Evening star., 1934-10-22

Yesterdays performance was tell
ing lesson in musical growth. 1t dem
onStrated not only to music lovers
who would have a civic orchestra OF
its own, but to music students also,
what perseverance in artist ideals and
faith in the ultimate outcome can ac-
complish. The road these past years
has not been easy for the conductor,
but he knew what he wanted, and
knew also that given sufficient time
it could be arrived at even with the
unpracticed material he had to start
with. There can be no fear as to the
quality o. work the orchestra can do
in the future, and the steadfaSt few
who have striven so valiantly to suS-
tain the orchestra can feel well re-
paid for their sacrifices.
The gain in polish was particularly
outstanding yesterday, evidenced in
the sureness of phrasing, fineneSs of
tonal attack and elasticity in quick
changes of color and effect. The tonal
volume was excellently balanced, with
noticeable advance in purity of pitch
in the strings. One felt the increase
of confidence of the musicians them
selves and an artistic sensitiveness
that was joy to hear. After such an
outstanding initial performance, the
musical public can look forward to
rare season in which its own symphony
orchestra will play leading part.
The program yesterday was a par
t1cularly melodious one, but that did
not make the Interpretation of it any
easier. In fact, it was such a pro-
gram in which flaws of artistry would
show up with striking ugliness, and
the least relaxation of musicianShip
would have marred the pleasure of the
listener. There was none of this.
thanks to that added understanding
OF value that the orchestra has gained.
and it can be truthfully said that
they held their auditors spellbound
through the varied type of music they
interpreted.
Cherubini's overture from lies
Abencerages" riveted the attention
not only through its own intrinsic
worth, but by the beautiful rendition
the orchestra gave it. Well built I'D
cllmaXeS in which the accomplish
ment of intention charmed with the
ease OF execution and warmth of
tone throughout, made of this lovely
and all too rarely heard number one
OF the most delightful ever included
in program.
The famous Symphony No. 5 in E
Minor" by Dvorak, known as From
the New World" was given a poignant
reading, tender, beautiful and gay,
with a largesse of volume at times
that eloquently expressed the vastness
and the simple, unaffected character
that Dvorak has so admirably caught
to visualize the elements of this new
country. With complete concentration
the audience followed the moving
measure of the largo and then with
spontaneous enthusiasm violated the
rules of symphony etiquette and
broke into unrestrained applause.
This was the highlight of the after
noon, for it meant that audience and
orchestra were in thorough COM
munion of sentiment.
The dainty and expressive morsels
of Ravel from his suite, Ma mere
d'oye," we're given with delicate shad-
ing that caught the elusive atmos-
phere of fairyland with cunning skill.
The final number. Berlioz' "Rakoczy
March," from his "Damnation of
Faust" concluded the program in
dramatic fashion, the orchestra Sus-
tanning a spirited tempo and glorious
wealth of tone. 1t was a most salts