The Washington times., 1904-11-19
ORCHESTRAL ECELS
FORMER EFFORTS
Pleasing Execution Of Schu.
mann's Symphony.
ETA De MONTJAU SOL0IST
First Concert Of Season Shows Marked
improvement in Work Of Leesl
Players.

The first appearance Of the Washing
ton Symphony Orchestra since il be-
came a permanent organization wa
made yesterday afternoon. under TIE
direction OF Reginald de K0ven. at ths
Lafayette Theater when the musical
season in Washington was formally
opened. Nine. Eta de M0HtJau. so
prano. was the assisting sOlOisJ
Included In tie orchestra's program
were Schumaun's Symphony No. !, q
Wldor suite. and the "Phedre over
ture OF MassaneL An OF these compO-
sitions. noteworthy as they are. were
beautifully given. and formed one Of the
most interesting programs ever ol1erea
by the Symphony Orchestra.
Fine Work at Start.
Should a choice be made. so Tar as
the work Of the orchestra was con-
cerned, ii might, ia ali couscientiousness,
fall upon the overture which formed ths
opening number. Rarely has the or
chestra been shown 10 better advantage
than in the Massauet number It
played with precision. fine tone, and
phrasing Of an unusually artistic and
pleasing character Whether the spirit
Of the occasion mad anything 10 do With
this Is fnard 10 say, bat the men were
manifestly imbued with the opportuni-
ties presented. and eaca one, taking adj
vantage OF these. the whole formed a
result highly srauf5 ING ana most pleas
ing 10 the ear.
ii was ln this number that the great
advancement which tne orchestra mas
made vi apparent, and the maturity
which has resulted from association ana
constant ensemble paying was made
manifest The orchestra has rarely
been more az ease or more sure or Is
ground than in its opening hummer
Symphony Well Done.
The symphony OF schumann was
beautifully done although il is not the
NEST ambitious symphonic compost Jon
the orchestra has ever played It's great
beauty and bright conception gave II an
early place in the repertoire Of The
orchestra and its selection for the open
ing concert proved a happy one The
general brightness of the entire program
probably gaze the larghetto movement
Greater prominence ana O1crcI some
thing OF q nOVe4ly t8 TIE musicians
themselves, for IL Has given with care,
discretion. and hne muslea4 iiiaisii1
hIcn made III q Ferltable GEM
IN the Widor suite Iue orchestra pre-
sented a series OF charming movements
beautifully played. The 5lltc = ne@ 10
Washington ana VIII u-lIuls-rI-f tNt ia
an important part of future ree-ials ~
the symphony
Singing OF Soloist.
One of the most pleasing features OF
the concert was the appearance as solo
ISL OF Nine Eta de MOntjau. a cele-
brated soprano Uho has been q stranger
10 Washington. Nine DE- A0ntjau dem
onstrated most clearly tie fact that
method Frequently Outclasses voice and
that personality is an indispensable adj
f,nef To succese on Ihe concert stage.
Bv this IS not meant tta- Mm6 de &onL-
5au mas no voice. Du the contrary a-ze
as q mezzo of fine quality and much
volume though UI iInlLea range. I1-r
splendid control Of the voice, ner une
dramatic instinct ana great charm on
ll.tnaer shade her au instant EaVo-.te
ana "a hen she he'd completed the itiin-
hauser aria she received ara ovation.
iIer opening nuuacr. suns ln ellarInll-
style. was GtGel-'s 'Divlnite au SIX
nom "AICCstc