Evening star., 1929-06-30
M u S I c.
BY HELEN FETTER.


4 has continued into the Sum-
ner, there seems to be a general
trend toward unusual combina-
tions utilizing ballet groups, and
also to much more chamber
music. Such indications are shown
not only in Washington, but also
in the larger cities. A much
heralded event of the season 1928
% in Philadelphia was the Ameri-
can premiere of Oscar Wildes
"Salome" as ballet with muSi-
cal setting by Henri Elkan and
conducted by Mr. Elkan, Novem-
Der is, with the Philadelphia
Grand Opera Co. 1t was dazzling
in its spectacular stage effects. but
not marked with great originality.
The recent announcement of
the merger Of this opera company,
with the Curtis Institute of
Music, of which Mrs. Edward w.
Box is founder and organizer,
suggests that an even more sig
nificant program will be outlined
for the coming season. Mary
Garden is to make her first ap-
pearance with the company early
in the season in MaSSenet'S opera,
lie Jongleur de Metre Dame"
Other noted stars, including many
Americans, will appear in the
operas to be given during the COM
ing season.
In New York an outstanding
sensation of the season just
closed was the dancer, La Argen-
tina, whose Spanish programs
were so well liked that she had
to double the original number of
scheduled programs. She is now
delighting Partisan audiences, ac-
cording to latest reports, and will
appear in Washington next
Winter.
The New York season closed in
a particular blaze of glory and
publicity surrounding the Ameri-
can premiere of StravinSkiS bal
let. Lies Noces." It was doubly
billed with Monteverdi's aged
opera about Clorinda and Tancred.
The following night, Irene Levi
Sohn's remarkable ballet inter-
probation of Richard Strauss tone
poem, Elm Helden-Leben," with
orchestral reading by the Cleve-
land Symphony, under Sokoloff,
created vet a second sensational
finale to the season. 1t provided
many writer's on musical subjects
with material for comment for
weeks afterward, even including
comments from European writer's.
And still another ballet sensation
of the year 1928-29 was provided
in the Revolutionary Russia group
of dances performed by the Dun
can Dancers, who came here from
Moscow.
In Washington, too, there were
distinct evidences that the ballet
was arousing new interest in its
wider scope of mining and inter-
probation. Only two professional
groups outside of Washington ap-
peared here this season, but both
were we'll received. The Adolph
Bohm Ballet t7on generally admir-
ing comment and showed, eSpe-
cially in the work by Agnes George
de Mile, the new turn toward
characterization through ballet.
Her DegaS sketches and " '49" will
not soon be forgotten. Also M.
Bohm's own work and the general
excellence of his ballet groups in
traditional compositions struck a
high water mark not touched
locally since the last appearance
here of Pavlowa and her ballet.
The Doris Niles Ballet was in
tereSting, primarily for its Span
ish color and the delightful play
ing of the group of seven guitar
lists who appeared in that section
of the ballet program.
Angina Enters, character inter-
prefer through the dance, won
great appreciation from her local
audience in a benefit program.
WASHINGTON has had un-
w usually rich fare in the
chamber music programs this sea-
son. Four string quartets, several
trioS, and less usual combinations
of instruments are listed in the
Is major events presenting this
most exacting and muSicianly
type Of music. Of them all, two
string quartetS dominate. The
Roth String Quartet of Budapest,
Hungary, which made its Ameri-
can debut at Mrs. Coolidge's festi-
val at Pittsfield, Mass. early last
Fall, appeared few weeks later
in Washington in program at
the Library of Congress. This is
an unusually artistic and balanced
quartet. There is the vigor in tone
that might well be expected of
its youthful members, yet the
careful blending of tones in
polished phrases Is an equally i'm
pcrtant characteristic of this
quartet. The return of the "Roths"
next year is eagerly awaited.
The supreme quartet event of
the year was the public farewell
program for the National Capital
given by the famous Flonzaley
String Quartet, so long and so
Justly established as fine muSi-
cal group that it had long since
become an international inStitu-
ton. This farewell program was
beautifully played and given,
quite appropriately, under the
auspices of the Community In
stitute of Washington. 1t was
really a gala event. Later, the
newly organized Friends of Music
in the Library of Congress en-
ioyed a special program given by
the FlonzaleyS and Harold Bauer.
Another newly visiting quartet
was the Swastika String Quartet
of the Curtis Institute CT Music, a
pleasing group of young musi-
Clans, who are to be especially
commended for putting the works
of Americans. such as Charles
Critics, on their programs along
with the classics.
The National String Quartet of
Washington appeared with mark
ed success in quite a number OF
aava0roy,oc IL, tho nitU this season