Evening star., 1938-07-19


was given. That also shows what n
and what it will do in order to enjoy
it. Quite a record for a city that
few years ago was Indifferent to the
idea of a local orchestra.
1t didn't rain too hard, of course,
and for a brief space it stopped so
that umbrellas could be lowered, but
the patrons of the Water Gate con-
cert minded it little, for they had
come to hear their orchestra led by
the first guest conductor, Rudolph
CAM. and the popular tenor soloist,
Jan Peerce. They were rewarded by
a program somewhat out of the ordi-
nary, with a new number here and
there to add to their knowledge of
symphonic music.
Mr.. CAM has the art of embelliSh-
ing scholarly understanding of
what he directs with glow of feel
ing and countless delicate effects
There is great orderliness and neat
ness about what he does, not in the
ordinary drab meaning of the phrase
but rather the supreme point of
artistry where everything must be
beautifully rounded out in order to
fit into the whole without ragged
edge visible. One Is more and more
conscious as his work progresses Of
how rewarding it will be to look back
after the completion of the presen-
tation and remember the many small
points that have contributed SO
enormously to the finished perform
ance.
Beethoven's symphony No. 1 in c
Ma jor. Op. 81" gave him plenty Of
opportunity for this gift OF his. The
orchestral voices were given their full
interplay of color, accents were prom
!nently emphasized and the shadings
went hand in hand with a splendid
development Of phrase. Although
this first symphony has not the ma
jestic sweep which chara cterizes
Beethoven when he understood his
own power in symphonic writing, it
has perfection of workmanship in
which the small things are of the
greatest Importance and it was from
this angle that Mr.. CAM in
terpreted it.
The program opened with the over
ture to Weber's "Oberon," a work
that is full of fantasy and beauty.
1t may have been the effect of the
weather but the orchestra did not
quite catch the spirit of it as it has
done in former performances nor did
the Beethoven symphony come forth
with the full freedom and vigor of
real enjoyment Working past these
two opening numbers and encour-
aged by the deep attention and
enthusiastic applause of the audience,
the remainder of the orchestral pro-
gram held that note of personal
response which is the stamp of the
National Symphony.
There was an unusually lovely
playing of the Vorspiel to act / of
"Lohengrin," where the pure, sweet
tones of the violinS floated out over
the quiet water with magical effect
The six divisions of ballet music from
| MaSsenet's lie Cid" representing the
native dances from various provinces
Of Spain, were splendidly given, the
character of each we'll stressed. The
program concluded with the fasci-
mating Emperor Waltz by Johann
Strauss and Tschaikowskys "Marche
Slave"
A veritable triumph was scored by
the soloist of the evening. Jan Peerce.
whose tenor voice is one Of the finest
of the present day. 1t is large and
free in its range, with that particular
note in it that is an ingredient of
great tenors and a warmth of feeling
capable of expressing the full range
of emotion. 1t is voice which salts
fies while it thrills. for it progresses
easily to its highest range and yet
retains it's naturalness.
His first number was a aria, "Ra-
chel. quand du Seigneur la grace
Tutelaire" from Halevys La Juive'
and the outburst of applause which it
brought forth from the audience had
to be quieted with an encore and
Mr. Peerce sang Leoncavallo'S Mat
tinata." Later in the program he
gave Torelli's "Tu 10 sal" and Speaks
Morning. and to the great JOY of
his listeners. La Donna e mobile
from 'Rigoletto'' as second encore.
Mr.. Peerce is a gifted artist and should
be heard here again.
The third concert of this summer
series. in spite of its handicap in the
way of bad weather. was decided
success and the good-sized audience
stayed to the last note. Mr.. CAM
will also conduct the concert tomor-
row evening.