Evening star., 1928-03-18


of this city as a musical center
! 1t can safely be said that there il
no one more so than Carl Encel
chief Of the music division of tho
Library Of Congress. Mr.. Engc
since his youngest days has hac
many experiences in varied muSi-
cal capacities. He has been COM
poser. writer on music. critic. II
charge of important work with a
leading musical publishing house
researcher Of ancient and au-
thentic manuscripts in all the
musical cities of Europe as well
as America. and is now in charge
Of the extremely admirable and
increasingly valuable library OF
rare manuscripts and other muSi-
cal data in the Library of Con-
grcSS. Mr.. Encel also is in charge
of the eNtreme,3 unusual musical
programs given from time tc
time in the little chamber music
auditorium Of the Library under
! the auspices of the Elizabeth
Sprague Coolidge Foundation.
/ The end of April this year will
see the first Spring presentation
OF such a group of programs as
Mrs. Coolidge previously gave in
the Fall in her Berkshire Temple
of Music, to which a list of musi-
cal authorities and celebrities
from all over the world are bid
den. There also have been two
Fall programs presented in Wash
ington. lasting several days in
each case. and always bringing to
the National Capital internation-
ally distinguished ana representa-
tive audiences. This is a great as
set for the Capital Of the United
States. It is entirely outside of
civic musical interests here and
should always be so considered
although as far as possible every
effort is made TO avail the musi-
clans of Washington as we'll as of
every other city of the United
States of an invitation to the pro-
grams. 1t is the hope to make
Washington the musical and cul-
tural capital of the country as
well as its political Capital.
In other lines of art marked
progress here is being shown, the
latest effort being the installation
Of the w. A. Clarke collection of
rare paintings, laces. rugs and
/ sculpture in the newly opened
wing OF the Co~coran Art Gallery.
/ At the opening of this addition
! the spectators invited were
brought in large part from all over
the country.
/ No one in music circles here
needs praise less than Mr.. Engel.
1t is with marked pleasure. how
ever, that the news is announced
to the effect that Carl Engel re-
Gently has been made an honor
ary member of the Harvard Musi-
cal Association in Boston, one of
The Oldest music societies in Amer
lea. The only other living honor
ary members are Prof. A. Law
renee Lowell, the president of
Harvard. and Mr.. Philip Hale, the
eminent critic of the Boston Her
aid and editor OF the program
notes Of the Boston Symphony
Orchestra.
THE latest comment from a
l. local musician on the subject
OF a prime need of Washington
that OF an opera house and also
an adequate concert hall. that
has come to this desk in writing,
came from Miss Anita Schade.
She says:
What can we Washingtonians
do TO bring about the building of
an opera house in which concerts
and recitals also could be given?
One who attends operas and con-
certS as regularly as l do feels
this want, as hundreds of others
OF our city do who love music.
The other day at the Jeritza con-
cert / heard lady behind me
make the comment, Isn't that a
terrible stage setting! What a
background for that beautiful
woman! Look at that ugly bare
floor with It's trapdoors and that
glaring strip Of white for the
prlma donna TO stand on. II we
only had a decent concert hall,
what a difference 1t would make )
Il would only like to emphasize
what you have said already re-
2arding the necessity Of an opera
house such as you find in other
cities for the Capital Of our Ma
ton"
PHILADELPHIA newspapers re-
Gently printed an item an
nouncing that erection OF $i5.~
100000 opera house on the Park
way near Nineteenth street, TO
provide permanent quarters for
the Philadelphia Orchestra and
The Philadelphia Grand Opera
Co. and the establishment Of a
S2,O00.000 endowment fund for
the orchestra are provided in
plans drafted on a business
basis" by leaders in the city's
music affairs. The plans provide
for at least two auditoriums in
the opera house. One viii seat
from $500 TO 1000 persons at con
certs Of the orchestra and per
f0rmances Of the Philadelphia
Grand Opera Co. and the Metro
politan Opera Co. Of New York on
It's weekly visits during the Win
ter season. The smaller audi
torlum, seating from 1900 To
1900, would be used by the Phila~
deIphIa Forum and similar Or
! ganizations."
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