Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-18
M U
THE STRADIvARIUs QUARTET.

THE STRADIvARIUS QUARTET.
A new organization made its local
debut yesterday when the Stradivarius
String Quartet gave a program in the
chamber music auditorium of the Eliza
beth Sprague Coolidge Foundation at
the Library of Congress yesterday after
noon. A capacity audience received
the performance of this quartet with
warm applause.
Late last Spring, when the famous
Flonzaleys were closing their inStru-
ment cases after their positively final''
farewell tour. Alfred Pochon, second
violtnist Of that group, announced the
formation Of new quartet-the
StradivaT1us String Quartet.
The personnel includes three mu-
sicians very well known here in APP
pearance with other chamber music
organizations. The least familiar MEM
Der was Gerald Warburg. violoncellist,
who Is the son of the multi-millionaire.
Young Mr.. Warburg showed an amaz-
ing command both of artistic expression
and aetalent richly developed for SO
young a musician. He played the
great Cremona maker of instruments
in l725. 1t is said to have the valua-
ton of about $4,000.
The first violinist Of the group is
Wolfe WolhnSohn, formerly heard here
frequently as first vicliniSt of the
Lenox String Quartet. Mr.. Wolflnsohn
plays the mellow-toned Titan" violin
which Stradivari made in IT'S. He
s-cmS to have gained considerably in
colorful Interpretation and to have
complete understanding of all the pos
sihilities OF this beautiful instrument.
Mr.. Pochon, who plays second violin, is
obviously the authoritative member of
the group from point of view Of expert
ence and thorough knowledge of the
entire field Of chamber music His in
strument, the Spanish" violin which
Stradivari Is said 10 have made in 1923
was a hitting companion for the
'Titian." Nicholas Moldavan. viola
player, was heard here first in that
chair with the Lenox Quartet and.
later, with the Flonzaleys.
The remarkable thing about these
Tour musicians playing four of the most
valuable stringed instruments in ex-
1stence is the fine tonal coordination
that has been achieved within less than
year OF playing together. Also, each
member seems to bring out the beauties
Of his particular instrument.
The opening number yesterday was
Beethoven's String Quartet in F major.
opus ID, No. l." It seemed that as the
players progressed from one movement
TO the next they also increased in the
completeness of their ensemble balance
and In Interpretation. Mr.. Wolfinsohns
violin frequently sang eloquently above
the rest, but there were moments. espe-
cially the duet passage. for first violin
and viola, with the other two instru-
Inents as tonal background, in the third
movement when the blended tone was
delightful. The players seemed to give
even more beauty to the last two move
ments of Brahms String Quartet in
Q minor. opus 81, No. l." which closed
the program.
A well-chosen middle number was the
coup of three sketches from Moussorg-
sky's Picture at an Exhibition" arr
rNaged for string quartet by Mr.. Po-
clon. Particularly pleasing was the
abusing sketch entitled Market Cos
SIPS The mysterious and romantic
qIe lities of "An Old Castle" also were
cfN rmingly brought out. It was an
at rnoon of rich music on rich instru-
mdats performed by quartet that vii,
de3erve a place in the front rank o.
the increasing number of chamber
muAic quartets. H. F.