The Washington times., 1921-01-20
CONCERT MARRIED
| BY TARDY Corners
StraggIers Lend Air Of Barbar-
ism to Opening Symphony
by La Scala Players.

We are barbarians! We proved II
yesterday at tho Toscsnini-LeScala
concert The occasion was one TO bid
us take the shoes from off your
feet" for a holy thing In art was
here, so beautiful II may not pass our
way again. IL was the unusual and
exquisite playing OF a great orchestra
under the direction OF great con-
ductor.
Yet that amazing thing-an Amer
lean audience-clamored in through
every pause in the opening symphony.
was noisily seated in large masses.
and even slammed seats down during
the strains OF the Brahms symphony.
The courtesy OF Maestro Toscanini
was a rebuke to our discourtesy.
This second concert by the Italian
orchestra served to emphasize how
rare an experience the coming OF the
LaScala players has been, with the
genius OF Toscanlni towering above
them. putting alluring rhythmic life
into the perfection OF tone and bal
ance OF "A wondrous ensemble.
The suave flow OF their music. the
mellow tone of tho parts. were so
nterIaced that where passages were
taken up excessively by the parts
there was no break OF attack, no
perceptible transition from one group
to another. Then dramatically. the
contrasts were forcefuL Such de-
'icacy there was yet filled with feel
ng and warmth. and again. as in the
strauss "Don Juan" great heroic
heights were mounted In a full-voiced
torrent OF tone.
Tbs is to be the official LsSca!a or
chestra, under Toscanini. when they
return to Italy. They respond 10 tina
slightest wish of the director as sway
ing trees respond to the breeze, with
the same united rhythm. And these
Latin players. too, sway almost I'M
perceptibly as they play. giving a
buoyancy that adds meaning tn the
poignancy of their tone in great stir
ring moments such as the recurrence
OF the Don Juan theme at the close
OF the tone-poem, when passing
phrase was SO graced that it's beauty
brought tears to the eyes.
The Joy OF the festal was in much
Of this second program, told In Sc
ductive strains of Brahms. era
zioso" was term that expressed
much of It, A fairy march was the
allegro, brought with those rapid
smooth transitions that are the EN-
bodiment of Toscaninl into a marvel
lous free flow "con BRIO" as denoted
in the movement.
A most remarkable execution was
in the Italian composer Pick-Magia-
galli's "Rondo Fantastico," caprice
taken to a furioso tempo. errauc
rhythms, great control. His Not
turno" was a beautiful night song.
in which the concert-master proved
an artist OF exquisite fineness in solo
parts. while the wind choirs were
perfect in tone in chords of transcen-
dent beauty. The French 'Festin" OF
Roussel. abounded in delicate waltz
moments with an intermezzo that was
a rare painting Of the Night.
Back to pure Italian melody, MT.
Toscanini brought us with the fnal
Verdi. But such Italian song as we
do not hear, SO sinuous from the cellos
who had at times a touch OF the OBOE
in their tone, SO ethereal in the hrst
violins
The visit at Polls of Italy's great
est orchestra, with the "prima donna
conductor Toscanini is an event In
Washingtons season, due to their
presence here through the local man
agement of Mrs. Wilson-Greene.
Jessie MacBride.