Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23
NJ u SIC
BY HELEN FETTER.

amateurs In the National Cap.
itaI during the season 1928-9
which may, by now, be officially
considered completely closed, it Is
very interesting to note the diff
ference in the general trend from
that of several seasons past
Whereas in former seasons the
number of programs given tina!
were of professional caliber num-
bered nearly twice as many as
those given during the past sea-
son, this year the number of ex-
ceedingly creditable amateur per-
formanceS seems to be on the in
crease. Although the same "head-
liners" among the professional
recitalists reappeared with their
perennial promptnesS fand prac-
tically their perennial programsl
there we're not few blanks in the
usual ranks of those established
artists. Also, the number of really
admirably performed chamber
music programs seemed to be on
the increase. This, too, without
the stimulus of festival at the
Library of Congress. Moreover,
the number of programs given at
the Library this year were less
than during. some previous sea-
sons. Those that were given
there, however, were quite of the
highest caliber and frequently had
significance beyond the imme-
date performance. Such a pro-
gram in particular was that
given by the remarkable Teach
erS' Chorus OF Prague, CzechoSlo-
vakia. A program given there
that it is hoped may blossom into
further development was the
sinf1onetta concert Of rare old
music presented by q group Of
Washington musicians Of which
the members of the National
String Quartet formed a definite
nucleus and which was con-
Quoted by Kurt Hetzel.
r. ks& ~
THERE are those who feel that
L Washington misses many
things that the metropolis enjoys
in the way Of music. It is true
that Segovia, the great guitarist;
La Argentina, the dance sensation
of the past season, and certain
other individual artists have not
yet, come this way, although La
Argentina is among the artists
listed for appearances in Wash
ington next year. Also, of course,
the population of washington
could not possibly begin to pa
tronize the great number of mu-
steal activities put on in New
York during a season. However,
when reviewing the season just
concluded, it would seem that in
the list of about 100 significant
musical events offered in the Ma
tional Capital, many Of the high
lights of the New York season also
were presented here.
Speaking operatically, Wash
ington had IL operas presented by
three leading companies of Amer
lea. The earliest season, in No.
vember, was that OF the American
Opera Company At that time
Washingtoniails heard a very
good, rnodernfSed version Of Bizet's
"Carmen a picturesquely set
and well done performance of
Martha, and the established
favorite of this eolnpany's per-.
Torrance, the faust" with the
distinguished settings contrived
by Robert Edmund Jones. All, OF
course, in acceptance with this
company's policy OF opera In the
language Of its. audience. |" Also,
all performers were young Amer
leans and the emphasizing Of any
particular stars. was avoided as
far as possible.
The German Grand Opera Com
pany came to washington in late
January and early February,
bearing the burden of initial false
representation by the earlier
manager. Mr.. Hurok and Nine.
-Gadski between them, however,
took over what had proved a f1as-
CO in New York-according to-the
critics-and developed an adj
mirable touring company, which
won such recognition in WASH
tngton and elsewhere in the courl-
try that it is planning another
big season for next year. This
company brought the first COM
plete performance of Wagner's
"Ring DIES Nibelungen" to the
National Capital of the United
States, for which many Wash
ingtonians have : volubly ex-
pressed their thanks. The COM
pany also put on very fine per-
Torrance of Tristan und Isolde"
Mr.. Hurok has announced that, i'll
the coming season, they will pre-
sent THE Flying Dutchman"
(Which has not been given before
in Washington and Mozart's
Don Giovanni" (which, if recol-
lection serves correctly, also will
have local premiere.
The end of April the Metropoli-
tan Grand Opera Company Of
New York presented, the "hit" Of
their current New York season
The revival of MasSenet's "Manon,"
with L-crezia Bori, Beniamino
Gigli and Giuseppe de Luca In the
leading roles. They also gave
two of the most popular Italian
operas with Rosa Ponselle in the
leading roles and "Cavalleria's'
inevitable twin, II Pagliacci," in
which Edward Johnson won new
admiration here for his histrionic
ability. It Is hoped that next year
when the newly incorporated
Washington Opera Association,
Inc, presents the New York COM
pany they will give some newer
works or, again, some interesting
revival of a work that has not
been heard in the Capital for the
past few years. It is known that
Mics popcol1o &c cfYdyirao roles
both in Verdis little known opera,
'TLuisa Miller" and in Mozart'S
Don Giovanni" Also, Signor