Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-18

plan ambitious achievement
In the warmth of these early
Summer days. Flocks of practice
notes float out the windows al
home after school hours as the
recitalists prepare for the finaI
programs to be given before en-
thusiastic families and friends
Teachers are busy getting pro-
grams printed in time, arranging
for assisting Soloists and sending
out invitations. Such are princi-
pal features of music life in the
National Capital as well as else
where in the country these last
few days of music schools.
There is one important musical
event of professional standing to
be given here this week. The
Glee Club of George Washington
University will give formal con-
cert Tuesday evening at the May
flower Hotel.
This is the first program to be
presented locally in public since
the club won the national honorS
as the first glee club of the United
States. This was in the finals in
New York. Incidentally, this was
the first time the local organiza-
ton had entered the National In
tercollegiate Glee Club competi-
ton. 1t won first place with
the largest margin in the history
Of such contests-5.6 points. Yale
won second place and Ohio State
third.
It has been the practice of the
local club to devote its efforts to
music of a high order. In the
repertoire are songs by Prae-
torius, Bach, Brahms, Gounod, Sir
Arthur Sullivan and Thomas
Morley.
In training the singers particu-
BAR attention has been given to
Anesse Of rendition and beauty of
tone quality. The club numbers
50 male voices.
The club won the appreciation
Of a group Of noted Judges, in
cluding Charming lie Febvre,
ehoirmaster of Trinity Church of
New York, conductor of the Uni
versity Glee Club of New York and
OF the Downtown Glee Club; Mar
garete Dessoff, conductor of the
Madrigal Chorus Of the Institute of
Musical Arts, the Adesdi Chorus
Of Women'S Voices and the A Cap
pella Chorus of mixed voices, and
Harvey D. Gaul, composer, choral
director and music critic Of Pitts
burgh.
The George Washington Glee
Club is directed by DR.. Robert
Harmon, whose success during the
past six years in developing ar
6stic achievement and esprit de
corps has won him the respect
and affection not only Of mem
pers Of the Glee Club, but Of all
Students and alumni Of the uni
keREtty.
NTHILE children are participant
y" ing In their annual pro-
grams to show progress and en-
courage initiative, the older folk
d thxmusic world are interesting
3hemlselves In the festivals Of the
Sumner season.
The word festival 10 becoming
more and more widely used. It Is
Psing inserted into every title.
Originally It was applied to
events of the late Spring or Sum-
xner, when 1t seemed most appro-
pirate. Now, however, every con-
eeivable kind Of music event,
whether single or in a series, is
designated as q festival" The
initial meaning Of the word sug-
gests gayety and light entertain
Iaent, which Is certainly not the
character Of many music festi-
yals. Many Of these programs are
Of religious music, such as the
recent choral festival in WASH
1lgton and the Bach choir feS-
tival given this past week end in
Bethlehem. Others, in nearly
every case, feature important,
serious works, though they may
not be sacred music in every case.
Probably the most important Of
The European Summer music fes-
Gvals Is the series of Wagnerian
music dramas presented In Bay
Feuth. This year interest centerS
particularly in the conductors
rather than the works to be given.
The famous italian maestro, Ar
euro Toscanini, Is to conduct
eight performances for the first
time In Wagner's home town. His
conducting Of Tristan und
isolde" Is particularly anticipated.
He will conduct the opening per-
eormance Of "Tannhauser." The
remarkable furore created in music
circles throughout the world by
the announcement that the mas
Ger of La Scala Is to appear there
establishes q standard for these
appearances upon dizzying heights
It Is said that DR.. Kari Muck
will direct "Parsifal" and Elmen-
dorf and Siegfried Wagner will
conduct the ring" operas and
some of the productions of Tam
hauser." The latter is to have a
new setting in special honor of
the sixtieth birthday of Siegfried
Wagner June 8, although the
actual performances will be later.
For the first time these Bay
reuth productions will be broad
east by radio. They begin this
year July az with "Tannhauser'
and end August 81 with "Parsi-
fal." There will be 1ive perform
ances each of these two operas
two of the entire Ring deS
Nibelungen," and three Of Iris
tan und Isolde"
4
La MUSICIAN In washington
Julia Schelling Of the music
faculty OF National Park Semi
nary, has been invited by Sieg-
fried Wagner TO give the first lee
lures ever given in Bayreuth In
English this Summer, on the sub