barbirolli's first concert in new york was on 5 november 1936. the programme consisted of short pieces by berlioz and arnold bax, and symphonies by mozart (the "linz") and brahms (the fourth). during his ten weeks, he programmed several american novelties including charles martin loeffler's tone-poem "memories of my childhood", a symphony by anis fuleihan, and philip james's "bret harte" overture. he also conducted serge koussevitzky's double bass concerto. the players told the philharmonic management that they would be happy for barbirolli to be appointed to a permanent position. the outcome of this was an invitation to him to become music director and permanent conductor for three years starting with the 1937–38 season. at the same time as this great change in his professional life, barbirolli's personal life was also transformed. his marriage had not lasted; within four years he and marjorie barbirolli had been living apart. in 1938 she sued for divorce on the grounds of his desertion. the suit was undefended, and the divorce was granted in december 1938. in 1939, barbirolli married the british oboist evelyn rothwell. the marriage lasted for the rest of barbirolli's life.