The Washington times., 1926-04-19


to be given tomorrow afternoon at
Polls Theater by the Washington
Symphony Orchestra. Not only
are men and women whose names
bulk large in the social world TAX
ing. boxes or. becoming guarantors.
but business organizations Of the
Capital and many individuals are
backing the undertaking with the
hope that the success OF the con.
cert may lead to a permanent
Washington symphony.
Indeed, there is a concerted move.
ment to put the concert ''over the
top" financially, in addition to
making it an event of artistic I'M
portance. And If the promised sue
cess is achieved work will begin at
once upon plans for regular
season" of symphony concerts.
Situation Changed
Several abortive attempts have
been made to persuade Washington
to support its own symphony, but
the situation now is quite differ
emf from what it was in earlier
days when, for instance, Reginald
deKoven brought his great art and
experience to the task. Now the
motion picture orchestras, several
of them of symphony calibre, pro-
vide reservoir of talent upon
which conductor may draw for
musicians; and it Is possible for
the orchestra personnel to pursue
the ideals of artistic expression
while living comfortable on the
gold OF the movie magnates instead
of starving in the traditional gar
ret.
I'm told that Kurt Hetzel. some
time conductor of the Royal Opera
in Munich, who is director of the
orchestra, made a survey OF many
cities before selecting Washington
as the best field in which to build
up a symphony-Los Angeles and
Montreal, Canada, being runners up.
He has gathered about him 80 OF
the Districts best musicians, many
OF them conductors and directors of
smaller orchestras. And he tells
me that he has rarely worked with
a better balanced organization.
Mrs. Wilcox Moving Spirit
So much for the symphony plan
In general, of which Mrs. Walter
Wilcox is the moving spirit. AS Tor
the concert tomorrow, it gives prom
Use of being an event of importance
ION its own" since in addition to
the orchestra program it viii Tea.
ture the appearance as soloist OF
Richard Bonelli, baritone or the
Chicago Opera Company, whose UNI
forgettabie performance OF the role
of the fool in "Rigoletto" fingers in
the minds of all of us fortunate
enough to hear the Chicagoans pro-
duction of the opera
In her effort to assemble a group
of sponsors for the concert, VINO
will be interested in turn In the
movement to found "a permanent
evnphony. Mrs Wilcox has been
aided at the last by Mrs. Waiter
.Tuckerman, a host in herself, ana
Sheu have been met with gratifying
response.
Tafts To Attend
Most of the boxes have been
taken, among those VINO VIII ehteL
tain guests being Chief Justice ana
Mrs Taft. Mrs. Taft is not only
a discriminating music critic but a
cultivated musician; and 1t viii be
remembered that she was largely
concerned with building up the Cln-
cinnati Symphony Orchestra wnlcn
is now one of the country's finest
musical organizations.
British Envoy a Guest
Mrs. Tuckerman has box and
will have the British Ambassador
and Lady Isabella Howard and the
Swedish Minister and Mime. 6os'
from among her guests. WIN
Mrs. Godfrey Lowell Cabot VIII De
Nine. Teller. Nine. Varela, Nine.
n.
Other box holders are Senator and
Mrs. Lawrence ,Phipps, Mrs. Louis
Lehr. Mrs. Lyman Kendall, Mrs.
Tpshur Moorehead, Mrs. Copley
Amory. Mrs. H. L. Merry, Mrs.
Adolph Caspar Miller, Mrs. o: H.
Perry johnson, Mrs. William BeV-
erly Mason, Miss Alice Clapp, Don
aid Woodward and Mr.. and Mrs.
Wilcox
Mrs. Alvin T. Hert has taken a
block of seats. Others who are at
tending the concert are Mrs. Carl
Droop, Mrs. Sol Bloom, Miss Vera
Bloom, Mrs. John Biddle, Mrs
Thomas Bell Sweeney, Mrs. Charles
]. Bell, Name. Ekengren, Mrs.
Thomas Bayard. Mrs. Douglas Nc
Caskev Mrs Franklin II. Ellis.
Mrs. z. B. McCagg, Miss Caroline
White, Mrs. w r. Castle, jr., Mrs.
Joseph f. Grew, Mrs. Leland o.
Howard and Mrs. Victor Cushman.
Mrs. Bertha Lincoln Heustis, OF
Los Angeles, formerly a resident
of Washington. who has been most
active in promoting the musical
growth of Los Angeles, now her
home. will attend the recital and
will have a group OF guests with
her.
Miss Anne SCHNEIDER arrived in
Washington yesterday from New
York and will remain until after
the concert and is the guest OF
Mrs. Walter Wilcox.
MRS. COOLIDGE WILL GO
WITH THE PRESIDENT