Evening star., 1930-11-30


afternoon when Paderewski played are still
very much with us. There was no quesCioh Du"
that Washington responded to this great arVlSI'
whose SEVENTEEN birthday anniversary seems
scarcely to have touched his hanos ana
shoulders with almost supernatural eagerneSs.
The vast and often chilly regions OF Constltu-
ton Hall have never witnessed such express
sions of approval coming the very moment the
eminent pianist stepped to the stage. All were
satisfied with the program that TINS master
presented.
In an age. too, when the artist feels that
he must give vent to the trend OF modernism;
when toward the end of program the
twentieth century is apt to be represented with
one of its mere virile musical geniuSes, II Is
something uncommon to find program barren
save of the more immortal jmmortals. Mr..
Paderewsd says he doesn't care for modern
music He also says that he thinks that the high
speed of living in this age-particula:ly the
motor cars running not only our nerves but
the quality of music as we'll He contents him.
self with what he likes. He plays what he
likes. He avoids crowds and inquisitlve people.
He considers an interview torture. He travels
in private car He never gives concert with
out having the lights dimmed, and he doesn't
consider that he should stint himself with
encores-in New York these taking on the pro-
portions of another concert-in Washington
practically the thing He is man OF
power, emotion and tireless energy. Although
his technical equipment may not rival an
Iturbi or a HorowitZ he has other things which
they haven't Could they for instance, crowd
every available inch of Constitution Hall with
breathless humanity? When they reach the
age of 70, perhaps-and again, perhaps not.
THE coming week, in the words Of one Of
&. Washington's sager lterati, is literally ''un-
paraleled' in its musical history. With the
rising of the curtain on the Beethoven festival,
which has been arranged through the courtesy
of Mr.. KoussevitSky and others, this city will
have one of the major musical thrills Of its
lifetime. A whole week Of Beethoven is some
thing to wonder at, would be the mere
appearance of the Boston Symphony alone,
playing anything that happened to strike its
fancy. Swelling, too, its ranks will be that
remarkable pianist, Myra Hess, Of whom praise
never ceases to come in punches, and Efrem
Zimbalist and Josef Hofmann, who need no
introduction There is, furthermore, morefhan
O mattering Of interest in the large chorus
that DR.. Harmed has been training, and which
rumor would accredit as being about the finest
local group of this kind ever brought together.
In spite Of many interesting musical dStr actions
70 heckle this great singing crew, 1t is said
that DR.. Harmed has kept his band together
through the many, many rehearsals with a
kindly but iron hand, with the result that
Beethovens ninth symphony Is likely to be
done ample justice.
Word from the Offices of the mighty too
indicate that all the way from Bath. Me, and
from the West people coming to COM
memorate the fiftieth Beethoven anniversary.
For Once-well, maybe twice in its lne-Wash-
1ngton has turned into q veritable music center
TO which are gravitating bag and baggage, staid
Bostoners, cynical New Workers and hordes Of
music lovers who never show themselves. except
on some such rare occasion.