Evening journal., 1921-01-07
VICTOR HERBERT,
TRUE Irish sage
Famous Conductor, Now in
Wilmington, Expresses
Quaint Philosophy
EXCHANGE DIRECTOR
! WITH GABRILOWITCH
'biscovered-in Wilmington /

n tDiscovered-in Wilmington
l Victor Herberts personal philoso-
phyi
OF course, the interviewer for The
Evening Journal knew that the IA
nous composer. who personally put
The G.rl in the Spotlight" through
.her musical PAGES at the Playhouse
last night, had an intense personality.
All the great and some OF the near
great have such. But his mental at
titude toward life in general was as
a sealed book.
So then, when his philosophy came
popping out like a surprise song In
one Of his operas, 1t proved as unaf-
fected as unexpected.
The widely-known composer-con-
ductOr was fitting about yesterday
afternoon in the semi-lit auditorium
OF the Playhouse waiting for the or
chestra to tune for rehearsal,
when greeted with the commonplace I:
How do you do, Mr.. Herbert2"
"Fine, thank ypul" same the prompt
reiOinder. I'm mt as a fiddle Just
the opposite 10 what / was last year
when / was 10 conduct In Whining
ton. Do you recall the incident2" he
went on, proferring Ills hand. Il
was 10 have led the opening night OF
My Golden Girl But down / went
with bronchitis. Even then / wanted
10 keep my engagement. But the doc
tor said mo- and that no ended II.
I've often since wondered II Whining
ton thought the announcement that I
was 10 conduct was only a bit OF the
| atrical blu1lng. IL wasn't. i assure
you"
Mr.. Herbert, who hardly appears a
day older than he did ten years ago,
paused.
Now I'm going to conduct The
Girl in the Spotlight tonight. as an
nounced, and then am going 10 per-
I soually conduct again tomorrow night
and Saturday night. The added nigh 4
are for good measure, and 10 make up
for last seasons disappointment"
bitfr. Herbert was asked how he
tho(1ght THE Girl In the Spotlight
cofnpared with some OF his other
I works.
Very favorably," ne replied. "I'm
quite proud OF the production. I had
a good libretto, and that counts for a
Here he delivered a little musical
homily.
You know" he said, when YOU
write absolute music YOU can write
Just as you please. Il is altogether
YOU But when you write for stag,
production, you have 10 flt yourself
TO some other fellows work. feel j
have done well In The Spotlight
Girl At any rate the audiences seen
10 like 10 as well as myself"
] Composing n1ch now" wa:
asked.
.Oh. I'm always wrisng. cam
help it, responded Mr.. Herbert with
yigor smiling broadly.
Playing your cello much ?" Her.
bert Is rated one OF the finest 'cellist:
IN the country.
only in private" he replied "But
I'll tell you something else ! am go
ing 10 do. Ossip GabrllOM tch, direc
] tor Of the Detroit Symphony and vii
be guest conductor Of the phila
delphia symptoms Orchestra in vii
mington next Monday night. We'll
leXt Friday and Saturday evenings
shall be guest conductor az Detroit
OF the Detroit symphony Orchestra
IAN exchange in guest conductors
eh? ?" II was remarked
Rather" came the smiling answer
Then followed the HeTbertan philos
ophy. 10 understand which it Is neces
b sary 10 recall ihot the versatile Vic
tor was born in Dublin and still re
ialns a slight brogie.
Anything may happen 10 a rea
Irishman, you know" he said
Ready therer he called TO the or
! chestra, and an instant later thl
strains Of THE Girl in the Spotlight
were filing the Playhouse audito
= rum.