Evening star., 1939-12-03
Syrnphonyin
Beethoven
Brahms Is Also to
Be Represented
With Mozart

The second concert in the series
of Beloved Symphonic Master
pieces" which proved so satisfying
to critic and layman alike in its
Inauguration four weeks ago. will
be played this afternoon by the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra, under
Conductor Hans Kinder, at 4
o'clock in Constitution Hall. To-
morrow morning the orchestra will
entrain for a Today tour, which
opens with a concert in Syracuse,
N. Y, that night.
AS high light of this afternoons
concert the National Symphony will
play Beethoven's Symphony No. S
in C Minor" and also included on
the program are Brahms Academic
Festival Overture" Mozarts "Eine
Kleine Nachtmusik" and lie Rouet
dOmphale," by Saint-Saens.
Beethoven's Fifth Symphony"
which Berlioz called "the first in
which Beethoven gives free scope
to his vast imagination is by all
odds the most popular of his SYM
phonic compositions. Yet, as Schu-
mann once said, "As often as this
work is heard, in concert or in recol-
lection, it exerts undiminished its
power over young and old" Strange
ly enough, considering its present
popularity, 1t was the subject Of Bit
ter critical controversy following its
completion and first performances
in 1907. Today some critics con-
slider it the crowning glory of pure
instrumental composition. Certainly
there can be no doubt OF the esteem
and affection in which the public
holds it.
Johannes Brahms wrote the "Aca-
demic Festival Overture" in 1880 in
celebration of an honorary degree
of doctor Of philosophy which the
University Of Breslau conferred
upon him in that year. Far from
being academic, as its title might
imply, the Academic Festival Over
ture" refutes once and for all the
charge that Brahms had no feeling
for orchestral color. AS a matter
of fact, some of the instrumental
combinations are ingenious and it
builds to climax of brilliance and
sorority.
Fine Kleine Nachtmusik,' COM
posed four years before Mozart S
death. in 1887, displays some of
Mozart's finest and most endearing
characteristics-a sense of perfect
freedom within a restricted form, re-
freshing and maturely contracted
melodies and crystal clarity IN in
strumental treatment. Last sum-
mer. when it was choreographed and
performed by the Polish Ballet at
the New York Worlds Fair, it was
discovered that Zine Kleine Nacht-
musk" is delightful and humorous
ballet music.
lie Rouet d'Omphale" com
phales Spinning Wheel'D was the
first of the symphonic poems COM
posed by Camille Saint-SaenS He
defined the form as IAN ensemble of
different movements depending on
each other and proceeding from a
fundamental idea. these movements
being connected together to form a
single piece" Actually. this SYM
phonic poem has little to do either
with spinning wheel or Omphale,
although Saint-Saens insisted that
certain portions described the Greek
Legend. Written in 1871. it was first
performed as an orchestral compost
ton April IA, 1872.
The first concert to be PLAYED in
Washington by the National Sym
phony Orchestra following the tour
is scheduled for Sunday, January Z
when Marcel Mas, distinguished
Belgian pianist, will appear as So
loist.
Tickets for this afternoons con-
cert may be obtained at the box
Office. Constitution Hall. and for SUBJ
sequent concerts at the symphony
box Office in the Homer L. Kilt Mu-
sic Store.