Evening star., 1939-11-23
led the group for the past four

LED the group for the past four
years.
The program had two novelties
that instantly won the interest and
the appreciation of the audience. OF
the two, Cigars Introduction and
Allegro for Strings, Op. 47" and
Weinberger's variations and fugue
Under the Spreading Chestnut
Tree" the latter was by far the win
ner with its originality and gaiety.
The opening number was the Berlioz
overture, "The Roman Carnaval,"
and the concluding one the Brahms
Symphony No. in E Minor"
The variations and fugue which
Mr.. Weinberger promised himself he
would write one day after hearing
the old song in newsreel of the
British Boys Camp fostered by the
King, bear the stamp of a labor of
love. The old English tune set Mr..
Weinberger's thoughts back to Ger
tain things that must have left
their impression from student days.
He has made seven variations which
are named "Her Majesty's Virginal,"
"The Madrigalists," THE Black
Lady" heroine of Shakespeares
sonnets; THE Highlanders,"
"Pastorale." "Mr. Weller, Sr., Dis
cusses Widows With His Son, Samuel
Weller Esq and "Sarabande for
Princess Elizabeth, Elestress Pala-
tine and Queen of Bohemia"
The mere titles of these variations
would promise much and Mr.. Wein-
berger has met that promise fully.
His delightful sense of humor has
been voiced in his play of orchestral
instruments while, when oppor-
tunity offers, he is master of mood
as well. The entire work is fresh,
vital and out of the ordinary, splen-
didly contrived in its varied treat
ment of the theme, opulent in sound
and color and in the individual
writing for the orchestral sections.
1t ends with the fugue that is
climax of tonal richness, spirited
tempt and fine Intervening of the
theme.
Mr.. Barbirolli's conducting of it
enhanced its salient points and the
young conductor received an ova-
ton for his very vivid portrayal.
He is dynamic leader, authorita-
tive in his beat, with a vigorous
temperament. The orchestra in re-
allty followed his leadership for he
seemed to hold them with the posi-
tiveness of his baton and the force
OF his vigorous temperament. That
this urge of his own made for So
nority rather than finesse and full
throated utterance rather than po-
etlc expression did not so much
matter in the Weinberger number
or "The Roman Carnayal," but for
the Elgar and the Brahms it clouded
many of the finer moments.
The Elgar Introduction and Al
legro" is built around the string
quartet, played yesterday by M. Pi-
astro and S. Barozzi, violins z. Kur-
thy, viola, and J. Schuster, cello, |
with a rich frame supplied by the |
orchestral strings. The amplitude of |
the writing for these instruments |
is remarkably meaty yet one felt
that a contrast could be emphasized |
IN the direction by better balanc-
ing OF the four solo strings and the
greater ensemble. In Mr.. Barbi-
ROLLS reading, the finesse was again
lacking.
From purely musicianly stand
point, the Brahms was we'll done
but here, once more, the exercise
OF more Imagination and feeling
would have discovered the relieving
passages in the tragic mood of this
symphony. Although it is built on
heroic lines, much of the tender,
secret longings of Brahms is strongly
present in its pattern, veiled, per-
haps, in the same manner as were
such sentiments in his life. But to
the discerning eye they are clear.
Mr.. Barbirolli did not find them
and from judgment formed purely
on a first acquaintance with his
work, his tendency is not of this
particularly analytical kind.
The orchestra, which is seated in
the old style, is richly toned en-
semble very mellow in quality. The
perfect blending in color and the
artistic finish of each individual
section in contributing to the whole
makes for gorgeousness of effect.
Mr. Barbirolli gives prominence to
the brass and the tympani which
adds a thrilling note if not over
used. The program yesterday, in the
main, permitted of wealth of sound
and the vibrant sorority of the en-
semble was impressive.
In every respect it was an inter-
esting performance and both con-
ductor and orchestra were made
aware of it through the prolonged
applause and the many recalls that