Evening star., 1940-02-11

concert marks the only appearance ,
Q symphony orchestra Inf Washingto
Of Macarthur as conductor. 1t is pos
sible also that 1t may be Nine. Flag
stad's last engagement in Washing
ton before her retirement from the
musical world.
Certainly 1t will be her only ap-
pearance with q symphony orches-
ira In Washington this season, and
that alone is important. For her part
of the program, Nine Fagstad will
sing with the orchestra three songs
by her countryman, Edward Grieg
Fra Monte Pincio" (from Mount
Pincio), En- Svane" "a swan, and
EN- Drom" "a dream) the recitativs
and aria, "Leise, leise" (Softly, soft
ly), from Weber's opera, der
Freishutz"; and the greatest Of all
scenes which Wagner wrote for his
heroines, "Brunnhilde' Immolation
Scene" from "Goetterdaemmerung.
The orchestra, under Mr.. Macarthur,
will play Schubert's "Rosamunde'
Overture, Debussy's "L'Apres Midi
dun Faune" and "Fetes," Ravels La
valse," and Wagner's Overture to
"Der Fliegende Hollander" CThe
Flying Dutchman) and Good Friday
SPELL from "Parsifal."
The appearance Of Mr.. Macarthur
as guest conductor with the National
Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday
evening is closely tied up with Nine.
Flagstads intention to retire in the
not too distant future. Born in
Denver, Colo, only 80 years ago, Mr..
Macarthur has already had bril-
liant career as accompanist to the
major concert artists Of our day,
and appeared here earlier this season
in that capacity with Nine. Flagstad
Macarthur made his conducting de-
but q year and a half ago in an all
Wagner concert with the Sydney
Symphony Orchestra during an
Australian tour with Nine. Flagstad
His schedule for the present season
however, was one which the most
highly experienced conductors might
land did) envy. He has already
conducted performances of Tristan
and Isolde" in San Francisco and Los
Angeles, and of die Walkure" in
the former city, as well as orchestral
concerts in both those cities and in
Denver.
In November and early Decem-
Der, he directed performances o1
''Lohengrin," Tristan" Tam.
hauser" and "Walkure" with the
Chicago City Opera. His engage
ment with the National Symphony
on Wednesday night is his first con.
Quoting assignment in the East, but
next month he leads the Philadel.
phia Orchestra in two concerts in 1t!
home city and one in New York!
Carnegie Hall.
Macarthur is quick to admit tha
the reason for this impressive Sched.
ule is Nine. Flagstad. He has &C.
companied the great soprano during
all her concert tours q this country
and Nine. Flagstad, fully aware o1
his long-nursed ambition to become
a conductor and believing sincerely
in his talents, determined to help
him on her last tour with every
means in her power. With more con-
cert, recital and opera dates offered
her then she wished to accept, she
was in position to make her owr
terms with managements. Macarthur
admits that his schedule resulted
from her stipulation that he be en-.
gagged as conductor if she were to ap.
pear as soloist or to sing in opera
And so a young American has en-.
tered the conducting f1eld-and tn.
Wagnerian conducting field at that
and the reports from the West indi-
cate strongly that Macarthur is not
only young and American but bril-.
liant conductor as well.