Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03
GREAT AUDIENCE
CHEERS ARTISTS
First Concert in Constitution
Hall Is Gala Occasion for
Capacity Crowd.

An audience of 5000 people filled
every seat in orchestra, balcony and
boxes at the first musical event held
in the Constitution Hall last night.
1t was q gala occasion in every way.
Five artists, each an acknowledged
and. in most cases, of Europe as well,
presented a program which was gen.
erous in the extreme, lasting until
midnight, yet holding most Of the audi
ence with enthusiasm. -
This enthusiasm seemed to carry oyer
the footlights and inspire the artists,
in turn, each to do his dazzling best.
From the first group, when Mr.. zim-
balist was honored with first place on
this historic program, encores were
demanded. The artists responded to
this hearty applause which greeted
each selection by giving their best,
Each artist appeared in two groups,
plus encores, except Hans Barth, who,
instead had an entire miniature re-
cital in the middle Of the program,
on three instruments-plus encores.
Zimbalist Shows Technique.
Efrem Zimbalist,. who opened the
program, showed his famous technique
in the "Praeludium and Allegro" OF
Pugnani as arranged by Kreisler. Later,
he particularly charmed with the ex-
ouisite beauty OF his Interpretation of
the Schubert Ave Maria as tran
scribed by Wilhelnj and the fiery IA
pateado" by SarAsate. Emanuel Bay
was, as usual. Mr.. zimbalists admir-
able accompanist.
Mr.. Barth. the only other instru-
mentalist gave O unique triple-instru-
mert program, playing first on the
harpsichord, forerunner of the piano.
forte: second on the present-day con-
cert grand piano, and third on the
novel uuarter-tone piano, which last
sounded, if anything. more mechanical
and disjointed than its two-keyboarded
grandparent. the harpsichord. 1t
seemed, this quarter-tone piano. to be
At principally for caricaturing OF real
music. Most interesting was Mr.. BartnS
SHADOW of a Spanish Dancer" which
was his encore.
The three feminine members OF the
entertaining quintet all are American
artists of great favor with the pubic
and, according to their performances
last night, it would seem, justly so. anna
case, soprano, first of the trio to appear,
won her audience at once with the
OCduby Vi 4ICL OO4AeNA AA0AAoy SNS "~~~ 49,
her striking personal appearance.
"AlIeIuja" Is Vividly Done.
She sang the latter half of the Care
Selve" of Haendel superbly. The Mozart
"Alleluia" was wildly done, although
Miss Case chose to ignore the alterna-
tive of the high note at the end, which
she could have achieved easily. Two
of her most successful songs Of the eve
ming were her encoreS, Pearl Currans
Dawn" and Farley's The Night Wind,
which she did with great individuality
of treatment.
The wind seemed to intrigue several
of the artists as a subject. Mr.. Barth
had a composition for the Quarter-tone
instrument entitled THE North Wind;
there was Miss Cases encore; Sophie
Breslau, the striking American contral-
to, showed the remarkable range OF her
vocal quality in Der Erlkoenig," which
has the wind as one of the three char.
acters in this dramatic music story OF
Schubert,s: and Cornelia Otis Skinner
gave a French reading on the subject
of "The November Wind" by Belgian
poet. which showed her superb COM
Ynand of the more subtle requirements
of dramatic readings as well as Such
pricelessly charming and amusing
things as her own compositions, Home
work" and Monte Carlo" She Is a
ISulhIhdDly AAAAO "a 0AoS'
Folk Songs Win Applause.
other selections by Miss Braslau that
won especially hearty applause were the
delightful Italian folk songs as arrang-
ed by Gent Sadero and given with use
of parlando as well as singing tone ana
q Carmenesque Interpretation OF RavePs
''Vocalise Etude."
The last scheduled number on the
procrann was q duet, Nevin's "Oh,
THAT We Two Were Maying," sung by
Miss Case and Miss Braslau, Both
these artists had excellent accompanies,
Carroll HOLSTER being at the piano for
Miss Case and q charming young lady.
whose name unfortunately was omitted
from the program, giving Miss Braslau
artistic support, playing her accompanl-
ments by memory.
The whole event was highly success
full and a most suspicious opening for
the current musical season in this new
auditorium.