Evening star., 1926-04-21
LOCAL SYMPTOMS
| DEBUT IS SUCCESS
Washington Orchestra Gives
t Excellent Program Under
b. Direction of HetzeI.

The Washington Symphony Orches-
IRA, made possible primarily by the
unhagging and sincere efforts of Mrs.
Walter u. Wilcox and others associ-
ated with her as guarantorS, patrons
and patroneSSeS Of this long needed or
EanizatiOn for the Capital City of the
United States, made it's debut in a per-
Torrance at Polls Theater yesterday
afternoon under the direction of Kurt
HetZel, formerly of Munich, Germany
The audience was large and distinc
tive. composed obviously Of sincere
music lovers as well as social leaders,
anxious to acclaim this newest at
tempt for a local symphony orches-
ira should it prove worthy, which 1t
certainly did.
William Tyler Page, clerk of the
House of Representatives in Congress,
gave an address showing the need,
practicability and possibilities of main
taining a Washington Symphony Or
che 5tra. He touched upon the high
quality of the architectural and other
artistic advantages of Washington
and suggested that it was indeed high
time that the musical efforts in this
city be brought to as high level. He
also urged that this matter be made
one of community and even national
pride and that individuals should feel
willing to contribute funds toward its
support as a permanent organization.
Program Lauded High.
Another important statement made
by Mr.. Page was that this orchestra
Of 81 musicians, playing together for
the first public performance, had had
but five ensemble rehearsals of
program which was of high musical
standard. 1t was important that this
statement be taken into consideration,
as it showed splendid cooperation
and talent among these local mu-
sicians and fine conductorship on the
part of Mr.. Hetzel. Il indicated that
in time the WoodwindS could easily be
developed to the necessary point for
fine overtone effects. It showed that
the braSSeS could speedily be lined up
into more complete coordination of
tonal phrasing. Above all, it showed
that the surprisingly fine string group
had unlimited possibilities for beau
tiful effects should they be allowed to
progress through the necessary grind
of constant rehearSalS and perform
anceS of even one regular season. Also,
on the part of the leader, Mr.. Hetzel,
who conducted both the opening num-
her, the Liszt "PreludeS," and the
closing number. the overture to Wag-
ner'S "TannhauSer," without his
scores. there were constantly indica-
tions that he possessed a real gift for
orchestral conducting and individual
sense of Interpretation which would
be more evident when given further
opportunity. The Liszt score was par
ticularly we'll interpreted.
The real test of the afternoon lay
in the ambitious score of Tschaikow-
Sky's Fifth symphony" The lovely
themes of the first and second move
ments were emphasized with good
taste and musicianShip; the waltz
movement was we'll played, and the
bringing of the finale to the proper
pitch of volume and climax was re-
markably well done. The whole of
the orchestral part of the program
was exceptionally well done.
Bonelli Is SOlOist.
Richard Boneli, fine artist, one
of to- leading baritones of the Chi
cago Civic Opera Co, was the soloist
and won as enthusiastic applause as
the orchestra, and that is saying a
good deal, for the audience granted
musicians and singer alike ovations.
Mr. Bonelli has a beautiful, rich voice
and seems to understand completely
how to use it. He showed his great
dramatic gift in the aria Fri Tu, '"
from Verdis Masked Ball." given
with orchestral accompaniment. He
proved a splendid concert artist in
the group of songs, with piano ac-
compartment by Frank Bibb, that eX-
cellent accompanist from Baltimore.
Outstanding in Mr.. Bonellis group
of songs was Saint-Saens "Danse
Macabre" which, as the singer eX-
plained. was originally written in
song form, though it is frequently
heard as an orchestral number. Ros-
sini's "Tarantella Napoletana" was
charmingly sung and Weingartner's
"Iiebesfeier" also was an attractive
number.
The program was broadcast and
following the performance many wait
cd to congratulate the conductor on
his achievement.
SollOI0ve Concert Master.
Henri Sokolove, a leading violinist
here, is the CONCERT master of this
group, and others in the orchestra
Yesterday included: Violins, Max Pu-
Satsky, F. =. Charles, c. c. Wey-
forth, Chris Arth, A. Ralon, j. Huer-
ia, Joseph Harrison, +. Hauer, Joe
Rather, Il. Sokolove. G.. NJ. Smith,
Never Goldman and n. Goldman;
violas, Sam Feldman, II. Perlman,
Alex Podnos, Sam Soroka, l.. Kruger,
6. Pellegrino. r. Bandel Charles
Donch. 4. Pointner. f. Muhlhausen,
sam Udren b. Bernath. William
Thierbach, Charles Samuels. George
Bahr, |. Bottazzi. J. A. McConville, n.
Sokolove, Fred Wells, Joe Ffnocchiaro,
charles O. Mills, j. Levinson. II.
Cherkassky and l.. Franzin: cellos, r.
Lorleberg, Leon SaylOr, Dore Walten,
l.. Mandy, AL Vanpoucke, d. Lane
hart. Cliff Kershaw and J. Bernolfo;
basses, j. Turpin. F.. Johnson, Z. c.
Qumby, A. Schmidt, +. Roetschi, F.
Fletcher. Fred Pfeiffer and j. Kim
mel; flutes, II. Jaeger and V. Ferra-
mosco; piccolo, Antonio Cello: oboes,
Otto Neuman and n. BorZillo: clari-
nets, j. Vanpoucke and II Meiners;
bassoons, p. Shelly and Theodore Sew
enhuysen: horns, A. j. Paquay, Ed
ward Minnick. n. Cipriani and K.
Weyforth; trumpets, Edward 5. Mac
C;rath, x LiCalzi and G. Wallace;
tromhones. George Gaul, $. Goddard
and Edward A. Williams; tuba, Viii
liam Yates; tympani, S. Johnson: per
cussion William Weisbacher and FL.