Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-29
SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
NEW ORGANIZATION STARTS OFF
BRILLIANTLY.
An Excellent Program Well Perform
ed, With Paderewski as the Soloist-
distinguished Audience.

The first public appearance of the new
Washington symphony Orchestra was
made at the National Theater yesterday
afternoon, and its work justified the fondt st
hopes of the friends of the enterprise. 1t
was greeted by a large and distinguished
audience, which was Of the most friendly
disposition. and 1t had the assistance of the
most eminent soloiSt now before the public,
Ignace Paderewski, the Polish pianist. Con-
sequently its first concert was given under
the most favorable auspices, and its public
career starts splendidly. The standard OF
program and soloist set yesterday is SO
high that Mr.. De Koven and his force will
have to work very hard to maintain it.
The work of the orchestra demonstrated
two things: first, that there are sufficient
professional musicians in Washington to
form body that can play the best sym
phonic compositions, and play them WELL
and second, that a man who has heretofore
been considered merely as composer OF
light opera has developed a mastery power
of organization, versatility of reading
and control over players that makes Kim
conductor of force and authority.
1t is not new thing to hear symphonies
played by Washington musicians The
Georgetown Orchestra has done that for
many years, and its performances have al
ways been creditable, but the new SYM
pnOny orchestra starts out with the SYM
phony as its basis of operations. and one
may expect one composition of that char
acter at each concert The symphony given
yesterday was Goldmark's Rustic We'd
ding, the full five movements being played.
he work has much sentiment and many
brilliant passages, beginning with we'd
ding march and variations, followed by
bridal song. pleasing Serenade. an
dante, In the Garden and finale in the
shape of rustic dance. 1t was effective
ly interpreted and the applause after each
movement was emphatic and sincere. 1t
showed to what a point of excellence the
orchestra has reached in its brief existence
and gave evidence of what may be expect
ed of it in the future
The other numbers by the orchestra were
Nicolafs overture, Merry Wives of Wind
sor, a familiar work, which practically
carries itself, but which was excellently
played; Saint Saens' symphonic poem.
'Danse Macabre,' and the accompaniment
to the Beethoven sonata played by Mr..
Paderewski. In all its work there was evil
dence of careful and intelligent rehearsal
and honest and sincere effort, and il would
be ungenerous to point out weak spots,
which undoubtedly were as patent to Mr..
Dekoven to the musicians in the audi
ence. The wonder is that the members of
the orchestra did so well, and the fact
that they gave such general satisfaction
warrants the prediction that they will re-
ceive unqualified support from the public
next season.
AS has been stated. Paderewski was the
soloist, and he never played better than
yesterday. His chief number the
Beethoven concerto in E fiat, and the three
movements were played with that wonder
full technique and skill which he seems to
possess beyond all other pianists. and
which have made him the idol of lovers OF
pianoforte playing. He was compelled to
bow his Acknowledgements after each
movement and at the conclusion was re-
called again and again. After accepting
two or three recalls personal tributes
he led Mr.. DeKoven forward to share III
the ovation, and then the applause was
more vociferous than ever. Paderewskis
second number was a group of Chopins
compositions-the Nocturne in B major,
the Etude No. 8, OPP. -, which had to be
repeated, and two chants polOnais, ar
ranged by List. The audience applauded
vigorously for encore, but he simply
bowed his thanks.
A pleasing incident of the afternoon was
the presentation to MIR. DeKoven on the
part of the members of the orchestra of an
immense wreath of laurels with flowing rib
bons Mr.. John C. Schroeder made the pre-
sentation and happily expressed the good
will of the orchestra for its conductor and
paid tribute to his energy and patience
during the rehearsals. Mr.. Dekoven briefly
thanked the members of the orchestra and
expressed his appreciation of their earnest
ness and untiring interest in their work. He
also thanked the audience for the substan-
tial support of the enterprise and predicted
its being placed on a permanent footing if
this support was continued.
Mr. E. H. Droop, the treasurer of the
orchestra, said this morning that the re-
ceiptS of yesterdays concert were just fifty
cents short of S3,o01. He added that sew
eral subscriptions for next seasons series
of concerts have been received today and
that one gentleman who had already SUBJ
scribed $500 to the guarantee fund had be-
come so enthusiastic over the work of the
orchestra that he had remarked that if $500
was not enough for him the treasurer could
have 5000 This shows the favorable i'm
preston made by the orchestra and it is
safe to say that there will be no lack of
financial backing next season.
There is no reason why the members
should not do good work. for many of
them are well known soloists, whose in
terest in the movement has induced them
to sink their own personality and merge
their skill with others in order that the en-
semble effect may be what 1t should be.