Evening star., 1938-09-25
BY Alice Eversmau.

- the midst of torrential
storm that spread destruction
throughout this territory, the
Berkshire Festival of Chamber Music
began on Wednesday of this week
at the Temple of Music on South
Mountain. From all over the coun-
try crowds of music lovers gathered
to take part in the three day program
which marked also the goth anniver-
sary of the founding of these famous
festivals by Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge,
lovingly designated the fairy god
mother of chamber music"
Wherever one glanced, musical
celebrity could be recognized. Some
Of these were present at the inaugural
concert 20 years ago, while others were
frequent visitors at many of the sue
ceeding ones.
Before each of the concerts OF this
festival eager groups could be found
crowded around the hotels waiting
for the special bus or their cars to take
them the 2i2 miles to the hall.
The white-framed Temple of Mu-
sic in grove of trees on the mountain
side was beaten by driving rain on
Wednesday afternoon at the opening
concert. Furious winds forced open
doors with bang, usually In the midst
Of some effective bit of playing. But
within the gray-painted interior rose
shaded lamps, suspended from the
ceiling, shed warm glow, and friend
greeted friend and new acquaintances
were made in pleasant excitement.
The first Berkshire Festival, in 1918,
marked the beginning OF Mrs. Cool
idges activities in the cause Of cham
Der music, which has since spread to
other countries. Until 1924 the festival
was held each fall season on South
Mountain; then came gap Of four
years until 1928, another Of six years
until 1884 and four more years elapsed
until the series of this week.
That epoch-making concert Of 20
years ago opened with Beethoven
Quartet in E Flat Major, Opus 127,"
played by the Berkshire String Quar-
tet, founded in 1915 by Mrs. Coolidge
and consisting of Hugo Kortschak and
Sergei Kotlarsky, VioliniStS: Clarence
Evans. viola, and Emmeran Stoeber,
cello.
WEDNESDAYS concert began as
did that of the 10th anniversary
IN 1928 with the same quartet, played
by the same musicians with the sole
place was taken by Jacques Gordon.
Thus was the link of these anniversary
festivals kept unbroken.
Following came a delightful and
seldom heard collection OF Scotch and
Irish songs by Beethoven, sung by
the solo quartet Of st. Bartholomew
Church Of New York City, Dorothy
Baker, soprano; Saida Knox. contralto;
Lucius Metz, tenor, and Reed Ken
nedy, baritone, to an accompaniment
played by Kathleen Parlow. violinist:
Willem Willeke, cellist, and Gunnar
Johansen, pianist.
Here the first effects OF the storm
outside were felt. Suddenly the lights
went out. But the gallant artists
kept on and in the semi-dusk, which
added a special charm to the moment,
gave a performance Of rare beauty
and musical distinction.
A hurried assembling OF candles
termission solved the lighting problem
in time for the presentation of Brahms
Quintet in G Major, Opus ILL.," in
which the members of the South
Mountain Quartet, Kathleen Parlow
and Edwin Ideler, violin: Conrad
Held, viola, and Willem Willeke,
cello, were augmented by a second
viola, played by Albert Sprague Cool
idge. Delightfully."- as this number was
given, the gem Of the program was.
nevertheless, the lovely set of Brahms
. Songs Of Love" for four-hand piano
and vocal quartet. Grouped around
the piano in the candlelight, the st.
Bartholomew singers sang with easy
and finely balanced tone. supported
by the exquisitely suave and delicate
accompaniment by Mrs. Coolidge and
Gunnar Johansen. The latter, by the
way, is young Danish artist well
worth watching in his career.
THE audience rose to its feet to do
= homage to Mrs. Coolidge OH her
entrance and recalled her after the
performance to receive huge bouquet
Of roses. At this moment Charles
Power, president Of the South Noun
tain Association, signaled for silence
and in moving fashion thanked
~. Coolidge for what she has done
to encourage music. In token OF
the love and esteem in which she Is
held, Mr. Power unveiled the new
frame which had been placed around
the bronze bas relief of the bene-
factress, designed some years ago by
Henry Hudson Kitson, which hangs
on the wall beside the stage.
Thursday morning saw the sun
shining and everyone in festal mood
for what proved to be an unusually
beautiful program. The Kolish string
quartet began with Schubert'S Quar-
tet in A Minor, Opus 49," played from
memory. 1t may be only our special
prediction, but it seems that chamber
music so played gains infinitely in ex-
great reading of this beautiful work
with perfect uniformity Of intention.
The three remaining numbers were all
first performances" and all dedica-
tions to Mrs. Coolidge. There was the
strangely atmospheric and much dis
cussed Quartet, Opus g." by Anton
Won Werbern. where pizzicato and
sharply bowed notes create odd ef-
fecs; the richly hued and descriptive
'Hagiographa," or three Biblical mar
ratives by Frederick jacob. with
its three divisions. JOB" Ruth"
and Joshua" and Louis Gruenberg's
Quartet No. 2. Opus 40," powerful
and intensely dramatic work. In Mr..
Jacobs quintet for strings and piano.
Irene jacob. the composers wife, as
sisted the KoliSh quartet.
A IL three works will probably be
heard in Washington this winter.