Evening star., 1928-01-22
M u SIC
BY HELEN FETTER.

doctors orders. he dictated his
speech to his secretary at his
hotel.
His advent at Queens Hall was
unexpected, as in order to pre-
vent opposition Sir Thomas
waited until all the officials had
left before telephoning his secre-
tary to come for him. Arrived, he
refused to use the bathchair and
hobbling onto the platform. made
his speech, though at times he
had to cling to the roStrum to sup
| port himself against the bouts Of
pain. Lifted back into a car and
again packed with cushions. he
was then driven back to his hotel
Characteristically. his only COM
ment after was that. Judging by
his back. this opera scheme work
was very stiff business.
Sir Thomas has dubbed his own
nation as the LATEST in the world.
He said: Since the radio, we
have become comatoSe. / foreSee
a generation which will never get
out of bed
1t is interesting to note here
that Sir Thomas was the first
to bring to England Feodor
Chaliapin. who gives recital
here later this week Sir Thomas
also is very keenly interested in
opera and putting that musical
! luxury on a practical basis. He
has produced 100 operas, 70 of
which were new to England and
20 of which were sung in the Eng
lisil language. AS he will conduct
the famous Philadelphia OrcheS-
ira here. 1t is interesting to quote
him as having said:
There is an idea in England
that American orcheStras are the
finest in the world, and this
should be so. for they are more
permanent and the audiences
more discerning"
WHILE on the subject of orches-
w ira conductors. 1t might be
timely to note that Willem Men
gelberg. who conducted the New
York Philharmonic in it's first
concert of the season here earlier
this month. has Just had the hon.
orary degree of Doctor of Music
conferred upon him at Columbia
University at a special convoca-
ton. held in the trustees room,
on January g. 1t was with the
Philharmonic that Sir Thomas
Beecham made his American bow
last week.
/. Also that word has been re-
ceived from Bombay. India, that
Leopold Stokowski, whose orches-
ira Sir Thomas conducts here, has
been in consultation with the In
dian musician authorities and the
College of Celestial Musicians.
The latter organization with the
heavenly appellation has arranged
special performance to demon
Strate to Mr.. StokowSki the eff
forts made to combine Eastern
music with Western methods OF
expression. This organization is
said to be the first to build up an
orchestra OF Indian instruments.
Also famous singers from north
ern India are TO come especially
to Bombay for presentation of the
finest vocal music that that coun-
try OF great philosophers and ia
natics has to offer Mr. Stokowski
is quoted as having said of the
Oriental music that 1t was SO
highly developed and sophisti-
Gated an art that. "in learning to
understand it. have TO begin at
the very beginning like a little
child"
MIR. and Mrs. Stokowski are
scheduled to return TO America in
April.
an only one occasion during the
" year in Washington do all
sorts and conditions OF men and
women in the artist life OF the
Nations Capital. foregather in
one spot and engage whole
heartedly in carnival and revel.
and that one and only occasion is
the annual Bal Boheme OF the
Arts Club.
This season the bal will be held
Mondav. January 30. at the Will
lard. The invitations sent out by
the committee In charge indicate
that music will play a prominent
part in the event. They read:
A fesstal spirit will prevaile.
and songsters will their voices
raise In token Of We gladsome
tymes. Before the jouste there
will be merriement and
daunce.
Leading musicians of the city
always take prominent parts in
the bal. either as guests among
the throngs or as highly honored
participants In the diyertisse-
ments flimited In number and al
ways slluring, Of the occasion.
There is much secrecy as TO the
personnel of the stunts" but 1t
is recognized that among the
number will be many we'll known
in the music world.
The particular ensemble" beau
ty spot In the program will be
held this year. As usual, by the
Caroline Mckinley Dancers. IL in
number. This year, In keeping
with the Keynote" OF the bal.
their dance is 10 be called When
knights Were Bold"
/. Viva Artur,