The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-12-31

'0N Monday evening, Jan. 80, the
~ secondL Symphony Orchestra
concert of the Indianapolis Sym
phony Society will be presented at
the MWat Theater, with the New
York Symphony Orchestra, Walter
DamrOsch, conductor, III a notable
program Of orchestral music with
the added Importance Of the Golden
Jubilee celebration of this famous
organization.
Retirement Of Walter Damrosch,
dean of American conductors, as
regular conductor Of the orchestra,
after a period Of forty-tWo years,
took place at the close of last sea-
son, but he has not completely sew
cred his connection. and in honor
Of The fiftieth anniversary Of The
orchestra will accompany it on
tour.
Damrosch first assumed the lead
ership Of the New York symphony
on the death of his father il 1885
lie was then only % years old. AL
most at once ne stepped into lead
ing position among the musicians
Of the country. AS an innOvatOr and
bold eXperimenter he set the pace
for his fellow conductors. He intro
duced to this country many Of the
important works Of Wagner, Rim
-KOrsakoff, Stravinsky, Brahms
Tschaikowsky and Sibelius. He gave
to America its first Beethoven cycle
Under his direction such diStin-
guished artists as Paderewski, Saint
Saens, Kreisler and TschaikoWsky
made their first American orchestral
appearances.
1t was due to his skill and yea
that the orchestra was kept alive
during the difficult years before the
burden Of its finances was assumed
by Harry Hardness Flagler. To keep
his men employed throughout the
year, he inaugurated long country
wide tours, and accepted summer
engagements in various cities.
During the 1920 European tour of
the orchestra, he was shOwered with
honors by foreign governments. He
returned to this country an officer
of the French Legion Of Honor,
chevalier of the crown of Belgium,
officer Of the crown Of Italy, officer
Of the Order Of Isabella of Spain,
honorary member Of the Banda
Municipale Of Rome and of the
Worshipful Company of Musicians
in London.
The third and last Of the sixth
annual season Of orchestra concerts
Of the indianapolis Symphony So
ciety will take on the form Of a
great music festival. Arrangements
have just been completed to COM
bine the Dayton Westminster Choil
with the Cincinnati Symphony Or
chestra, Fritz Reiner and John Fin
ley Williamson, conductors, in q
great concert of choral and orches-
trail music on Monday evening
April Is.
THE first public performance o.
4 the maiden effort of the Indi.
annapolis Civic Opera Association
the Prince of Pilsen" will be giver
on next Monday evening at $50 a
the Athenaeum auditorium, fol.
lowed by another performance OF
Tuesday. These will represent the
elimination Of several months eff.
fort on the part Of the many peo-
pie having faith in the place of such
an enterprise in this community
Organized by music-loving grour
Of people, it has solicited and OBJ
tanned the support of many other:
in various lines of activity Pertain
ing to the production of light opera
The association functions in a man.
ner similar to the Little Theatre.
throughout the country, excepting
that musical plays are given in
stead of drama. All officers anc
workers serve without pay. the one
idea being to afford young person;
an opportunity for experience and
to provide the community, With ~,