Evening star., 1928-11-04

family which, as family
has arisen to the top in that
profession. Not just a lone
individual such as in the
case of William Shakespeare
Ludwig van Beethoven or Jenny
Lind, but rather a Barrymore, 9
Bach or, most recently, Homer
In these latter cases there have
been many illuStriouS artists OF
the same family to carry blossom
ing, traditions through several
generations. Even SO, there is
liable to be one outstanding talent
in the group, the unique one OF
them all. Such a one was the
late John Drew; another was
Johann Sebastian Bach; a living
artist of musical family" is
Louise Homer.
This world-famed American
woman, who has won laurelS as a
Contralto of rare gifts and, in ad-
dition, other honorS such as be-
ing chosen as among the IL finest
examples of American woman
hood, selected by leading maga-
zine, will appear in Washington
Wednesday afternoon. She will
not appear alone as the single
blossom of her family, but rather
the center of a bouquet. With
her, sharing top honors," is her
oldest daughter, Louise Homer
Stires, whose lovely soprano voice
will blend with her mothers in
duets and also be heard in solos.
Ar fho iHNiaNan ~ +Ioo L;H6o,,I+ ;f
apparently Subordinated role of
accompanist, will be a second
daughter, Katherine Homer, who
also has become firmly estab-
liShed as a SoloiSt on the concert
stage. The husband and father
Of this musical family, Sidney
Homer, will appear in the role of
composer, having written several
OF the songs his wife and daughter
are to sing, some of which will
have their first presentation in
Washington.
The National Capital has a
particularly warm niche for this
contralto singer and also for her
family. THE HomerS have made
their home frequently for con-
siderable periods of time in near
by Virginia, practically in the
shadow of the Capitol. Also, Nine.
Homer and her singing daughter,
Mrs. StireS, are popular concert
artists here and the contralto'S
singing of the role of Della in
the Saint-SaenS opera as pro-
duced here in an all-American
performance given by the WASH
1ngton Opera Co.. couple of
seasons ago Is favorably remem-
bered.
ETHEL LEGINSKA, as a pianist,
is we'll known to Washington.
Miss LegfnSka makes her debut
here as an orchestra conductor
this afternoon. She gives a Sec
ond program tomorrow night.
Her unique orchestra is composed
entirely of women and is known
as the Women'S Symphony Or
cheStra of Boston. This should
be an event Of unusual interest.
This brilliant musician, known
to the world as Ethel LeginSka,
was born in Hull, England, as
Ethel LigginS. She studied in
Frankfort and later in Vienna
with LeSchetizky. She played her
first concert when 6 years old and
made her professional debut when
16 on program with Nellie
Melba, the great Australian
singer LeginSka'S success was so
sensational that a year later she
played before King Edward VII
and Queen Alexandra Of Eng
land. Soon after that she made
her American debut in New York
and her success on tour in the
years following, both in Europe
and this country, is we'll known.
She was scarcely out Of her teens
when she was invited to play with
the New York Symphony under
Walter DamroSch. Later she
played with the Boston Symphony
and likewise achieved marked
success.
Ethel Leginska has been called
"The Paderewski of Women
PianiStS" and THE PianiStic
Marvel" While her standing in
the front rank of professional
pianiStS has never been chal-
lenged, there are many who have
yet to know her as talented
composer and also in her newest
role of conductor both of orcheS-
tras and of opera.
Among her compositions are
-Four Poems for String Quartet" :"
based on verses by Tagore: Be
yond the Fields We Know" and
'ScherZo" (alSo after Tagore) !.
She is said to be busy now, in ad-
clifton to her engagements as a
conductor, in writing symphony
and also an opera, to be called
The Rose in the Ring"
Miss LeginSka had her first eX-
perience as an orchestra leader
in Munich, Germany, three years
ago. Since her days of study
under LeSchetizky she had the
ambition to conduct an orchestra
some day. She always held as
her ideal the great Hungarian,
List, who was first pianist, then
composer and then a con-
ductor. The young woman plan
iSt'S SuccecT as conductor in
Munich was definite and led to
Eer later conducting the Berlin
Philharmonic, London Symphony,
Paris ConServatoire Orchestra,
New York Symphony, New York
Philharmonic, and others. She
is listed as the permanent con-
ductor of the Boston Philhar-
mOnic Orchestra. the Boston
Women'S Symphony Orchestra
and also the Women'S Symphony
Orchestra of Chicago, Ill
LeginSka is a spectacular fig
ure on the conductors stand and
has invited many amusing carica-
lures and silhouetteS of herself
in that capacity. AS when she
o ,ain ,,iSt slan o anots q hln cl.