Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-07
National Music Council Head
|ndorses Stars Campaign
Program Will Stimulate Desire for More
Opera Performances, Hughes Believes

Edwin Hughes OF New YORK, noted
pianist and president of the re-
Gently formed National Music Coun-
Gil, believes that The Stars new
music appreciation program will go
a long way toward breaking down
barriers to opera appreciation by
stimulating a desire for more opera
performances.
A visitor over the week end at the
Washington College of Music, where
he teaches once each month. Mr..
Hughes, in an interview yesterday,
heartily approved The Stars plan
TO widen appreciation OF opera
through the distribution OF record
ings of IL operas. the first of which
was made available Saturday.
AS a member of the National
Committee for Music Appreciation
and member of its Subcommittee on
Music Appreciation Through Radio
and Motion Pictures. Mr.. Hughes
has been actively identified with this
Nationwide music appreciation
movement since its inception. The
national committee was formed as
a result of The Stars campaign on
behalf of symphonic music last year.
Believes Success Is Certain.
Asked If he believed this new pro-
gram would be as successful from
the standpoint of cultural and edu-
cational progress as last years cam
paign, Mr.. Hughes replied:
I'm sure it will. Last year, thou
sands and thousands of people
participated in The Stars campaign
and others throughout the country.
This movement had two gratifying
results: First. it brought some of
the finest and most significant works
in the realm of symphonic literature
into homes that otherwise might
not have had the opportunity TO
enjoy and learn to understand these
masterpieces. Secondly, it created a
desire to see a symphonic orchestra
in person.
This new program should nave
the same effect in the field of
OPERA Mr.. Hughes continued. New
opera enthusiasts will be developed
and this potential new audience
should lead to formation of more
opera companies. I should like to
see this field developed to a point
where every one could attend actual
performances"
Mr.. Hughes suggested that the re-
sulting increased interest in musical
drama might lead the larger estab-
lished opera companies to extend
their work to new fields. The Metro
politan Opera Co. of New York, for
example, might have three or four
smaller companies travelling around
the country giving performances, he
said.
Incentive to Local Groups.
He suggested also that in Wash
ington, local groups might be given
the incentive to plan regular opera
seasons in cooperation with estab-
lished opera companies.
The National Music Council,
which Mr. Hughes now heads, is
composed of organizations repre-
senting all of the principle music
interests in the country. One of
these is the Music Teachers Ma
tional Association, which Mr.. Hughes
served as president In 1888. He
still is a member of the Executive
Committee of the teachers asso-
citation.
The first of a series of broad
casts arranged for the program by
The Star in cooperation with the
National Broadcasting Co.. was pre-
scented over Station WMAL yester-
day afternoon.
Excerpts From Carmen"
Listeners heard a talk by Samuel
H. Kaufman, assistant business
manager of The Star, who explained
the purpose of the opera appreci-
alton program. and excerpts from
Bizet's beloved opera, Carmen"
played by means OF the recordings
now being made available by The
Star.
Nov and then the opportunity
comes to a newspaper to serve its
community in a field beyond that In
which it is normally engaged" Mr..
Kaufman said. This is just such
an occasion. Many of you will re-
call with pleasure the very success
full campaign In music appreciation
which The Star sponsored last year.
Now The Star is engaged in another
such movement to stimulate q
greater interest in and familiarity
with the great operas" j..
Calling attention 10 the hrse
Offering Of the program and the