at thief main conductors of the Frankfurt opera went to Vtha to conduct  Somogi Spertal 13 years at the new York City opera he last eight on the conducting stall. At first i was a rehearsal pianist coached singers played an awful lot of Ballet rehearsals. They always give that to the new  she played the Organ in "tosca1 and Trie celesta in the magic  "1 Jot into the habit of bringing the orchestral score into the pit with me and in Between my cues i d watch what wis going on. I did just about everything you can do m the opera House before i made my debut As a conductor. I Felt comfortable on the podium. I d lived in that opera House. I took a Long Lime. They were years Well invested i  had she been a1 the metropolitan opera where jobs Are More specialized i d have lat i think knowing me Somogi says. I was always looking to learn More. I m still doing that  when she left for Europe where Frankfurt hired her alter hearing her conduct la Bonhome in Saa Brucken she says 1 did t go to Urther my career. I went or my own artistic growth reasons. That s always the basis of what makes me decide 10 do anything it s not a question of becoming Lamous or earning Money. If that comas it s As a result Olour honest involvement in your  Michael Glezen. The Frankfurt opera s music director told Somogi he believes 10 years is enough in one place. She says i think you do reach a Point where you need to dived and add cosh experiences to Simula Seyour growth. In the United states i think i had reached that  As for Romance she says the chances i had to get married came and went. Thank heavens they went i Leel i have to some degree fulfilled some of my destiny in pursuing conducting. I think ii1 had married i would t have  Europe in t easier or  she says la s very. Conservative. There s no other woman in the kind of position i have anywhere in Europe. Possibly the next Good Slep or me would be to become a music director. I m not sure. I have to clarify exactly what .1 want and have a Little bit of Luck logo along with in. I Vegol some very serious thinking to  when Somogyl now in her Early 40s, decided in her 20s that she wanted to be a conductor most of her intends advised against it. Bui one simmer in spol Elo. Italy manager Larry Waxman advised her to go for ii. If you want to  Waxman told her conduct everything you possibly can. If you be conducted two Lulles in a Church and singers backstage you be started on the path. You build your experience Confidence and knowledge As you go along. Study scores and make yourself ready so when the Chance comes you la be ready for it Somogyl started studying violin at age 0, had trouble gelling a teacher on Long Island and switched to piano. In High school she accompanied 1he chorus. My music was always coordinated Ullh other people s activity never Solo Somogyl says. I Sang in choirs and played for them. My parents weren t wealthy and i had to help pay Lor my education. I taught piano and had a Church Job. I played Lor dance classes and voice students. At Tanglewood one summer while i was at Jull lard i played chamber  she studied violin piano and Organ at Juilliard. Women at thai time weren t allowed in conducting classes. Thai has changed. On the live lion Lincoln Center Juilliard at 80" to show on oct. 5. Joann Falletta conducted the student orchestra. Throwaways and was possibly the Only matched lug Gage we Ever had on family vacations. I used them to clean my Iron by sprinkling them Wilh sail and turning the Iron to High. My kids threw up in them. We packed them Lor picnics put garbage in them and 1 Don t want to think How people will trans port urine specimens to their doctor Walhout a big Brown bag. Wore important Lor years the Brown bag has served As a barometer of How much of the food i Cook turns into garbage. Say i bring in five Brown bags of food a week. Ii1 reach tie end of the week and have no bags left that Means i m getting a Little Sloppy in the Kitchen and i m throwing away More garbage than the food i m bringing in. On the other hand if i have two Brown bags left it s a Good week and i Reward myself by going out to dinner. The plastic bag is Only 7 years old,.but already it has captured the imagination of shoppers everywhere. City dwellers love the convenience of the handles As they transport their food by bus. Nol by car. They defend them by pointing out they Are Wals Prool and can be used As Beach bags and diaper bags. Who saves diapers anymore i say the plastic bag bruises your avocados and pinches your melons when they Don t want to be pinched. They Don t stand up but spread sine a woman who has ust taken off her pantyhose. I never Trust the handles. The growth of the plasm la bag has been phenomenal. In 1982, Only 6 percent of the bags being used were plastic. By 1988, ii is predicted 60 to 70 percent of All grocery bags will be plastic. At the moment there Are Only a few militants championing the cause of the Brown bag. Some have bumper stickers paper bags have sacks Appeal but thai in t enough. Is still have a Choice and must exercise it. Most grocers will give you Brown bags if you ask Lor them. They re under the counter. Why am i not surprised