Evening star., 1938-09-04
John Powell
1nSymphony
Series Here
Composer.P Pianist
Is Among Noted
Soloists.

w Ala nAA al IASIAS POlACy WOIAcO Out
w by DR.. Hans Kinder that ac-
cords a definite place in each season
for the works Of American composers,
the National Symphony Orchestra will
this winter present to Washington au-
diences the distinguished American
composer pianist, John Powell, in a
concert including some OF his own
compositions.
Recently honored by being invited
to play one of his own compositions
with the N. B. c. (ToscaninD Orch
estra, Mr.. Powell will appear with the
National Symphony on Sunday, jan
uary 20. in Constitution Hall. The
concert Is one OF the series Of IL Sum
day programs to be presented during
the season. In addition, there will be
another series Of eight midWeek pro-
grams and two extra performances Of
the National Symphony Orchestra
with the Ballet Russo de Monte Carlo,
Leonide Massine, artistic director, on
November Is and IT.
Born in Richmond, Va, in 1882, the
son of the head of large girls school,
John Powell from early childhood
showed strong interest in music. His
mother, the musical member OF the
family, traced her ancestry to Nichols
Lanier, court musician to Charles I of
England.
After studying piano with members
of the family and other teachers in
Richmond, his progress on the instru-
ment was so rapid 1t was decided to
send him to Europe to complete his
studies. In 1902 he went to Vienna,
where he became a pupil Of Leschetizky
and developed to artistic maturity. In
1907 he made his debut with the
Vienna Tonkunstler Orchestra as
pianist. Sensationally successful, it
inspired the young American to make
a concert tour Of the Continent Five
years later. making his American
debut, he was already recognized in
the musical world as one Of the great
planists Of America.
During the years when he won fame
as a virtuoso pianist the urge to COM
pose gripped John Powell's imagina-
ton, and it is as composer that he
has made his greatest reputation.
Among his best-known and most wide
ly played works are Negro Rhapsody"
for piano and orchestra, In Old Vir-
ginia" AT the Fair" "Natchez-on-
the-Hill," Set of Three" and Sym
pnony," all OF which are also orchestral
compositions In addition he has writ
ten choral and chamber music
Mr.. Powell completed his Negro
Rhapsody in 1918 and he himself
played the piano part in the first per-
formance under the baton OF Dr. Wal
ter Damrosch. The occasion at
tracted international interest in him
as a front-rank American composer.
According to John Tasker Howard,
Mr. Powells work is Significant for
a number Of reasons First, because
he is an excellently equipped musician
with something definite to say. and
able to say it, and because his mu-
sic is prompted by a primal urge
Exponent Of American music, Mr..
Powell is critical OF certain decadent
tendencies in the modern musical
field. However. music is not his only
interest. Mr.. Powell is a specialist N
other scientific fields, particularly that
Of astronomy
The most outstanding list Of guest
soloists ever to appear with an or
chestra in Washington is included in
the National SynlPhonys schedule for
next season.
The midweek series OF eight con-
certs includes Lauritz Melchior, tenor,
November 9, Myra Hess. pianist, No
vember %; Mischa Elman, violinist,
December IA; orchestra programs,
December % and January II; Rosa
Ponselle. soprano. February g; Walter
Gieseking. pianist, March 8, and final
concert, April r.
Dates and soloists in the first Sun
day series of six concerts include:
Moriz Rosenthal. pianist, October 80;
Lucille Manners, soprano November
27; Marjorie Lawrence soprano, jan
uary IS; orchestra program February
II; Ruth Posselt, violinist, March II,
and Easter program. April g.
The second Sunday series of six con-
certs includes the following dates and
soloists; Vienna Choir Boys, Novem-
Der 10; orchestra program. December
18; John Powell. pianist, January %;
orchestra program. February 26; Pro
Arte Quartet Of Brussels, March 26,
and annual request" program,
April is.
Season ticket reservations are now
being taken in the offices of the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra Associa-
ton. I'LL Woodward Building. Tickets
for the ballet performances will 60 on
sale when the National Symphony box
Office reopens in Julius Garfinckel g.
Co.'S store early in the fall.