Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-26
NJ u S | c
BY HELEN FETTER.

i her own way. We may listen
to European music presented in
the European fashion. When it
comes to the creative thing, how
ever, it is up to Americans to de-
velop their own talents in char
acteriStic American manner. The
very proSaic, everyday things of
life are done in a different way
and at different hours in this
country from what they are done
abroad. The mental attitude and
the cultural background of citi-
Gems of this country naturally are
not the same as those of for
.eigners. Therefore, it is but prac-
tical and sensible that, although
we can absorb and learn much
from abroad, we must work out
our own creations in our own way.
During. the month that ends
Friday WaShingtonianS have had
the privilege, of hearing the fin-
est of German operas sung with
German traditions by German
principals. Then, within two
weeks of those performances, To-
cal music lovers witnessed the
latest product of that native or
ganization, the American Opera
Company. ThiS company has
thrown aside completely European
traditions of production for some
OF the most popular operas in all
musical literature. The Ameri-
can Opera Company has Ameri-
canized the action as well as the
language Of works by Gounod, BIZ
yet and Puccini. Only young
Americans are enrolled in this
company. The atranslationS for
the Mbrettos are made by leading
American authorities on stage
diction. The settings are de-
signed by a particularly gifted
American. ~
TT MAY interest those who wit
messed one or more Of the pro-
auctions last week to know that
the following are given as the
prime objects Of this company:
/. To establish a. permanent company of
American singers. orchestra members, tech
nical and executive stan.
its andienee in the best English s trsnslS S
ton and with the most serupulous Rtten-
3. TO offer productions dramatically and
scenicaIly as attractive to the eye as they
I. To Work toward wa the development Of
an American school OF musie-drsma By Of
tering American operptic composers an out
let for their work. IS.
1t is this fourth and final aim
that is particularly interesting as
a thought to carry over into the
coming week. 1t so happens that
an orchestral version of the same
aim is the chief object Of the new
ly organized National Symphony
Orchestra, which makes its de-
but in a performance at ConSti-
tuition Hail Friday afternoon. AS
the old saying has it, "the proof
Of the pudding is in the eating"
This holds true for composition of
operas or orchestra works as well
as edibleS.
THE cream of Washington's pro-
feSSional music field has been
combed TO supply the 80 members
of the new symphony orchestra
with the necessary. technical
equipment, with such well known
local musicians as Henri Sokclov,
Max Finder, Jacob. 'RoSenblun1,
Samuel Feldman, Alden Finckel,
Robert StaSzny, Dominic IaScone,
L Henry. Paolucci, Virgilio Villa
tico, william HintZe, Jack Wish
now, Louis Colangelo, George
Gaul, George Scott. Ray Delphey,
Merlin C.. Crawford, Adolph Kon-'
rad Riehl. Alfred Manning and
others in first-chair posts.
Rudolf Schueller, the conductor,
directs the opera school of the
Cleveland Institute Of Music. He
also leads several singing So
cietieS, including the United Ger
man Singers of that city. He was
festival director of the Saenger-
fest of the North American Saeng-
erbund in 1927, on which oeca-
sion Bruno Walter, director of
the Berlin State Opera, con-
Quoted with great success the in
terlude Of the third act of Mr..
Schueller'S own opera, Monica
Vogelsang," which is to have its
premier at the Leipzig Germany
Opera. Prior to coming to Amer
lea, he was leading conductor at
the VolkSoper. Peoples OPERA in
Berlin and was director of opera
and symphony at the Opera Ma
tionala Romano at Clui, for
which he was decorated by King
Ferdinand of Rumania with the
highest honor to be given an ar
fist.
The National Symphony Or
chestra has been Endorsed by To-
cal trade and civic organizations.
One strictly American compo-
sition is to be presented on each
program given by the National
Symphony Orchestra. Friday the
work to be presented will be SYM
phonic variations on an old New
England hymn, part of the New
England Symphony" of Edgar
Stillman Kelley.
Edgar Stillman Kelley, al
though born in Wisconsin and re-
siding in Ohio, is descended from
New England ancestors, so it is
not strange, perhaps, that he
should have composed a New
England Symphony whose many
productions by orcheStras all over
the country as well as in Eu-
rope have brought considerable
recognition to DR.. Kelley.
This composer has attended
several preliminary rehearsals of
his work by the National SYM
phony and is returning to Wash
ington this week for the concert
Friday. His works range from a
symphonic treatment Of Mac
beth" and a stupehdous choral
version of Pilgrims Progress" to
the fanciful moods of "Alice In
Wnnderland and the Orient al