Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-08
THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
Its First Popular Concert Next Sunday
Night. .

Inc HfSt popular concert OF the WaSn-
ington Symphony Orchestra will be held
next Sunday night at the New National
Theater This is in furtherance Of the
idea of the officers and guarantors that the
orchestra has an educational mission to
perform. 1t will give those who have not
been able to attend the regular concerts
an opportunity to hear the orchestra in a
well selected program and at a moderate
price. 1t is believed that this venture will
be successful that hereafter Sunday
night concerts by the orchestra will be a
regular feature of the winter series.
AS to the work done during this season
and the aims of the orchestra the follow
ing letter from Mr.. E. H. Droop, the treas
urer and general manager, addressed to
the editors of the three daily papers, sets
forth fully:
Now that we are on the eve of the last
regular concert-season 19O2-19O3-of the
Washington Symphony Orchestra. / think
it is only proper to call the attention Of
the public to what has already been ac-
complished and the intention of the man
agement for the coming year.
1.-The purpose Of those who Interested
themselves at the outset to form a Wash
ingtOn symphony orchestra was to concen-
trate the resident talent and gain the SYM
pathy and interest of the community. Or
chestras from other cities have not visited
US here in the evenings because we have no
suitable hall, and the Boston Symphony
Orchestra refused to come in the after
Moons because their performances lacked
proper support.
"a year ago a canvass was made of the
available musical talent In Washington, as
result of which Mr.. de Koven undertook
to furnish the capital with symphony or
chestra. A guarantee of over SIS 600 was
pledged by the following ladies and gentle
men:
Mrs A. C. Barney. Mrs. c. E. Bates, Mr.
0. H. p Belmont, E. F. Droop & Sons, the
Misses Horstman. Mr.. George Howard, Mr..
Stilson Hutchins, Col. Henry May. Mr.
Frank Mitchell Mr.. Clarence Moore, Col.
Edward Morrell. Mr.. Robert Portner, Mrs.
John Reyburn, Mrs N. S. Simpkins Mrs.
E. H. G. Slater. Mr.. Eugene E. Stevens.
Mr.. Herbert Wadsworth, Mrs Westing-
house.
TT Is my firm belief that with another
season the Washington public will appre-
ctate to what perfection the organization
has attained and will attend the perform
ances more generally, because of the Ger
tainty of qualification.
LAS to the financial condition: In the
populous communities of Pittsburg, Phila-
delphia. Chicago and Cincinnati the deficit
per concert was greater than ours, because
they bought trained orchestral musicians
and paid their management, which latter
in our case has been contributed-a labor
of love for the cause-and because the resi-
dent musicians have worked with enthu-
siasm for the cause at minimum of re-
Enumeration. and Mr. de Koven receiving no
compensation where other conductors re-
ceive liberal pay.
other words, after the fifth concert which
will take place April 81, our losses will
amount to about $4,000, fully covered by
the guarantee of $4,000
This loss is borne by the few guarantors
above named. This condition of affairs is
certainly unjust and unsatisfactory, and
the public should not require this handful
of enthusiasts to bear such loss another
,44Ir, T q -p<N
letters, inviting cooperation. An impress
sion seems to prevail that the guarantors
could manage the business; but this orches-
ira is to be of Washington, and to have its
audience in Washington and it Is impera-
tive that the public show their sympa-
thetic interest. by making the guarantee
fund public rather than private recognition.
Music affords comfort, consolation and
education to thousands of people. 1t is
desirable for the members Of the orchestra
to know within the next two weeks just
what the management has to depend upon
in the matter of funds for next seasons
expenses. and I beg of you to print this
letter and make an appeal to the public
to send as guarantors whatever they can
afford to- pay, however little. individually.
have also opened the subscription books
for the next seasons concerts. notice Of
which will be found in your regular adver-
Using columns and l trust that the re-
Spouse to this invitation for general sup
port will be liberal.
1T would be>a positive loss to this COM
munity If the admirable beginning were al
lowed to stop, and music here discouraged,
as 1t would be by change of purpose.
1.-THE public. of course, sees only the fin
ished performance and can form no idea
of the immense toll and labor necessary to
produce a season Of satisfactory musical
work. That we have had the latter is evil
dent from the enthusiasm displayed at each
and all Of the concerts. We are greatly in
debted to you for your splendid and honest
criticisms and 1 sincerely trust that you
will find 1t possible and expedient to aid
the cause Of music by bringing this notice
to the attention of the readers