Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23

y
1880 seems destined to pass
into history with a varied
= musical accompaniment, at
least so far as Washington is con-
cerned A blind violinist, Bel
gian quartet, a program of glee
club music by boys. from three
large universities, a benefit pro-
gram featuring Jimmy Melton,
youthful tenor, and the A Capella
Chorus of this city in its only
public appearance this season,
the first program by a new church
chorus, a song recital by the pop
ular Signor Gigli and the debut
locally of the National High
School Orchestra will see Febru-
airy on her way to the place where
used-up months go and welcome
March.
~ - &&&
THE coming month is even less
filed. than February with mu-
steal events of Importance. How
ever, it probably will do the same
thing this month has done, and
that is: as it progressed, find
additional programs springing
abruptly IN the, path for a hear
ing. T.
Important events listed for
March include the final New York
Philharmonic Orchestra program
here. This is reported on good
authority to be final in every
sense of the word. 1t is said that
next season this orchestra will not
come to the National Capital for
any programs. Arturo, ToScanini,
brilliant italian genius; will con-
duct the, program here March 4.
It is announced that his selec-
tions will include: the Symphony
in D Major" by Mozart; "Rondo
Veneziano," by Pizzetti, the Ital-
ian modernist; the Venusberg
music from Wagner's "Tannhau-
SER" and fBolero,"y by Ravel.
It seems too bad, under the cir
cumStances, that Signor ToSca-
mini should conduct the Tam
hauSer music rather than Iris
tan" or other Wagnerian music Of
less hackneyed hearings on this
occasion. True, the memory still
holds vivid picture of the pres
entation of the "Tannhauser"
music a couple of seasons ago by
Signor ToScanini and the Phil
harmonic. However, there is even
a richer memory of his conduct
ing of the Tristan" music on
another occasion. Also, it seems.
a bit disappointing, with the wide
field of musical composition to
choose from, that this conductor
should give another hearing so
soon after KouSSevitzky'S inter
probation of the Ravel number,
which is extremely clever writing
but not filled with inspiration. It
would be appropriate to give Res
pighi'S Fountains of Rome.
which hasn't been done here for
some time.
= + X y
A MOTHER important event for
the coming month is also or
cheStral IN nature. The National
Symphony Orchestra is to give its.
second. program under the direc-
ton ofAHans Kinder, famous
Dutch b list and conductor. Pre-
viously MIR. Kinder has been
heard here either as soloist or as
conduetoE of. chamber music
events lin : festivals given under
auspices OF Elizabeth Sprague
Coolidge at the Library of Con-
gresS.
Walter .Damrosch, veteran or
cheStra conductor and now con-
ductor . Of international radio
fame, is sthe latest celebrity to
tender his best wishes and en-
couragement to the National
Symphony Orchestra, that group
of more than 80 Washington mu-
SicianS who are rapidly rounding
into shape a symphony orchestra
for the Capital.
In a letter to Frank J. Frost.
president of the National Sym
phony, DR.. DamroSch writes that
he has heard with the greatest
interest of the effort to found and
maintain a symphony orchestra
in Washington, city of such i'm
portance to the world of music
that it is difficult to imagine it
without symphony of its own.
Il know from experience"
writes DR.. Damrosch, how diff
cult it is to set such a ball rolling,
but knowing something of your
enthusiasm and energy. am con-
WINGED that you will succeed.
Those Il cities of our country
which are now maintaining SYM
phony orchestras can give you
abundant testimony as to the vi
taliZing and beautifying force
that their orchestraS have be-
come. Now that Washington has
a proper hall for concert pur-
poses, a symphony orchestra is
the next step.
81 shall watch your progress
with the keenest interest and
hope that you viii find the right
orchestral leader endowed with
musical authority to interpret the
masters, and a tact and persua-
siveness sufficient TO induce your
well-to-do fellow citizens to en-
dow the orchestra literally.
Very sincerely yours,
WALTER DAMROSCH. -
x e n
QUEEN ELIZABETH of Belgium