Evening star., 1936-07-18
.HUMOR APPEALS
TO WALLENSTE|N
Director for First Sunset
Symphonies Proves Easy
to Interview.

Alfred Franz wallenstein, dis
tinguished American conductor and
cellist, leaned back in his chair,
grinned at circle Of newspaper re-
porters and announced he would
rather swap yarns than be inter-
viewed.
This is all to formal" said the 81
year-old artist, who is here to direct
the symphony orchestra of the Wash
ington Summer Concerts Association
in its first three sunset symptom
les" at the Water Gate of the Ar
lington Memorial Bridge. The first
concert is scheduled for tomorrow
evening at 8 o'clock
But it wasn't a formal interview,
really-not after that first smile. If
any one in the circle expected the
young artist to fit the popular con-
ception of the temperamental con-
ductor, he was disappointed.
As he walked into his hotel last
night to greet the waiting reporters,
Wallenstein looked like the sort of
fellow you'd expect to see trying out
for any Olympic berth. Athletic in
frame, he could pass for a young
college student any day.
Wallenstein, OF course, did not ex-
pect to deprive the reporters of their
interview, but neither did he plan to
let the evening slip by without get
ting few yarns out Of the way.
There was the time, for instance,
he was making an extensive tour as
cello soloist. (He began playing the
cello in public at the age of 81 He
had an advance man" whose duty
it was to go into each town a few
rays ahead to let the townsfolk know
Wallenstein was coming.
The press agent, however, always
on the alert, discovered that business
always was better If II he billed"
the American-born cellist as a Dan
ish, Polish, French or German artist
Or whatever nationality was DOM
inant in that particular town. The
press agent brought himself to ruin,
however.
THE funniest-and last-job he did
for me was the time he went to the
wrong town and put posters all over
the place" Wallenstein said. II had
20 let him go after that"
Wallenstein, who at the age Of 13
was accompanist for the renowned
Russian dancer, Pavlowa, on a South
American tour, said that during his
recitals on his many concert tours,
he used to count the house" while
the pianist played the opening scores
Of the concerto.
One of Wallenstein's earliest jobs
was teaching his hero, Charlie Chap
lin, how to play the cello. He was
about IA years old then.
When the conversation drifted into
more serious veins, the conductor said
he believes the radio has made tre-
mendous strides in developing the
love for good music, and that it is the
only field that Is giving the younger
American musicians a real chance.
American have to fight like dogs to
get anywhere in the musical world, be-
cause musicians of foreign countries
have always been considered superior"
he said. Right now we have greater
talent here than on the other side of
the ocean"
Wallenstein said that probably the
only way in which America will bring
classical music and symphony orches-
tras to a popular plane will be to levy
q small music tax"
Lets do away with this idea Of
a few people supporting an orches-
ira. Music should not be considered
a luxury. The younger generation
must be made music-conscious. We
should consider music Just as impor-
tant in the schools as many other
phases of education"
The conductor, who resigned his
post as first cellist Of the New York
Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra
last Spring to devote his entire time
to conducting and to the musical di-
rection Of the Mutual Broadcasting
System, said he plans to continue
playing the cello, but "only for my
own amusement" for the most part.
He had been with the Philharmonic
since 1929.