Evening star., 1940-03-27
Orchestra
Meets New
Test
HetZe1's Group
In Constitution
Hall Debut
By ALICE EVERSMAN.

The Washington Civic Orchestra,
DR.. Kurt Hetzel conductor, made
its Constitution Hall debut last eve
ming with outstanding success. Step
by step the orchestra has taken
its place in the civic musical ac-
tivities with modest concerts at the
Central High School. Now it has
branched out to larger fields prov
ing its stamina in the more In
posing confines of Washington's big
gest concert hall. 1t bore the test
Of the revealing character of the
auditorium and the taxing program
that was prepared, excellently COW
ering itself with glory from both
the mechanical and interpretive an
gle. The concert also served to in
troduce a fine pianistic talent in
Richard Baldwin, who played Rach-
maninoff's second concerto.
The volume of the orchestral tone
was full and mellow, the intonation
pure except in rare instances and
the spirit of the players that of
veterans. For the most part, the
members of the orchestra are anna
teurs with music as an avocation
yet the presentation last evening
showed considerable professional
feeling. DR.. HetZel is a sound and
energetic conductor, watchful and
insistent on effects and for the OBJ
servance of the tenets of good inu-
steamship. He inspired his players
by his authoritative directing and
evoked polish in the performance
that is astonishing considering the
length of existence of the orches-
ira, the many obstacles that besct
a group who play with no other
incentive than because they like it
and the comparatively few rehears-
ais that went into the preparation
Of the program.
The selections chosen for the Or
chestra were the overture to Gin.
ka's Russian and Ludmilla," the
prayer and dream pantomime from
Humperdinck's III aensel and
Gretel," RaveIs "Valses, Mobiles ct
Sentimentals" and Coates London
Suite The overture was given a
spirited and smooth performance
while the excerpts from "Haensel
and Gretel" showed the rich quality
of the orchestral tone as well as
the feeling that the players brought
to its melodic measures. The valses
were less secure in the matter of
lntonation and style but in the more
literal descriptive character of the
etT TO hn Nrohncfvo
more sure of itself.
The high point of the program
however, was the playing of Rach-
maninoff's Concerto No. in c
Minor by Richard Baldwin. The
young pianist encompassed the
dificulties of this work with assur-
ance and with striving for tonal
color. In fact, his poetic tendency
took precedence over the bravura
although this latter might have been
more pronounced on piano of more
brilliant tone and easier action. He
has a solid technical equipment
fluent in octave passages. trills and
runs and ponderous enough in the
heavy chords that are prominent in
this concerto. If Mr.. Baldwin did
not quite reproduce the fire and
broad sweep of this work from the
pen of a master pianist. he felt
keenly its lyricism and nobility. His
playing has persuasive quality and
rhythmic sureness that found
ample occasion for display in the
varying rhythms of the concerto.
Mr.. Baldwin showed himself a
serious musician with a musica,
sensitivei sss of fine proportion.
which might, however. have We.
hicle still better suited to his style
than the Rachmaninoff work. Hi.
clean-cut performance, in which the
orchestra supported him well, wa!
enthusiastically received and the
young artist was recalled time ane
again at its conclusion. In fact
the good sized audience was in 9
welcoming mood for each number
on the program and generous in ex.
pressing its appreciation.