Evening star., 1938-10-16
TOSCAN|N| OPENS
BROADCAST SERIES
Elite Audience Attends
Orchestra Concert in
Radio City.
BY ALICE EVERSMAN,


NEW YORK, Oct l5.-The first Of
this seasons series Of world wide
broadcasts by Arturo Toscanini and
the NJ B. c. Orchestra took place to-
night in the historic studio 8 in Radio
City before an audience which repre-
sented the elite Of the artistic, the So
cial and the business world This dra-
matte event was staged by the greatest
and most beloved orchestra conductor
Of the day and the special orchestra
assembled for the play of his inter-
pretative powers.
As Toscanini stepped forth briskly
to his place, with one accord the studio
audience and orchestra rose to greet
him applauding. After brief ac-
knowledgement, the maestro turned
to his men with quick uplift Of the
baton and the concert began.
The first number was a "Fantasie
on = Theme Of Thomas Tallis." by
Vaughan Williams. This noble set
ting Of the Second Psalm by the 18th
century English ecclesiastical writer
found a sympathetic arranger in the
great present-day English composer
whose father was a clergyman. With
vigorous gestures. Toscanini drew out
the poignanty rich harmony or ten
derly guides the solo voices in pas
sages of penetrating sweetness
Toscanini in action has been often
pictured but the reality gripped both
orchestra and audience With hyp-
motto authority his right hand cre-
ated the passages, sharp and forceful
one moment and soothingly gentle at
another, while the index finger of his
left hand darted lightly at one Sec
ton or another or the open palm
hushed to softness or closed in power
full vibration. But it was the man
self who glowed with fervor that can
flame to a white heat and who liter
ally created music with magic baton
that dominated at all times.
Orchestra Plays Superbly.
His reading of the Brahms Third
Symphony" was marvellous illustration
of his brilliancy. The changing moods,
the flow of every phrase, the grandeur,
the vigor and the beauty were nodded
before the eyes. And the orchestra
under the spell of phrase-carvins
wand, played superbly. The maestro
urged the orchestra to its feet to share
the tumuE Of applause
Then followed two charming num-
bers by his countryman. Martucci-
"Notturno" and "Novelletta." Grace
full and fluent in melody, it was re-
fashioned under the inspiration Of
Toscaninis understanding genius.
And in the gripping mood of passion
and exhultation Tchaikowsky's dra-
matte and emotional overture fantasy,
Romeo and Juliette," the concert end
ed. The man who ranks foremost
among interpreters had concluded his
message of musical beauty to the world
Before the concert, the atmosphere
was tense with expectation in the ar
tistic simplicity of the famed N. B. c.
studio with its silver chairs and rose
colored upholstery. The favored list
eners had gathered together to assist
at the er-astounding marvel, the
union Of art and science.
In other large cities, in quiet subur-
ban villages, in lonely far-away places,
all over the world other listeners sat
waiting, noting the steady movement
Of time toward the scheduled hour Of
10 o'clock. In the communion Of in
terests the audience Of studio 8-H and
vast unseen multitude defying bar
riers Of space and nationality waited
for the appearance Of just one man
Arturo Toscanini. For a magic hour
and half. the world forgot its differ
ences in the beauty he brought through
his art.
Hall Accommodates 1900.
me stage whereon this niomentotls
event took place dominates the room.