My first contact with Fleischmann was when I wrote to him in the '70's pleading for more contemporary music in the Philharmonic's programming, mentioning as examples Frank Martin, Olivier Messiaen, and Darius Milhaud. Ernest wrote back saying he would take my recommendation under consideration, but also mentioning the need to program music that would sell concert tickets. He finished with a flourish, referring to my trio as the "three Ms" (a reference to the well-known three Bs of classical music: Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms).
I also saw Fleichmann once at the refreshment bar on the main floor of Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco during an Intermission in 2001 or 2002. He was then retired from the L.A. Philharmonic and was artistic director of the Ojai Music Festival. I had heard that the Ojai Festival was trying to get the original Harry Partch instruments to Ojai so that Partch's music could be featured. I told Fleichmann how much I was looking forward to the upcoming concert. Sadly, he reported that the funds for transporting and insuring the instruments had not been forthcoming and that there would be no Partch at Ojai that year. I was crestfallen, but also jazzed at having had a conversation with the Great Man.
Here are a few remembrances from others more qualified to comment on Flieschmann's passing: Alex Ross, Mark Swed, Frank Gehry, Norman Lebrecht, the late Alan Rich, and Timothy Mangan.
