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

number of events scheduled. j
Is Just as well. Last month wa
probably the first time in all tn
music history of the Nations
Capital that two organized oper
companies of professional stand
ing ever gave two seasons Of fou
grand operas each within tw
weeks OF each other in Washing
ton. In addition there was
maximum number of concert at
fractions, making IS events O
prime Importance muSically il
January. February has IL i'm
portant concerts announced. I
is possible that this number vii
be slightly increased with late,
announcements, but it is improb
able that the total will come any.
where near that reached las
month.
THE snow is flying on mac
wings as this is written, vet
even so, there are definite sign.
musically that Winter is paSsins
and Spring is almost here. The
first announcement of the plans
for the annual May festival OF
choral music is given elsewhere
on this page, with the initial re-
hearsal dated February IL. It Is
news to musical Washingtonians
that the Friends of Music of the
Library Of Congress have Joined
the large organizations sponsor
ing this event. The cooperative
interest Of this organization
should be significant in establish
ing the distinctivenesS of the
music sung at these festivals on
the highest of levels.
Another Spring-like indication
is found in the announcement by
Mrs. Lawrence Townsend that her
morning event this Wednesday
closes her series of programs for
the current season.
WASHINGTON is to enjoy three
symphony orchestra pro-
grams in February, with perhaps
a fourth still to be definitely list
ed by the newly organized Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra Of
this city.
Mr.. Koussevitzky brings the
Boston Symphony Orchestra for
Its only appearance here, Tues
day. This orchestra is to make a
European tour and is cutting
down its schedule Of concerts OUT
side its native city.
Henri Verbrugghen is to lead
the Minneapolis Symphony Or
chestra in a program February
ID. This will be the first visit Of
this orchestra here since Febru-
airy 8, 1927. The program given
then is still pleasantly remer-
bered.
The Philadelphia Symphony
Orchestra is to give its fourth and
final program here this season
February 10 under the baton of
OSSip Gabrilowitsch, who con-
Quoted the program January 81.
\
THE State of Minnesota is well
represented here musically
this month. Another group from
that State, the famous st. Olaf
Choir from Mortified, is to sing
here Wednesday night. This is
the pioneer Of all a capella
choirS in the United States. The
choir has toured ANNUALLY since
1911 in the interest Of better
church music and has given IS
concerts in Europe with brilliant
success.
The st. Olaf Choir recently was
invited to participate IN the fes-
tivitieS concentrating the 900th
anniversary Of the establishment
Of Christianity in Norway. The
choir will sail for Europe June %
TO take part in these festivities.
OPERATE favorites predomi-
nate in the list of singers who
are to give recitalS here in Febru-
airy. Rosa Raisa and Giacomo
Rimini, team Of leading stars
from the Chicago Grand Opera
Co., who, incidentally, also are
matrimonially co-starred, will give
an operate recital here Saturday
night.
It is interesting to remember
that when Nine. RaiSa was in
Washington three years ago with
the last visit here of the Chicago
company, she told how she came
to have such an apparently Latin
name when in reality she is of
Polish birth. It seems that her
first name was RaiSa, the Polish
version OF Rosa. Her last name
was a typical, unpronounceable
Polish name - unpronounceable,
that is, to the average American.
The singer was In a group with
the great Campanini discussing
stage names. The famous Italian
inger-director turned to her and
said, "Raisa, RoSa-ah, but Rosa
RaiSa, what a fine combination
that would be as nom de thea
teri" Having already had con-
siderable trouble with her own
difficult surname, the soprano
took Immediately to his sugges-
ton. It seemed particularly IA
vorable, as her first definite ope-
ratio success was in Italy, and it
was in that sunny land that she
first met Rimini.
Rosa PonSelle, who had to can
eel one concert date here this
month due to having to prolong
her time at the Metropolitan
Opera in New York as her illness
delayed her beginning there as
originally scheduled, is to sing
here February 81. Beniamino
Gigli, who cannot be heard here
too often, comes for his second
time this season February %
Emma Otero, the youthful Cuban
coloratura soprano who won
much admiration in her debut
here with Mrs. Townsend's pro-
gram earlier this year, is another