Evening star., 1938-07-17

ance of the summer concert season.
with the National Symphony in an
all-orchestral program. The concerts,
given through the cooperation Of
the National Capital Parks division
of the National Park Service, will begin
at 8 PM.
The program for tonight's concert
includes the great aria, long associ-
ated with the memory Of Caruso,
Rachel, quand du Seigneur" from
Halevys opera, La Juive," and two
songs, Torelli's "Tu Lo Sal" and Oley
Speaks Morning" to be sung by Mr.
Peerce. Mr.. Ganz will open the pro-
gram with Weber's overture to "Ober-
on" and will continue with Beethoven's
First Symphony. The remainder of
Sundays program includes the prelude
to Act l of Wagner's "Lohengrin"
the ballet music from Massenet's
opera, lie Cid" Strauss Emperor"
waltz and Tchaikovsky's "Marchs
Slav."
ON WEDNESDAY night, Mr.. CAM
will present as his principal Of
fering, the great D Minor Symphony
Of CeSaer Franck. The first Washing
ton performance Of, the suite from
Howard Hanson's opera, Merry
Mount" will be included in the pro-
gram. Other compositions to be heard
are Saint-Saens' Prelude to The
Deluge." the Elegie and Waltz from
Relationships String Serenade and
Liszt's LES Preludes"
Mr.. CAM has won wide Washing
ton following through his previous
appearances as quest conductor of
the National Symphony. The first
occasion was during the first Sunset
Symphonies" season in 1885 and the
second was last March, during the
orchestras seventh regular winter
season. Former conductor Of the st.
Louis Symphony Orchestra and now
head OF Chicago Musical College, Mr..
CAM has won equal fame as conduct
or, virtuoso pianist. composer and
pedagogue. He Is the only conductor
In the present summer series who
also conducted the orchestra in the
1885 summer season.
Mr.. PIERCE, who will make his
Washington debut with the Ma
tional Symphony's Sunday concert,
has had one Of the most spectacular
careers it has been the lot of any
singer in recent times to enjoy. Dur
ing the last winter he received the
supreme recognition of his accom-
plishment when he was chosen three
times by the great Arturo Toscanini
to sing as soloists with the N. B. C..
Orchestra. One Of these occasions was
the broadcast of Busoni's "Rpndo
Arlecchinesco." The other two were
the special Carnegie Hall performances
OF Beethoven's Ninth Symphony"
and Verdi's Requiem given under
Toscaninfs baton.
Mr.. Peerce's achievement is all the
more amazing when 1t Is realized that
MS career as singer began only q
scant five years ago. Born in New
York, the young Peerce quickly real
lied that he wanted to make his career
in the music field. He began with the
study Of the violin, did anything that
would bring him into contact with
music. Sometimes there would be an
opportunity for him to sing, and he
made the most Of it.
But it was not until 1888 that he
was able to devote his entire time to
his voice, which by that time was
realized to be of exceptional quality
and brilliance He applied himself
diligently to work as a pupil of Emilio
Roxas. Recognition came when Sam
uel L. Rothafel, known to the Amer
ican movie public as Roxy" dis
covered his talent and sent him to
Emo Rapee, conductor of the Mu-
sic Hall of the Air
Young Peerce made an immediate
hit. The training proved invaluable,
as he was called on to master in the
weekly programs such widely divergent
items as Wagnerian roles, like Sieg-
mund in die Walkure," Italian op-
cratic srias, ballads and art songs,
German lieder.