Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-06
ORCHESTRA PROGRAM
FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN
Academy Of Music Thronged
for Free Symphony Concert
in Ledger Series


Leopold stokowski as the 'bluebird for
happiness again led collective Mytyl nnd
TNtyl comprising some 5000 youngsters
adventuring through the magic land OF
music Tho occasion was one OF the series
~ LEDoER free symphonic concerts for pub-
lie school children. the time from 70 10
last evening and the place the Academy
OF Music The historic old place has not
seen such n gathering ~ rapt and happy
youngsters since the days OF Colonel
Mcclurc's Eight O'Clock club. with It's an
nual Nuletide vaudeville ot a quarter OF q
century ago
This was the nrst home appearance OF
the Philadelphia Orchestra since its return
from triumphal tour of the West. where
u bore the eyaugel of what philadelphia u
doing musically to outlands without great
symphonic bands Right royal was the wei
come that conductor and men received from
their juvenile admirers These IN certain
respects did not diner materially from some
adult audiences Tor instance, In the mat
ter OF late arrival on the part OF few
and prolonged applause seeking for frnc-
ture OF tho standing "no-cuccrc' rule Hut
Il was Siugulatiy weli-deportcd gather
ing and ono VI fine enthusiasm. even for
what II had not Yet reached the capacity
20 understand completely
Tho orchestra deserved thoroughly lts
gala welcome, for Il gave OF ts best There
waa no succumblng to the temptation to
hearers were not routiucd or hypcrcrtical
Seldom has Mr. Stokowsld put moro aban-
don. more coursiug spccd into the Ride OF
the Nalkyrles' from Die wnlkuerc' Hts
reading VI the "waldwcbcn." from "Scg-
fried" was sufruscd with a woOdsy poesy.
which pcrforcc brought visionings OF green
woods ana pastures new to the hearers,
some OF whose puCkrrcd lips could hardly
resist the lure uf cChOiuE the wood notes
wild OF the bird in the score And due Inn
preston Of wizardry and soemnity was not
absent from the magic fire music OF "Dio
wallluere."
The youngsters Jared better than their
elders, In that two soloists were provided
Nine. Iarrngton'Smlth sang the "pleurcE
mes NeuN' aria from Masseucts "fc Cid".
"popuis le Jour" from Charpentlcr's
Louise" and "Vissi dArte, Vissl d'Amore,"
from pucclnrs ia Tosca" She has a so
prano OF even scale, mellow some. almost
verging 10 the mc2Zo, and brilliant high
notes. and her method In enunclation and
tone placement is excellent one might
have wished a German lied and nm English
song to vary the operate tenor OF her ofrer.
ings. merely from tho educational stand
point but her young hearers were satisfied
enough to give her an ovation which held up
the progress OF the concert. Hans Kinder
fun OF the spirit Of youth himself. which
makes him seem out ot place as the first
'Celist OF a great orchestra until he begins
to play was the other assisting artist aud
gave the familiar Boelmann Variations
SymphoniIues" for violoncello and orchos-
ira with his accustomed accomplished tech.
nIque and Irresistible vivacity
A resounding conclusion was found In tho
"Marche Slave" OF Tschnikowsky. one OF
the spectacular show pieces In the orches-
tra's repertory.
Possibly these concerts will not strike
the spark of genius into fire OF some Amerl-
can Mozart. but from tho absorbed atten-
ton and the genuine enthusiasm manifested
II is safe to say that the LEDGER series Is
doing notable missionary work In civic cul-
ture through the medium of music.
w. r. NJ