The Detroit times., 1914-11-20
Detroit symphony Orchestra
Scores Hard in Premise

IL all new undertakings could be
speeded on their way with the au-
spiciousness that attended the FIRST
concert OF the first season OF the De-
troit symphony orchestra, Thursday
afternoon, In the Detroit opera house,
there would be an encouragement TO
further endeavor that could lead only
10 ultimate complete success. The
orchestra, and its very-much-aliye
conductor, Weston Gales. should take
heart In the fact that the audience
which greeted them was OF goodiy
size, unsteady sympathetic, and APP
preciatiye OF the circumstances under
which Detroit's first really serious ef-
fort TO establish a symphony orches-
ira Is surrounded.
IL was not Just merely q provincial
pride In a made In Detroit" article
that caused 80 many persons In the
audience, Thursday afternoon, to
praise the orchestra's work so highly,
to applaud with enthusiasm conductor
and players, and to stand at the close
of the program and give round after
round OF hearty hand-clapping as the
musicians and director bowed &C
acknowledgement The simple fact Of
the<matter Is that IL was recognized
that Detroit has an exceptionally good
orchestra right now, with possiblli-
ties In It's players, and conductor. OF
achieving the highest artistic results
In the future. IL would be foolish 10
declare that the organization at this
time can compare with the symphony
orchestras of Boston. Chicago. New
York. Cincinnati and Minneapolis.
with the work of which bands the
Detroit concert-going public Is fh-
miliar, thanks to the concerts ar.
ranged by the Detroit Orchestral as
ISOLATION. But, that II Is genuinely
good cannot be gainsaid by any one
passing fair judgment, and Mr.. Gales
and his men should be spurred on by
full measure OF praise for the splen-
did beginning they have made.
The program was challenge In
itself and showed courage and faith
on Mr.. Gales part In his own re-
sources and ability and that of his
men. Beethoven's First symphony
was given a superior rendition, the
final movement seeming to make an
especial appeal to the players, as IL
was played with vivacity and charm.
and because OF its swift tempo made
demands upon a new organization
that were met fearlessly and without
disaster. Weber's Invitation to the
Dance arranged for orchestra by
Weingartner, director OF the Berlin
Philharmonic orchestra, was given a
spirited and delightfully."- lifting cad
ing. and was SO well-liked that part
of II was repeated. Wagner's "Sieg-
fried Idyll," because OF the demands
II makes upon the instruments of the
orchestra, and the fact that the new
orchestra could not be expected to
possess the full complement and quail.
ity required. fully met in the SYM
phony orchestra visiting Detroit, was
another ambitious composition for Mr..
Gales to select, but he and his play
ers encompassed IL with surprising
degree Of success.
For the first season, the orchestra
will play only afternoon concerts, Civ
ing one each month, on the third
Thursday, up to and including April.
The season tickets have been placed
at figure low enough to make II
possible for most music-lovers to pos
sess them. II Detroit Is to take her
rightful place as musical and artis.
tic center. its citizens must see that
one means to this end is the support
OF symphony orchestra. The be-
ginning Is so good that II should not
be allowed to wither by the wayside.
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.