The Washington times., 1920-01-10
CAPITAL WELCOMES
STRANSKY'SRETURN
Large Audience Turns Out to
Hear New York Philharmonic
Orchestra.

Ihat the return OF josef She"S"'
and the New York Philharmonic Or
chestra into the music life OF Wasa-
ington was a welcome one was amply
demonstrated at the National Thea
ter yesterday afternoon by the
warmth OF their reception from the
large audience. And that they are
held in as high esteem as ever De-
came evident at the close OF the truly
great rendition OF the "Bacchanaie
from "Tannhauser." by repeated re-
calls OF the director snd final sc-
acknowledgement with the entire orches'
ira standing.
An all orchestral concert withoul
soloist, this event marked also the
continued efforts for the public good
OF r. Arthur Smith. who brought this
orchestra In the Ten Star Series OF
concerts at a popular price, the fourth
In the series.
Prsgras Deiixhtfui.
A delightful program II was oo-
lightfully given-from the opening
phrase when Mr.. Stransky's vital
spirited control was felt in the blithe-
ness of the Dyorak Carnival" over
ture. Personality, delicacy of pereep-
tion and touch In leadership, and the
Intimate feeling for mis- music chor'
acterize this director whose contri-
button TO orchestral music Is rich IN
interpretation and In program max
ing.
Three types of orchestration were
given in strong contrast, with De-
busy. Wagner. and RachmaniaoiI.
Debussy in two "Nocturnes," one Ms
most intangible web OF musical aus.
sonance." OF dripping liquid tone anu
"vocal" clouds In the "Nuageo.
Clouds" the other rare sportiVe deu-
cacy of harp-like sweeps or Strings
OF plucking episodes, strange tonai-
ity, and orchestra coior that tells the
Iurid tales of Debussy's Festivals.
In scenic music that yet includes an
opal "Pastorale."
There is surely no greater wealth
of orchestral body and color and IRE
than in Wagner. The "Bacchanale'
that height OF breathless beauty, thai
epitome Of "profane" music as IL has
been called. In the love OF Venus and
Tannhauser, was given with unusual
delicacy in its haste. its galloping oil
the "Venusberg" motive. it's big
sweeps OF harp of soaring on and up
to an ecstacy. And then the ex-
quisite beauty of the 'Love theme
in heights and "transfiguration''
eauaied By only one other In the
world of music. and that is Tschai-
kowsky. Its rendition was a notable
one.
Essentially NationaIistie.
Rachmaninoff's second symphony, In
minor. completed the program.
Essentially nationalistic, strong in it's
syncopated rhythm. vibrant in depth
even up to a military clamor. this
work has many beauties In it. and
yet it seems over-labored with repeti-
tions in structure. Coming after the
Wagner, 1t had a sense of labor In
the making, despite it's vitality, de-
spite it's inspiring spirit.
Orchestrally rich, with special beau
ty i'm the wind choir that has always
been rare in the Philharmonic Or
chestra, Russia speaks here in emo
tion, in love songs, and In the
"'Adagio" with an exQuisitely wrought
duet, as though this romance spoke
in voices of the orchestral mascu-
line and feminine, in tonalities of un-
usual and pure loveliness.
The "Philharmonics" and Mr.
Stransky again brought a distinctive
music contribution to Washington.
making one wish for their re-en-
trance in the orchestral series of the
city.
7 MacB