The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-12-11
STOKOWSKI THRILLS
IN TONE MEMORIAL

The second concert OF the PhiIadel-
phia Symphony Orchestra, under Leo
pold Stokowski, at the National Thea
ter yesterday afternoon. made its i'm
press by a. solemn and beautiful me-
mortal. In tone, as a tribute to our
soldiers and sailors fallen in the war.
II was the Mcdowell "Dirge" from
the Indian Suite" in which Mr.. Sto-
kcwski gave a noble expression OF TIE
stole and unselhsh spirit that went
out from America to Join the heroes
OF all crusades.
In this primal music OF our great
est composer there was much that
seemed rlcst fitting to express such
a tribute. with its deep plaintiyc tone.
vibrant in intensity. and yet IN
adorned in its absolute simplicity. 4.
spoke. in tone made eloquent oy the
instruments, of the broad virgin lands
o: this vast country as though their
stalwart force had been shed upon
the race OF men whose ancestors had
freely chosen this to he the cradle Cf
their attest valor.
Heartfelt Import.
The atmosphere that shifIs, this
rich tcne-memoriaI sesncd to. lave
been summoned from the players with
all the beauty and the power that
ones country stands for to her native
sons. Following as It did the simple
gled Banner" this tribute" held a
heartfelt import.
Mime. Povla F'rijsh, the Danish So
prano who was the soloist of the con-
cert, was SO hampered by a cold that
one could not judge OF her voice; but
even so. her style and feeling and.
above all, the breadth and command
OF that great apostrophe TO the sun.
"Hymne au Soleil," by Alexandra
Georges, proclaimed her an artist Of
high worth. She gave also the noble
aria from Cesar Franck's "Redemp-
tion." and a lovely composition by
Duparc, ''L'Inyitation au Voyage" in
all OF which the orchestra gave de-
scriptive settings Of exquisite quality.
The symphony was the Berlioz
Harold in Italy" played here for
the second time within few weeks.
Although somewhat tedious as a COM
position, Mr.. Stokowski put into il a
rustic character of such fascinating
diversity among the various voices OF
the orchestra and the solo viola as
played by Emile Ferir was so musical
and so significantly lin the picture"
that its execution far excelled its
content
Made His Viola Sing.
NJ Ferir made his viola sing with
rare, rich beauty. or again he de-
picted rural scenes with strange and
graphic tonalities. quaint in their local
color. while the orchestra told OF this
rugged pilgrimage OF Byron's hero in
massive climaXes, or in interesting
weaving OF the parts in the "Sere-
made" that held a Beethoven beauty
and was brought to rare close.
The finale was the great "Marcha
Slave" OF Tschaikowsky. II shows
Leopold Stokowskis great dynamic
power over his players, its oriental
plaintive depths and its inspiriting
gayety being broadly contrasted, while
the national imprint OF this emotional
people was Grippingly given with at
times a tragic revel. or again a ro-
nance dance. interrupted with an
ominous note OF doom. or brought
high and triumphant in the pealing
out OF the Russian national hymn. !
The life and the lure OF this orches- |
ira is never more greatly shown than
when Leopold Stokowski interprets |
J. MACH.