Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-02
M u SIC
MIR. sTOKOWsKI RETURNS.

The Philadelphia Symphony Or
chestra presented it's fourth concert
of the current season at the Wash
ington Auditorium yesterday after
noon. Leopold Stokowski, leader Of
the organization, who was on his va
cation the last time the orchestra
played in Washington, when q guest
conductor directed, has returned to
wave the baton with that peculiar
graciousness and power that are his
alone over this orchestra. True, Mr..
Stokowski was handicapped with a
still severe case OF neuritis in his
right arm, so that he conducted with
his left, but the baton quivered just
as eloquentIy in the left as in his
right hand.
Also. the Philadelphia players never
showed finer coordination and thor
ough oneness with their leader than
we'll deserved the ovation that they
we'll deserved the ovation that they,
as we'll as Mr.. Stokowski received at
the conclusion of every number on
the unusually vivid. varied program.
To add the final touch to a gem
orally buoyant occasion, Mr.. Sto-
kowski's transcription of Johann Sc
bastian Bachs "Toccata and Fugue
in d Minor" was the supreme
achievement of the afternoon. This
work in it's original organ form Is
brilliant. scintllating music. AS an
orchestral work, Mr.. Stokowski pre-
served its dominant organ qualities,
and each department of the orchestra
responded to it's part in portraying
the different voices as SO many
manuals in a huge organ. The effect
was aWe-inspiring in it's power and
beauty.
The strings and woodwinds were
especially fine; the 'cellos and bass
viols added their voices. In excellent
contrast was the Bach choralvorspie1,
Itch ruff zu dir. Herr Jesu Christ"
exquisitely delicate and spirituelle.
There was certainly no dull dryness
to a. single moment Of this Bach. 1t
was remarkably satisfying music,
given with all the skill in interpreta-
ton that a former organist and lover
of Bach could put into it.
George Frederic Handel was given
first place on the program with his
overture in D minor. we'll played and
followed by the lovely Water Music"
which might we'll be heard more fire.
quently in Washington. The two De-
busy nocturnes. 'Nuages" and
"Fetes." We're quite as intriguing as
usual and beautifully interpreted. A
fascinating modern touch was pro-
Vlueu In the spanish Rhapsody by
Ravel. The sophisticated charm of
this music suffered slightly from the
vital strength of the Bach that had
preceded it; possibly it would have
had enhanced effectiveness had the
order been reversed. At any rate,
Ravel's work showed a real musical
message expressed lucidly through the
| medium Of modern ideas in harmony
and musical phrasing. a combination
| rare and exceedingly gratifying The
| l1abanera was particularly interesting
and 1t was amusing to watch the eff.
| feet Of this very rhythmic music on
musicians in a classical symphonic
| organization: they swayed In response
| to its call for motion in the same way
but an unexaggerated degree, as Jazz
musicians act when playing their es-
| sentially rhythmic music.
The whole program proved alb
sorbingly interesting. and the audience
| was warm in it's applause. H.
N. Y. PHILHARMONIC-TUESDAY.
The New York Philharmonic Or
chestra. under the direction of the
famous German conductor, Wilhelm
Furtwaengler. will present the third
program given in Washington by that
organization this season, under the
management of 7. Arthur Smith. at