Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-02-08
AMUSEMENTS.

WALTER DAMROSCH'S LECTURE RE-
C1TAL.-The First Congregational Church
was filled last night with highly intelli-
gent audience to listen to a lecture recital
on the Nibelungen trilogy of Wagner by
Mr.. Walter Damrosch, given under the
auspices of the Washington Choral Society
This form of entertainment was a depart
ure from the usual program of the Choral
Society, but the large attendance and the
attention bestowed upon the lecturer, as
well as the applause that greeted him at
his entrance upon the platform and when
he closed his recital, must have convinced
the board of managers that the innovation
was a success. Perhaps there Is no one
better fitted to interpret and explain the
works of Richard Wagner than Mr. Dam
rosch. He has had an extended acquaint-
ance with Wagnerian operas has produced
and conducted them successfully and has
been close student of the tone poems of
the great composer. Mr.. Damrosch inherits
his love and appreciation Of Wagner from
his father, DR.. Leopold Damrosch, who was
friend of Wagner and one Of the first
conductors to present his works at Orches-
trail concerts. When the battle between the
Wagnerites and the anti-Wagnerites was
waging so fiercely in Germany, the elder
Damrosch was a strong supporter of
Wagner, and the son last night told a
story that when his father played the
Ride of the Valkyries at concert in
Breslau, the work was greeted with Kisses,
whistling and cat-calls, whereupon DAM
rosch Immediately repeated the compost
ton.
Mr. Damrosch did not depart from the
standard Interpretation of the themes Of
the four works that compose the Nibel-
ungen trilogy, but ne was interesting in his
description of the scheme and story of the
tragedy and in his comments on the inf1u-
ence which Wagner has exercised upon
music. He spoke of the extreme simplicity
of the Wagnerian themes and then of their
elaboration through the orpnnSar'S
knowledge of the resources of the orches-
ira, and told how the underlying principle
of Wagner was to reflect in his music the
happenings upon the stage. Granting this,
the reason for Wagners complex harmo-
MES. The story of the four operas in the
cycle of music dramas-"Das Rheingold,"
die Walkure,' "Siegfried' and "Gotter-
daemmerung'-was intelligently and in
terestingly told, and the principal themes
were illustrated upon the piano in a mas
terly manner. Although he modestly stated
that he was not pianist, his playing was
greatly enjoyed, for he infused into his
work great artistic feeling, while his tech
nique was all that could be desired. The
whole lecture was unusually interesting,
because Mr.. Damrosch was thoroughly en-
rapport with his subject, and he commu-
nicated a portion of his own enthusiasm to
his audience. The Choral Society is to be
congratulated for it's wisdom in furnishing
such an instructive entertainment.
PHILHARMONIC CLUB CONCERT
The last of the series of the Philharmonic
Clubs concerts takes place tonight at the
Washington Club rooms. The string quar-
tet of Robert Stearns, a Washington COM
poser, opens the program: 1t is work of
great merit and a proof of Mr.. Stearns'
serious studies at the Brussels conserva-
tory. Haydns famous and never-growing-
old variations from the Kaiser Quartet fol-
low. The fantasy for piano and violin by
Schubert is replete with this composer s
me,odious sentiment and brilliancy of style.
1t is given here for the first time. Mr..
Ernest Lent's new suite for string quartet.
Scenes Champetres." consists of five
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, lie moulin, menuet,
reve d'amour and barcarole. Schumann' $
magnificent quintet for plano and strings,
with which the program closes, has right
fully been held by many to be the gem of
ali chamber music. The efforts of the Phil
harmonic Club to popularize chamber music
at moderate prices will undoubtedly be sue
cessful