Evening star., 1941-08-01

crowd for the Sunset Symphony
of space at the Water Gate. A thou.
the audience area was filled to o,
enclosure had no more room to
offer to those who sought to see
and hear from these vantage points.
Thus the final concert of the sum-
n1er series finished in blaze of
glory and unrestrained enthusiasm.
The enthusiasm started with the
welcome accorded DR.. Kinder as
he stepped to the podium to in
troduce Mayor La Guardia. Paying
tribute to his successful efforts in
behalf of music, DR.. Kinder cere-
moniously handed the baton over
to the lnusic-loving director of the
Office of Civilian Defense. AS if
conducting symphony orcheStras
was a major occupation of his busy
life. Mayor La Guardia took little
time to acknowledge the cordial
reception given him and signaled
the orchestra to begin.
Military National Anthem.
Perhaps to stress the importance
of the occasion, Fanfare" by
Dubinsky preceded the playing OF
the national anthem, which, under
the energetic beat of the conductor,
was more military in style than any
heard at the Water Gate. Not
printed on the program but an
nounced by DR.. Kinder were the
two marches by Sousa, Hands
Across the Seas" and "Semper
Fidelis," which were to be Mayor
La Guardia's offerings.
For startled moment, the
audience heard the first four notes
of Beethovens Fifth Symphony"
sounded by the orchestra and then
q pause-and as the significance OF
the Victory" motif registered, there
was delighted applause. With a
flourish, the conductor swung into
the stirring music of the marches
and led them with spirit and
authority worthy of their famous
creator. 1t was good to hear the
lilt. the melody and the bravery
of these deathlesS works under The
direction of a man who seemed to
respond personally to their vigor
and who knew how to put them
over.
Cheers. whistles and thunders Of
applause broke forth at the finish
and continued for several minutes.
Modestly bowling in response, Mayor
La Guardia waited to return the
baton to DR.. Kinder with the same
gracious gesture with which it was
given to him, and then hurried on
the stage. But the cheering and
the applause continued even as he
descended the ramp little later to
take his place in the audience.
Mayor La Guardia's appearance as
guest conductor of the National
Symphony was complete success.
Kinder Gains Attention.
ANY other conductor but DR..
Kinder might have found it diff
cult to begin the serious symphonic
part of the program with the audi
ence so elated by it's experience. But
with the first sonorouss measures of
his own arrangement of VreSco-
baldis "Toccata." he had the atten-
ton of every one and delivered the
lovely. impressive music in. mastery
fashion. Following with two etudes
by Scriabin, No. l. from opus and
No. II from opus 8, and the Intro
duction. Coronation Scene and Love
Music from Moussorgsky's Boris
Godounov" transcribed by DR..
Kindler). he progressed in the
beauty of his readings to glorious
climax in the great richness OF
sound of the {Moussorgsky music,
The orchestral arrangements that
La Sale Spier has made OF the
Scriabin etudes enhance their pc
culiar charm and their performance
last evening was finely detailed.
Having passed through a second
stage of enthusiasm following DR..
Ktndler's inspired presentation, the
audience entered third when Nina
Stroganova, Lila Volkova and Via
dimir Dokoudovsky, dancers of Rus
sian training, occupied the spotlight
for six numbers. The green curtains
of the shell drawn so as to hide the
orchestra over which Francis Garzia
had assumed command for this por-
ton of the program, and to form a
background of color for the dancers,
Miss Stroganova and Mr.. Dokoudov-
sky appeared in an Interpretation
of Beethoven'S Moonlight Sonata" ="
Bit of Comedy Added.
Mr.. Dokoudovsky, dressed in the
style of the period and Miss Stro-
ganova in diaphanous blue of classic
design, by their appearance pictured
the composer and his vision while
Interpreting the music with grace
full postures. TschaikowSky's Swan
Lake" was danced by Miss Volkova,
In Russian costume and with au-
thentic Russian steps and gestures,
In a delicate portrayal, later giving
an equally charming Interpretation
of Brahms Hungarian Dance No.
s. in colorful Hungarian dress.
A bit of comedy was introduced
by Miss Strogonova in her waltz
from Johann Strauss die Fielder
maus" which was farcical in its
H., H. - -.