The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-02
STRAUSS ROUSES
CONCERT CROWD
To ENTHUSIASM
Great Modern Composer Ably
Assisted by Hubermann.
Sohumann, and vtilleke.

Whist a Joy there IL In the music of
Richard Strauss! And Richard Strauss
In the colossus Of modern composers.
In the concert Of the works OF this
sreat master at the National Theater
yesterday afternoon, with the COM
poser at the piano. we had the Strauss
OF the. immortal songs. and of the
great violin sonata which is his opus
IS, and Of an earlier violoncello sonata.
The composer, with his three splen.
did solo artists, was recalled again and
again. Washington In seldom reused
to such enthusiasm. though the audi
cnce was none too large. Yet here
was the master mind that has created
symphonies. the great tone-poems.
the music-drama In the wonderful set.
ting to Tennyson's "Enoch Arden"
some OF the most forceful grand
operas of today! And how poised and
noble and sane his music 10. II Ia a
logical evolution Of Schubert, Schu.
mann, Brahms--and Strauss himself
In Bronislaw Hubermann, too, we
reard one OF the greatest violinists
that have come to US. and an artist
who stands alone In many of his ex-
cellencies. Like kreisler, his themes
soar with depth and fascination, yet
Hubermann has a delicacy and u fire
In his playing that Kreisler has lost
with the succeeding years. making
him more vibrantly vital and more
soulfully tender. He In highly sensi.
tized to the full musical beauty Of
every phrase. in form and shade and
.ntona ton. And he Ia elastic in that
charming interplay OF music that hits
from piano to violin throughout this
rare composition. What a gem wop
the second movement. MendelssoiInia ian
In It's clarity, and built up with that
emancipation Of melody that Strauss
has released to the world. At the
piano one felt the orchestral spirit
that pervades his thought and that
be gave with a commanding breadth
and dignity that almost bespoke an
entire orchestra.
Elizabeth Schumann proved a de-
iightful singer Of the rare Strauss
| songs, and seldom do we hear such q
fresh. pure, beautiful voice or ono
with greater naturalness. Her voice
II lyric, fair and free. with delicacy Of
information that fairly bubbled with thr
spirit OF nature in Itch wolff elm
Strausslein binden," and was delight.
fully impish In her little humorous
drama OF the Bad Weather" song,
which she had TO repeat.
Then there was in this little singer
reposeful legato that held the sus.
tained musical cadence with rarest
loneliness. a real Dream" quality,
| and great sweetness In the Slumber-
song. The "schlagende Herzen" and
the chandelier were entrancingiy
CAV. and only the broad. voluptuous
outpouring OF Strauss was missing In
his wonderful "Traum durch die
Dammerung" and Itch Trage Meme
Mime"
willem willeke was the third of this
group OF artists, who seemed to bring
With them a conservation in what they
did. a. though they felt II a privilege
TO sit at the feet OF this great master
OF music. The cello sonata has thu
flow of the songs and II abounds In
melody. The piano was most inter
esting in the first movement. for the
celle seemed a bit acrid in tone. but
that dark. almost dirge-like. largo was
n classic gem, with the beauty Of the
romanticists. It's cello tone was ex
quisito and full Of pathos, while. as a
whole. its beauty was profound, yet
clear in substance. The fantasy of It's
finale was a delightful Intervening
OF themes, showing the foundation
stone Of the classics upon which Rich
ard Strauss has built an enhancing
house Of sound.
Throughout the recital. Richard
Strauss played his orchestral accom-
paniments with a masterful portrayal
OF their slightest mood. yet the creator
Of this music quite effaced himself
In bringing this Strauss Festival 10
Washington, T. Arthur Smith has con
tributed much to the culture of the
National Capital.
| JESSIE MacBRIDE.