Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-07-23

insidiously working its charm, it
the world over and not find its ec
The ideals and purposes Of the his
torical figures to whose memory lasting
monuments have been erected mingle
with the i'd S and purposes OF the
heroes Of music who created and be-
queathed to us treir own monuments.
AS one sits surrounded by these mighty
reminders Of artistic, mental and moral
eminence, the bright vision Of the Cap
ital Of the Nation as the music center
of the country seems to intrude with an
tnsistence that cannot be ignored.
That others feel the unique charm OF
the place is shown by the numbers OF
strangers who join the audience and to
whom a concert at the Sylvan Theater
Is a great experience. It can be said
with major proportion of exactness
that the simple tourist to whom a
visit to Washington is an important
event of his life and the more sophisti-
Gated traveller, familiar with the Summer
music centers of the world, must alike
feel the originality and the beauty Of
the stage setting for these concerts.
The informality of sitting on the grassy
slopes (Which undoubtedly interferes
with much Of the seat Sale), the peace
and quiet in the midst of history mill
Of city, the brooding mystery of ma
ture gently disturbed by the equally
mysterious gift of music-and 'breathes
there a man with soul so dead" that
he will not acknowledge thrill and q
spiritual satisfaction in the experience
The Sylvan Theater is five years old.
1t was designed originally for the chill
dren and was to be a stage for children
productions. The second season, an
adult group or two shared the program
and won success. This led to various
mixed events in the third season with
the grown-u gaining still hrmer
footing. Last season, the green hill
sides that support the chaste shaft of
the Monument drew $4,000 persons in
July and August to listen to excellent
concerts given by the service bands,
with now and then soloist and dance
groups for which the perfect setting
offered an ideal frame for the more
artistic INSTALLATION Of the dance. Last
Summer Gilbert and Sullivan opera
'Ptnafore"-in spite of some misgiv-
ings as to productivity, was q huge
delight so that when, In June Of this
year, the Pirates Of Penzapce" was
staged 5000 lovers Of harmony turned
out to hear'it
Throughout the whole country music
has taken to the out-of doors and every
effort is made to keep the music lovers
In touch with his beloved favorites in as
pleasant and relaxing form as possible.
Other cities, however, with less natural
beauty to aid them, have, nevertheless,
made a name for themselves with the
type of music presented. The New York
Stadium, in spite of continual interfer-
ence of the weather, Is staging programs
of highest interest and artistic content.
The Ninth Symphony" Of Beethoven,
with its monumental chorus, was not
considered too heavy for the Summer
audience. The Robin Hood Dell con-
opera evenings in their schedule and
are drawing large crowds to that place
with the romantic name.
At Weston, Conn, q new temple Of
music has been started under the direc-
ton of Nicholai Sokolof and the per-
formances Of the New York Orchestra,
with soloists Of wide repute, are a mag
net that draws public from far and
near.> The Zoo concerts of Cincinnati
have added another successful attempt
at open-air grand opera to their record.
The Hollywood Bowl concerts, which for
q time were threatened with extinction,
have again come to life. The differ
ences 69tween musicians Of the orches-
trR ed the hackers of the enterprise
h6Se been Strengthened out and these
famous concerts have begun their Sum-
mer series.
These various Summer music under
takings have subsisted, with the excep-
ton of the Weston, Conn, enterprise,
for several years and survived the
crisis that has undermined some Of
the most celebrated Of our Winter in
situations. There is q great deal of
import in these facts and they act as
the directing hand pointing out the
way to take. It may be fantasy, but it
seems that the finger of that hand
is pointing at Washington and the road
leads directly to the Sylvan Theater,
so beautifully constructed in its very
heart
Now that the Sylvan Theater Is 3
years old, 1t has reached an age when
one can consider its musical future
seriously. Like a prodigy that has
shown special aptitude for music, the
Sylvan Theater has occupied itself with
music from its birth and that of kind
that prodigies take to naturally. If
other cities can support symphonic
concerts and grand opera performances
during the Summer. why not Wash
ington? The time and the place Is
gwen, IL ucSuS OllAy uttc S1olol W
see what the future Of the Sylvan
Theater might be- The drama, the
dance, grand opera, light opera, band
concert, symphonic concerts-and from
all around motorists adding these en-
tertainments to their seeking for oc-
cupation for the Summer evenings.
Already friendly neighbors from Mary
land and Virginia are finding II more
and more worthwhile to Journey to
washington for these concerts IN the
open air. Vacationists from the Middle
West, the Far West. the North and
the South would have another incen-
tive for visiting the Mecca of all good
Americans Musicologists who make
q practice Of visiting places where
good music Is specially cultivated
grinages.
OF course, all this costs money.
Heretofore the expenses Of this coura-
geous undertaking have been paid out
Of the receipts of the sale of chair
tickets. The Community Center De-
partment and the Office of Public
Buildings and Public Parks, who spon-
sor these concerts, are ambitious ana
they realize the artistic possibilities OF
the Sylvan Theater. They have done
much with small funds and could at
tain a standard above any OF the other
ventures if they had sure sum to
operate on.
If the Sylvan Theater could have q
small subsidy what wonders could be
ACCOMPLISHED, for artistic talent Is
cheap in the Summer time. With an
expansive program that would include
the different departments of art. the
sylvan Theater would be an irresistible
drawing card for the city. Hotels,
shopkeepers, ETC., would profit by that,
so there Is o material side worthy OF