Evening star., 1936-07-27

"HE setting of the Water Gate
was serenely beautiful last eve
ming, with a cloudless back
L drop of dark blue heavens
lighted only by the still half moon and
a few faint stars, for the first concert
to be directed by Antonia Brico, noted
woman orchestra conductor, whose
local debut was made in the same
place last Summer. Under Miss
Bricos inspired leadership. two
masterpieces of the great Beethoven,
Strauss magnificent Death and
TRANSPORTATION" and Wagners musi-
cal accompaniment to the home
going of the gods to Valhalla trans
ported the throngs of listeners to
another and better realm of thought |
and imagination.
With such a program before her,
Miss Brico, suffering intensely from |
the strain of conducting with two |
broken ribs, did a heroic piece of |
work and with such complete sub
mersion in the Interpretation of the |
music that no one would suspect the |
handicap under which she was labor
ing Miss Brico's understanding Of
Beethoven is both profound and
deeply sympathetic so that one feels
the innermost meaning of his COM
positions is brought forth and so
dismantled of all bombast that to even !
the least analytical its content is
clear and enjoyable.
The more dramatic side of Bee
thoven was represented in the over
Iure to "Coriolanus" and the "Eroica
Symphony" the later departing for a
moment from its tragic tone for the
strangely gay scherzo and trio. The
orchestra gave both compositions
noble reading, in which the carefully
developed phrases built up a structure
strong, stirring and full of grandeur.
Under Miss Brico's direction the diff
ferent sections of the orchestra speak
not as instruments but as specially
toned voices whose color advances
or recedes as in a skillfully woven
tapestry.
In the symphony. the orchestra was
successful in the Marcia Funebre"
in creating and sustaining the in
tention announced in its first theme.
A closer unity of idea was needed
such as brought a fine feeling of
cohesion in the other movements.
But in the vivid and descriptive
work of Strauss, the alternating light
and shade that grows into a magni-
ficent burst of glorious color, were
splendidly outlined in the finest bit
Of interpretive playing the orchestra
has done so far. A brief solo passage
for violin was played by Alexander
Levin, who occupied the first chair
in the absence of Mr.. Gittleson. The
same fine spirit of the Strauss inter-
probation was carried over into the
excerpt from Wagner'S "Das Rhein-
gold" which concluded the program.
The soloist last evening was Marie
Budde, lyric soprano of operatic ex-
perience, who was heard in the aria
from "Pagliacci" and Micaela's aria
from Carmen" Although no micro
phone was used for the soloist, the
clarity of her voice carried to the
farthest point except for the lower
tones which were less ringing under
the circumstances surrounding the ar
rangement of the platform. Miss
Budde's range Is wide and she reaches
the heights with ease, while bringing
to her singing nicely controlled
warmth of feeling and artistic express
sion. The spontaneity of the applause
which recalled her several times
showed how well the audience liked
her and hinted desire to hear more.
This fourth concert of the Summer
series was the most outstanding so far
in point of selected program, the work
of the orchestra and the presence of
Miss Brico. who was given something
like an ovation on her appearance and
enthusiastically expressed appreciation
after each number. She will direct
again on Wednesday and Friday eve
nings the soloist on Friday, not
hitherto announced, being Norman
Frauenheim, who will play LISTS
Hungarian Fantasy" for piano and
orchestra.