Evening star., 1928-04-01
M u S l
BY HELEN FETTER.

! spiration to the members of the
Ringgold Band was evident In the
bearing of the members of the
band, and In the marvellous and
instantaneous response given TO
every directing movement of his
baton. Full of that peculiar odlc
force which marks great leaders Of
any kind, he seemed to transmit
1t to his bandmen. and the result
was performance of such eX-
traordinary excellence as was
never before given by this excel
lent band"
.DOUBTLESS with marked pleas
- ure many will read the news
printed elsewhere on this page to
the effect that the tax on the
tickets for the coming season of
opera by the Metropolitan Opera
Co. in Washington has been re-
mitted AS the tax amounts to 10
per cent of the price Of each ticket
the sum is quite considerable for
those who wish tickets to hear
more than one opera. The local
manager. Mrs. Wilson Greene. has
received special permission to
waive the tax. as she claims to
bring the opera company here,
not as a commercial enterprise.
but "as measure for the artistic
and musical education of the
young people of this city and as
an opportunity for muSic-loverS
generally to hear the finest opel
attic works interpreted by a COM
pany which is conceded to be the
foremost organization of its kind
in the world" Also, any surplus
that may be obtained from the
sale of tickets, above the expense
of bringing the opera here. will be
turned over to a local charity for
such use as it may consider best.
Mrs. Greene is quoted as saying:
Washington, l am firmly con-
vinced, has more highly edu-
Gated population and more true
music-lovers than any other city
of its size In the United States.
The great success of the Metro
politan here last season has been
sufficient proof, I think, that our
people appreciate the best in art
and music, and I am happy to
make it possible for them to have
1t. 1t is unfortunate that the city
does not possess at present the
combination of large auditorium
and large stage available for
operatic performances, for that
would make the opera available
at popular prices to a great many
more persons than can be accom-
modated with the limited seating
capacity for the forthcoming sea-
son. That, however. may be rem
edied in the future"
WASHINGTON is used to being
w the convention city for ma
tional gatherings OF varied sorts
and ambitions. It Is the sugges-
ton of the sponsors for the Schu-
bert centennial that Is so widely a
subject of world interest in the
present time. that this city serve
in the capacity of host to unique
international group. The state
ment says:
"A call for an international
meeting In Washington TO fix on
a simultaneous date for Schubert
weeks throughout the world and
to coordinate the centennial
plans has been issued by Louis
Sterling. chairman Of the board
of the Columbia Photograph Co.
tsponsor of the centennial). In a
letter addressed to the ministers
of foreign affairs and education Of
England. Spain, France. italy.
Germany, Austria, Denmark, Nor
way. Sweden and Poland. The
letter follows:
Tn the belief thai II would helghteu The efIec.
various countries II tbey we're held during
the aame week ! am writing IN AK your
opinion as 10 the most feasible date for
the Schubert week in voilr country.
would IL not make for more co-oriinatsd
expression IL our committees agreed on q
uniform dste
Inasmtsfb a. the ambassadors and min
js Of the yaEfnus countries are nnenhers
we organize a conference AT WashiDetan for
an exchange 81 ideas this suhtsti and
other phases of co-ordinated centennial.
fsignedl LOUIS STERLING
Chairman. Committee on International
Relations OF the Schubert Centennial.