Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-04
BACH MUSIC FEATURE
OF ORCHESTRA SEASON
Three Extra Performances of
"Passion"-25 Double Con-
certs in Regular Series

The seventeenth season of the Philadel-
phia Orchestra, the fifth under the con-
ductorship of Leopold Stokowsld will sup
plement the 25 pairs of concerts in the reg
ular series with three performances of the
est. Matthew Passion Music" by John
Sebastian Bach. This masterwork of the
contrapuntal school and of sacred music
has never been performed in this city with
complete modern orchestra and adequate
chorus. The nearest to satisfactory pro-
duction Philadelphia has come has been in
the occasional performances at the Bach
Festivals in Bethlehem. The work Is seldom
attempted anywhere on account Of its enor-
mously intricate technical demands and its
profound spiritual Significance Perform
ances of the Bach Passion" are events OF
annual Importance in the great art centers
of Europe, and it is Mr.. Stokowslti's aim
to make this great work, each season, an
important feature in the cty's musical life.
The selection OF the great Bach work
follows the precedent set last season of
performing an unusual and mammoth
work. on that occasion the Mailer Sym
rhony was given. The Bach will be given
March 30 80 and 81, in the week preceding
Holy Week. and the last two performances
will be the final concerts of the regular
season. There will be distinguished soloists
the orchestra in full, the Philadelphia Or
chestra Chorus. developed from the choruses
used in the Mailer Eighth symphony, and
a large chdrens chorus.
The orchestra has been increased from
S5 musicians to "a.
The regular series will begin on October
1914. AS in past seasons, the programs
will be comprehensively planned as to
include the works of all schools. From
time to time important novelties will also
appear on the programs
The greatest artists in the musical world
today have been engaged to appear with
the orchestra next season. and the list is
an imposing one. There will be seven con-
carts at which no soloist Is scheduled to
appear, al which compositions of more
than ordinary interest, requiring in some
cases the assistance of several soloists will
be salient features of the programs.
The soloists in the order of their appear
ance will be Ernestine Schumann. .Heinll
contralto; Frank Gittleson, vlollnist; Olga
Sameroff NIrs, StokowskD. pianist; Alma
GluclS, soprano: Efrem Zimbalist, violinst
Ossip Gabrlowtch, pianist; Rose and Ottlie
Sutro. pianists, in double concerto; Mischa
Elman. vlolinst; Josef Hoffman pianist:
Horatio Connell, baritone; Ernest Schelllng,
pianist; Renold Werrenrath. baritone;
Theodore Spierlng, vlolnist: Elena Ger.
hardt, lieder singer: Hans Kinder, volon-
celist; Thaddeus Rich. violinist, and Harold
Bauer. pianist.
II is notable that several Of the sololsts
are Philadelphians. These include Frank
Gittelson, Horatio Connell and Ernest
Schelling, and, by adoption, Mrs. Stokowski
The endowment fund for the Orchestra
is at present the topic OF greatest interest
and concern to all those interested in the
musical life of the city Its success means
that Philadelphia viii have as a permanent
institution an orchestra OF uneXcelled quail
ity, with a conductor able to place this city
in the front rank of the great art centers
of the world