The Washington times., 1930-11-05
STOKOWSKI IS
MASTERFUL
In RECITAL

auguration of the official music
season in the Capital City than
the Philadelphia Symphony Or
chestra with the scholarly Leo
pold StokowSki at the helm? A
Stokowski returned from a sum-
mer in Europe with many new
ideas for his concert season over
the radio and in the theater
and giving freely Of his treas
ures to his Washington audience
in whom he finds a popularity
enviable to any artist.
Hands that have always,
breathed an expression tangible
to everyone are more agile, with
the. left arm performing direc-
torial duties as fluently as the
right, Mr.. Stokowski is perfectly
recuperated.
Famous equally well for his re-
markable showmanship as his
musicianship the conductor did
not fail to leave his listeners
with something more than q
pleasant two hours at Constitu-
tional Hall. where he offered his
concert last evening under the
local management Of T. Arthur
Smith.
From Rimsky-Korsakow he bor-
rowed his musical lore of the
moment, the glorious "Sche-
heraZade," resplendent with un-
dulating rhythmS, brilliant eli
makes. fantastic pictures and
powerful silences. Using the four
movements Of this symphonic
poem to fill the first half of his
program, Mr.. Stokowski fired his
audience with an enthusiasm ana
coordination quite ripe to accept
his surprise package.
The it was left to each hearer
to decide for himself whether or
not the work is to be immortal
lied. Igor Strawinsky's lie
Sacre du Printemps," written
some II years ago, the subject Of
controversial opinion singular in
its vehemence, was the feature
of the presentation.
Fundamentally conceived in
terms of a prehistorical religious
ritual, dance, a mystical adora-
tion Of spring as the sigh of
fertility and eliminating in a
propitiary sacrifice, the opus is
perhaps too foreign to convey
any live meaning to this hearer.
Out of the great chaos Of
major and minor triadS that
shrieked against each other in
barbaric abandon, nothing could
be interpreted of the theme for
the confusion that beSet the
mind. AS an oasis in a desert,
a harmonious loveliness would
arise now and again from the
blatant, ruthless blasting Of the
horns and paroXysmal frenzy of
the violins and cellos and for
the while poetic music filled the
auditorium. Only for q fleeting
moment this refuge however, for
no sooner did the strains of
melody warm the blood, than a
Sa-'age turbulence froze it.
Perhaps this writer is still old
fashioned enough to enjoy 1nly
that which is undisguisedly
melodic, although the moderns
have heretofore been within TIE
scope of comprehension, if 1ot
overwhelming appreciation. The
Strawinsky piece however sue
ceded only in leaving one wonder
just what music will revolve into
If permitted such licenses.
The program revealed that
upon the premier Of this So
called ballet, in Paris, a storm
Of protest such as drowned the
orchestra and threatened the con-
tinuation of the performance was
the reaction of the people. While
nothing as violent as that moved
last evenings audience, their be-
wilderment .Eas obvious in their
helpless search through the pro
gram notes for some enlighten-
: ont Of this musical delirium.
Who could comment on the
artistry of the conductor or his
players? The most that can be
said is that Stokowski left his
audience with something to talk
about.
MADELINE ENSIGN.