Evening star., 1928-06-17
PARIS PAYS HONOR
TO WRITER OF JAZZ
George Gershwin, American
Composer, Winning the
PIaudIts of Opera World.
rresnondence ot the Associated presa

Correspondence ot the Associated Press
PARIS. The more or less hundred
per cent American music of George
Gershwin is conquering the continent
OF Europe, as already 1t has swept
through the concert halls as we'll as
over the dance floors Of England
The New York composer spending
the Spring months in Paris. has been
urprised~-happily surprised-~at the
success of his more serious works in the
French capital His Rhapsody in Blue"
was played here for the first time early
in the Spring by the famous Pasdeloup
Orchestra. and made such a hit that
the Russian dancers at the Champs
Elysees Theater Immediately wove a
ballet around 1t, and 1t was presented
by them TO crowded houses three sue
ceSsiye nights
Academy Plans "Gershwin Night"
Now the celebrated Opera, the Ma
tional Academy of Music, as 1t is for
mally styled. has decided TO have a
Gershwin night on May 20. with the
operas orchestra. under the baton of
Golschman, putting aside It's we'll
turned pages OF Wagner, Chopin. Verdi
and other old masters TO play the more
serious compositions OF the young Jazz
writer from Manhattan. his Concerto
in F, his Rhapsody in Blue" and. If he
finishes 1t in time, new piece for
symphony orchestras TO be called An
American In Paris"
So many social fostesses In Paris
have been bombarding Gershwin with
invitations that he hasn't been able to
do as much work on An American in
Paris as he expected
But since he ripped off the Rhapsody
In Blue" In three wceks-~to the accom-
paniment OF New York taxis and the
Amsterdam avenue trolley rafting
under his apartment windows--he
thinks that a few days Of concentrated
absence from salons and night clubs
end other Partisan entertainments viii
serve TO finish the new Job.
Light Subject" Most Popular.
IAN American In Paris is for SYM
phony orchestra. but 1t is to be light
on light subject" Gershwin said
You see most pieces for symphonies
are about moonlight. or the sea, or what
Is technically known as love. or some
thing else equally serious. / want TO
do something light for symphony pres
ei1tation, something American in the
New York manner.
My brother. Ira. who has written
the lyrics TO most OF my music show
songs and fox-trots, intended 10 do
some work with me in Paris this Spring
But 1t is his first trip abroad, and I've
had more invitations than expected,
so We haven't worked together here by
the Champs Elysees as yet~-ar1d it
seems doubtful that we viii"
Otrshwin appeared surprised that
his fame had preceded him TO the con-
tinent. He thought It had got To Eng
land but no further, he said.
American Music Dominates.
But 1t was no surprise 10 him 10 find
almost nothing but American music
being played In the lighter hearted
spots Of Paris. TITS the only music
these days that seems TO please every
body. The French do not play modern
German music and the Germans do
not play modern French music, but
everybody everywhere plays our Ameri-
can Jazz. 1t is new and It may be
rongh-~but America Ia rough, and jazz
ib national expression OF us"
Before the staid and dignified old
Opera In Paris bows before the fresh
genius OF 0ershwin. the young New
Yorker~~he Is not yet 30~~-expects TO
zee Berlin, Vienna and Budapest-~just
as a tourist
In Midsummer he is going back HON
to put more tunes on paper.