Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-08
NJ y SIC
BY HELEN FETTER.

some of Chopin'S most beautiful
compositions and Skillfully adapt
ing or transplanting them In their
entirety into the production
Harry B. Smith wrote the dra-
matte book of the play which had
its opening recently in Philadel-
phia. The settings and costumes
are of the picturesque early
eighteenth century. Odette Myrtil
plays the role of Nine. George
Sand, novelist of note and Cho-
pins beloved.
Reading of the success of this
first performance recalls to mind
the quaint old piano that has an
honored place in the charming
studio home of Wanda Landow-
! ska. harpSichordiSt, at st. Leu-la-
Foret, not far from Paris. The
piano has a case OF golden wood
and is an upright. If you touch a
key you are more than likely to
get a whirring off-key sound. 1t
is no longer of practical use, but
it is of great value, for 1t is the
piano that Chopin used during his
idyllic existence with George Sand
on the Island of Majorca, where
he wrote some of his finest COM
positions.
- x
EVER since the famous revo-
IL lutionary Rhapsody In Blue"
Jumped from the pen of George
GerShwin. Broadway composer, to
the concert stage to be dignified
by performance by symphony Or
cheStraS, Mr.. GerShwin'S efforts
have been in the general lime
light. The Concerto in F." later
commissioned, by DR.. Walter
Damrosch, aroused much more
dispute.
As Mr.. Gershwin conflded to the
writer that he hadn't the slightest
idea as to Just what musical for
mula lay behind the writing OF a
concerto and had to read tones
on the construction of concertos.
before he could begin to prepare
his work in that medium. it is not
surprising that there has been
more dissatisfaction over the re-
sulting product.
The newest effort to be rumored
as produced by this ambitious
and versatile young composer is
given a title that certainly has
possibilities. 1t is called IAN
American in Paris" and the initial
statement announcing its name
with mention OF
the arrival in New York of Mr..
GerShwin from Europe adds that
"An American in Paris" is a
composition which he 1.-THE COM
poser could not fully describe.
Which sounds even more interest
ing.
THE International Society for
L Contemporary Music will hold
its sixth festival at Siena, Italy.
September 10 to Is. There are to
be three chamber concerts, d per-
Torrance of Walton's Facade"
an illustrated lecture on quarter
tone music, and several concerts
of Italian ancient and modern
music.
Composers whose works will be
presented include: ,vincenzo Tom
masini,. Kafei Haba, Paul Hinde-
NTH, Maurice Ravel, Alexander
Won ZemlinSky, Frank Bridge,
Heinz Tiessen, Anton Won Webern,
Manuel de Falla, Robert Blum,
Bonuslav Martini, Franco Alfano,
Serge Prokofieff. Ernest Bloch.
william T. Walton and Alois
Haba.
r OS ANGELES, Calf, will begin
II, it's fifth season of grand opera
October s. Ten productions will
be given, all of which are favor
ties of the opera patrons of that
city. 1t is interesting TO find
THE Love of Three Kings" and
ia Cena dele Beffe" in the list.
Neither of these operas has been
sung yet in Washington.
It is also Of interest to those who
are keen about systematic, de-
tailed development of young sing
ers in opera choral work to find
that 100 young people are enrolled
in the Los Angeles Grand Opera
Associations chorus school, re-
hearSing already next seasons
choral repertoire under the direc-
ton of Maestro Cimini. OF this
number 30 will be selected to take
part in the next seasons operas.
Rehearsals began April Is, when
the 100 choriSters were chosen
from among more than 500 appli-
cants. The rehearsals will be con-
tinued for six evenings a week
during the entire Summer.