Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-31
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THE LENER STRING QUARTET.

Budapest would seem to be the home
! of string quartets. A year ago music
centers of the United States waxed en-
thusiastic over the first appearances in
this country of the Roth String Quar-
tet. which hailed from the Hungarian
capital. Yesterday, at the Founders
day concert in the Elizabeth Sprague
| Coolidge Foundation Chamber Music
Hall Of the Library of Congress, n
other quartet from Budapest made its
debut in America. It was the Lener
String Quartet, composed of Jeno n
and Joseph Smilovits, violins; Sander
Roth, viola, and Imre Hartman, violin
celia. The rare beauty Of this groups
Interpretation of classical music was
quite evidently considered full compen-
sation for Drawing stormy weather by
the audience which nearly filled the
hail and applauded lengthily and even
shouted "Bravol" at the conclusion OF
the program. 1t was q brililantly sue
cessful American premiere OF this quar-
tet. The first New York program Is
scheduled for November IL.
The three selections composing the
program were admirably chosen. The
sincere music lover who wishes to have
his soul soothed with beautiful sound
and does not care for cerebral gymnas-
tics such as are required by many WORKS
of the m~odernists. had opportunity TO
revel in melodiouS sound achieved with
mastery musicianship on the part OF
both composer and interpreters. There
was perfection of ensemble balance. Mr..
Lener has a highly eloquent first violin
with rounded, mellow tone, and he has
perfect command of SubtletieS in shad-
ing. and d~exterity in his technique. His
instrument is said to be n OF the few
S~tradiVariuS violinS not previously
heard in America, and 1t is valued at
many thousands of dollars. This rare
instrument would seem to have found
the right master. MI. Hartman's vio-
loncello, too, "a unusually eloquent IN
the passages in the Schubert which
gave it solo opportunities. In the largo
from Haydn's String Quartet in D"
the cello achieved powerful organ tones
which gave this work a benediction
quality. This number was given in
memory of Oscar G. Sonneck, first chief
of the music division of the Library OF
Congress. who died october 80, 1923.
Both second violin and viola formed
beautifully balancing links between first
violin and violoncello. The playing Of
the adagio movement in .Mozart's
Quartet in B Flat" was exquisite. It
was worth a whole season Of lesser
music less per1ecCly performed anu
seemed to leave an indelible impression
of beauty with the whole audience. In
Schubert's Quartet in D Minor" the
dptive song of the second movement
kiyen more depth and color than
lly heard in string quartet read
in both the last two move
e true Hungarian Gypsy type
and buoyancy in interpreta-
Ned to advantage.
eat ago, after having heard the
1ggsh String Quartet in two programs,
this writer suggested that the mantle Of
the Flonzaleys might descend fittingly
upon their shoulders. Now it would
seem that they might have competition
for that honor from this second quar-
tet coming from their OWE home town.
Both the Roths and the Leners are
groups that give new impetus to the
music situation over here, which has
been in a rather low frame Of mind.
Yesterdays program was broadcast and