Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-18

( has interest for all who
are concerned in musical
~ affairs is the state of the
concert business" With the ad-
vent of radio shadow threatened
the concert activities that had not
appeared on the horizon since the
sun of the photograph record bus
mess had gained its first glory in
the sky and then declined into the
dance record field, obliterating the
chance of rivalry in the definite
loss of interest in the star" rec
ordS.
When the radio presented such
great artists as were in the first
rank of concert work fairly regu-
larly in programs given wide
broadcasting, again the concert
business seemed definitely threat
ened. Managers hustled about
getting new ideas to exploit to at
tract audiences to whom the ap-
peal of a single concert star on a
program was no longer potent.
Sigmund Spaeth organized a
group of eight famous managers
in New York to arrange what has
proved a highly successful cam
paign of carrying famous artists
to small communities never before
privileged to hear these artists
first hand. The matter was ar
ranged through community budget
plans and by the simple and al
ways expedient method of genu-
inc cooperation. Some individ-
ual managers built up novelty
programs and ensemble" groups.
Sol Hurok surrounded the cou-
rageous and always enthusiastic
Nine. Gadski with group of well
chosen younger soloists to give
some Wagnerian opera programs
In concert form. Several ballet
groups have been presented in
different styles of programs from
those of the old school. other
things have been done to try and
literally put pep" into the stand
ardized concert programs. Very
! few artists are presented in the
regular straight concert program
or recital, in which no assisting
, artist, unless it be an accompanist
gives variety to the program.
NOV, at the end of the 1928-2e
season, several weeks before
the beginning of the season 1929
80, it is particularly interesting to
review the opinions of various in
dividuals prominent in different
phases of the music profession
and evolve a mental picture of the
concert business situation as ii
seems to be at this time.
Within the last 10 days the fol-
lowing opinions have been vouch-
Safed to the writer Of this column
in New York City and at Schroon
Lake, N. Y:
George Brown of the WolfSohn
Bureau, recently affiliated with
Judson's, told of the daily line
that passes through their offices
that is composed of hundreds OF
young Americans, earnest and en-
thusiaStic in their conviction OF
their fitness for success in the
concert field. Most of them have
been we'll trained, too. and not a
few have real personality. Yet few
can be taken.
"The grit and persistence of
these young people are admirable,
yet at the same time these very
qualities seem so i'll placed In most
cases." said Mr.. Brown, for we
know that the few great artists
who already are at the top are
going to hold on as long as posi-
Bile and the competition of the
Young, unknown artists is so great
that we know only those who have
some stroke of absolute luck and
the backing of some influential
person, or else a lucky break by
some clever publicity, are liable to
get in. Sometimes you see So
called artist seeming to ride the
crest of the wave of success and
YOU wonder how in the world he,
or she, ever got in Other times
you hear a great talent and find
the artist also equipped with per-
sonality and other essential quail
ties and yet he never gets the
right break to penetrate to his
audience. Take such case as the
dancer who was the musical SEN
sation of Ne ;2rk last season.
La Argentina been over here
for several years before and tried
various times to get a good break
into the field. Audiences were
totally dead to her, and even in
New York-which, by the way, is
the biggest hick town in the coun-
try-she didn't get hand or line
of encouraging comment In the
press. Yet here she came back,
still again, last year and had to
make all kinds of extra dates to
satisfy the demands to see her.
It's the greatest gamble in the
world, this concert business.
The next day Howard Taylor OF
Judson's showed little interest in
the. problem of the concert artist.
He admitted that all his own eff
forts were concentrated on the
activities of the American Opera
Company. He said: 1--WE are aim
ing to make the American Opera
Company's performances this year
even a greater success than that
achieved when the company first
made It's appearance. 1t is an
opportunity for young American
singers who want experience and
do not have to earn a lot OF
money. OF course we cannot af-
ford to pay large salaries. I con-
slider this field most important
new endeavor for young singers.
Also we are spending good deal
of effort on securing young artists
for the sound pictures. The lower
voices we find record by far the
best in these pictures.
That same morning Alfred HUI
...nn nAitnr nf SINGING and PlaY-