The Washington herald., 1920-01-25

was a week of particularly interest
ing parties.
There were several concerts, too
every week now has at least one
good concert on the program. 1
notice, too. these days that Marga-
ret Wilson. who used. to entertain
her personal friends in her box at
the concerts, whether they were
prominent officially or not. now gives
box parties that are quite oficial.
such as Mrs. Wilson would give IL
she were doing anything socially
now. Margaret Wilson's parties now
are composed of one or two diplo-
matte ladies and a Cabinet hostess
or two. and generally one or more
members of the Boiling family. Miss
Wilson doesn't seem to go to many
of the evening concerts, though why
i can't imagine. The Concerts
Diplomatiques, for instance, have
been very delightful and have at
ltracted not only large but very
smart audiences. The third of the
series will be given tomorrow eve
ming. with the charming little Nine.
Miura as the artist.
DELIGHTFUL CONCERTS
ARE PROMISED.
There will be a number of delight
ful concerts this week, among them
| that of Hans Kinder and Alfred
Cortot on Friday; Joseph Hoffman, the
same day and Galli-Curci on We'd
nesday. A real treat Is in store for
the music lovers on Saturday when
will be given the concert intime." by
Sasha Votichenko. Russian COM
poser and virtuoso OF the tympAnon,
at o'clock in Mrs. Robert NJ. Thomp-
sons Sheridan circle home.
NJ. votichenko's announcements read
that the recital will be given under
distinguished patronage and this
promise is abundantly borne out.
for the list OF those interested in
his first appearance in Washington
includes: Mrs. Lansing. Madame
Riano. Madame Matthew, Madame lie
Breton, the Baroness Cartier de
IMarchienne, Madame Urueta, Madame
Sulzer, Madame Grouitch, Mrs. Henry
Getty Chiffon, Mrs. George Bakhme-
ten. Mrs. George F. Becker, Mrs.
Henry Dimock. Mrs. Franklin Ellis,
Mrs. William Corcoran Eustis, Mrs.
Gibson Fahnestock. Mrs. James Car
roll Frazer. Mrs. Peter Goelet Gerry,
Princess Ghika, Mrs. Charles Sumner
Hamlin, Mrs. Borden Hartman, Mrs.
Walter Bruce Howe, Mrs. John B.
Henderson. Mrs. Nicholas Longworth,
Mrs. Robert Patterson, Mrs. Mahlon
Pitney, Mrs. Robert NJ. Thompson,
Mrs. Walter Tuckermann, Mrs. James
w. Wadsworth, Mrs. Norman will
liams and Mrs. Charles Boughton
Wood. Auguste Noblet of the Swiss
legation staff, who has been laid I'D
as the result of an accident, has been
arranging the concert as he Is a
friend of the noted musician who is
not only a composer and virtuoso
but collector of historical subjects.
To begin with, he is very easy to
look at: Is young, good looking, with
an artistic bearing, much expression,
character and temperament in his
face. The tympanon is an antique
instrument of the seventeenth CEN
tury. prototype of the piano and is an
orchestra in itself.
The music that charmed King Louis
XIV when his court at Versailles was
the artistic center Of the world, has
been brought to America by Sasha
Votichenko, the sole exponent Of the
tympanon.
INSTRUMENT OF
PRICELESS VALUE.
This rare and unique instrument Is
OF priceless value. 1t was first played
by Notichenko's famous ancestor. Pam
taleon Hebenstreit who, towards the
end Of the seventeenth century, was
regarded as one of the greatest musi-
clans of his time. Louis XIV held the
art of this court musician in such high
esteem that when Hebenstreit married
a maid Of honor at the royal house
hold. he had a royal tympanon made
in all the gaudy style of that early
period, which he presented as a we'd
ding gift to Hebenstreit and his bride.
This tympanon has been handed down
from generation to generation until IL
came into the possession of Sasha
Votichenko. And on this instrument,
restored and perfected, Votichenko's
virtuosity is famed throughout Eu.
rope. In a great concert tour, lust
before coming to this country, he play
ed at many Of the, most famous courts
abroad. -EI
He has very wonderful studio call
ed the Petit Trianon" at the Hotel
des Artists in New York, where he
not only has his remarkable historical
collection most artistically> arranged,
but where he gives wonderful studio
concerts which appeal even to the
fastidious tastes of our most promi-
nent artists. His studio is a museum,
a picture gallery. a history; its span
covers parts of five centuries. 1t con-
tains historical documents, MANN
scripts. autographed portraits and let
ters Of famous people of several ma
tions. portraits and signatures of en-
perors Of Russia, an exact copy of an
old Russian throne of the period OF
Catherine the Great, a bewilderine
mass Of rich gold and precious stones:
personal letters and signatures of
great artists. letters and documents
from kings of France and Poland.
souvenirs of Jean-Baptiste Lulh, often
called the father Of French music; let z