The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-10-29
PHILADELPH Hin
ORCHESTRA
PLEASEs
ALI Russian Program l. Varied.
Strldsnt and Beautiful
BY Turns
d lE6SUE NEaeBRmE.

How beautifully the Philadelphia
orchestra played yesterday
Leopold St0kowslxi was II his
happiest vein and tho capacity audi.
encs at the National found evident
delight Ia the first orchestra con.
cert Of the season. Once the entire
wind choir waa brought to It's feet.
The entire orchestra rose in re-
spouse to applause ct the close 81
the program.
AIl,Russian the program was, with
the intensely national Fourth Sym
phony Of Tachaikowsky and much
Of StraWinsly. Unframed whom
the music world was eager to hear
in such large quantity. And Russian
music 90 intimately represents the
Russian. with his tempestuous mo-
menta. his exuherance In gayety.
his romance and pathos both tinged
with sadness and quiatude. There
were many moments Of absolute
perfection on the eound-canvas o.
the orchestra. painting Impressions
alive with the soul and the temper
aInent o. z people.
A new palette Tor the artist IL
needed In the new music, however,
Fancy q toMo-painting OF Fire
worker It was the first Strawinaky
selection. filled with dissonance it's
true, yet gay in three-four time
while cracking sounds, toy whistles,
blarO Of noise abounded. suddenly
ceasing for q quiet touch OF slow
music Of real beauty indicating 'the
night" then rapidly q cascade like
showers Of scintillant lights. It was
fascinating, and how marVelously
played to keep the impression clear
and not all confused.
Realism UnadOrned.
His "Song of the Volga Boatman''
might be true, it seemed to last but
three seconds. though It il a minute
and a half, I'm told. 1t was a bit
Of absolute realism unadorned with
the more harmonious background
we are accustomed to. Raucous,
some "sour" tones came across,
doubtless the way Strawinsky often
hears 1t shouted over the volga
waters. But is it musicf Just how
far can music go, we wonder?
Then the delightful suite from
StrawfnSlEy's BIRD Of Fire" Four
excarpta were played together, but
one did not doubt the "Danse infer
male" when it came. 1t galloped
madly, a noisy carnival Of wood
winds and horns. whewl how il
dashed along.
In this fire music one could not
but revert to Wagner. Here, though
the flames cleaned fitfully in fasci.
mating gligtentng rhythm, a delicacy
OF scintillant orchestration gave
ltghtness to the capriciOus themes
And there were themes, tuneful ones
romance in quiet pastorals with love
~ reed tones and Violins. The final
two, a Cradle Song" dr0ned along,
then fluttered into . big finale like
huge Chorale, 80 monumental as a
Strauss TRANSPORTATION.
Strawinslxy Not Awful!
strawinsEy IL not awful! What
discovery that was,
But returning to the Symphony
we found the rare perfection to
which Stokowski has taken his
players, making them finely domi
nant in orchestra history. Mystic
he IL in exquisite approaches tc
his themes, tender, bringing q
rare meditation at the close Of the
AhdRntino that was GREATNESS
The piEzicato was harped master
fully with plucled strings. The
furious glory of his reiterated
Fate" motive came from the
pathos Of q Cry Of the Children
starving today as Mrs. Browning
might have sounded 1t, to q whole
Cry OF a Nation" in despair.
The concert was the first In the
series Of five presented by the
T. Arthur Smith, Inc. concert
bureau.