Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-15
KINDER PLEASES
| LOCAL MUSICIANS
$500 Westinghouse Ap-
pIaud National Symphony
Group in Concert.

Washingtonians numbering more than
1900 showed hearty pride and genuine
enthusiasm over the performance of
the 80 Washington musicians who ap-
peared in the second concert that the
National Symphony Orchestra gave in
Constitution Hall yesterday afternoon.
The orchestra thoroughly merited this
praise, for 1t played astoundingly well,
even If one did not make allowances
for the fact that it has only been
organized for two brief months and has
been handicapped in many respects.
The program was given under the di-
rection of two guest conductors, Hans
Kinder, distinguished Dutch celliSt,
and Gustav Strube, leader of the SYM
phony orchestra of Washingtons sister
city, Baltimore.
Mr.. Kinder never has been heard
locally before as symphony orchestra
conductor. He has conducted chamber
orchestra in festivals under the Eliza
beth Sprague Coolidge Foundation at
the Library of Congress and is a great
favorite in the National Capital as an
artist on the violoncello.
He has, however. conducted per-
formances of the Philadelphia SYM
phony Orchestra and he showed yes
terday that he possessed all the neceS-
sary attributes for successful con-
ductor. He is a thorough musician,
he has the quality of leadership ana
ability to make his baton eloquent and
clear to each man in his orchestra in
suggesting the exact effect that he de-
sires, in addition he makes grace
full, dominating figure that Is compar-
able to StokowSki and KouSSevltzKy.
Musicians Enthusiastic.
It is easy to understand the unstinted
admiration and enthusiasm that one
has found in talking with the musicians
themselves over his work with them
as an orchestra. At present, the or
chestra, of which Frank j. Frost is
president, is enliSting the services Of a
series of guest conductors" to try
out" When it comes to decision in
making an organized effort for per-
formances next season under regular
conductor, one feels sure that Mr..
Kinder will receive more than passing
consideration.
The third of this series Of prelim-
mary concerts being presented this
Spring at a personal sacrifice to each
of the 80 musicians participating, with
the purpose of demonstrating that a
good symphony orchestra can be built
in Washington with local players, is to
be given in April, when the guest con-
ductor will be jacques Sammousoud,
formerly one of the most popular and
capable conductors that the Washing
ton Opera Co. ever had during its ex-
iStence in this city.
In the program yesterday the fea-
ture of the afternoon was the remark
ably good rendition of the difficult
"Passacaglia in C Minor" by Johann
Sebastian Bach. The orchestral ar
rangement used was that of A. F.
l111
performance, with StokowSki's arrange
ment, by the Philadelphia Orchestra
several seasons ago. Naturally one is
not going to make comparisons here of
the two performances, for there is no
more thoroughly established orchestral
organization in the world today than
that Of Philadelphia. However consid-
ering the few rehearSalS possible and
the demand for finest blending of tone
of all the instruments with all the
contrapuntal intricacies characteristic
of these great works of Bach, the per-
Torrance yesterday was superb
Under Mr.. Kindler's baton, a subtle.
excellently sustained pianissimo quality
was secured in the sombre music of
Grieg's peer Gynt Suite" Won
Weber'S overture to der Freischutz"
was given with professional finish and
ppolitov-Ivanoffs "Cortege du Sadar"
was a brilliant last number A rarely
heard Chant Russo" by Moussorgsky,
also was well presented.
Baltimorian Conducts.
Mr.. Strube from Baltimore took the
baton midway through the program
for performance of three short works
OF which he is the composer. Homage
to Schubert" has slightly ponderous
and lengthy opening theme; "Nocturne"
is fine, musicianly work with singing
melody and clever orchestration, and
Serenade," a lighter work, was quite
the most popular of the three. Mr..
Strube was given much applause both
in his capacity as conductor and as
cOmn0Ser H n