Evening star., 1942-04-01

un1alterlng SenClmentS OF Cne OnlCeo'
Nations in the conflict in which
they are engaged.
The spirit of the occasion was
established with the entrance
through the hall Of the United
States Marine Drum and Bugle
Corps and the march down the
side isles OF other marines carry
ing the flags Of the rs United Ma
tions. From a table at the side Of
the stage, a speaker from the New
York Office of the Russian War Re-
lief mentioned each nation and its
part in the war as the flags were
placed at each end of the stage.
The audience, on its feet, cheered
and applauded with widest enthusi-
asm curing the ceremony, quieting
only when DR.. Koussevitzky came
on the podium to direct the playing
Of the national anthems OF the
U. S. S. r. and the United States.
Soviet Anthem Melodic.
Melodic in character and noble
in design, the Soviet anthem has
dignity and appeal. DR.. Kousse-
vitzky played 1t in measured fashion
and in the same manner conducted
the star Spangled Banner" giving
it beautiful and uplifting perform
ance.
DR.. Koussevitzky left the stage
for a moment before starting the
program proper, which consisted of
works of two composers of modern
Russia, Prokof1eff's Classical SYM
phony" and Shostakovich's Sym
phony No. g." and of old Russia,
Tschaikowsky's symphony No. s."
All three of these works have been
heard here before, Prokofieff's twice
recently, Shostakovich's IN Decem-
Der and Tschaikowsky's many times.
Rarely, however, has the national
flavor as expressed in the different
temperaments, ideas and environ
ment of the composers been so thor
oughly and sympathetically given
out as in Koussevitzky's reading.
He has the ability to feel with the
composer not only in musical sense
but in the deeper spirit that brought
forth his work.
The magnificent orchestral body
that KoussevitSky has under his
baton, with it's organlike quality of
tone and interpretive sensit.veness,
is especially qualified for the per-
formance of such colorful music. 1t
played superbly last evening, pliably
reacting to the minute and vivid in
dicationS of the conductor.
KousSevitsky is a master of time
values and instrumental color. Emo
tionally inspired, he yet has the
poise that seeks for the rounded
phrase, for the perfect note and for
the full and unhampered play of
individual voices of the orchestra.
This measured approach In inter-
probation allows nothing to be lost
and brings a constant surprise at
the beauty of some phrase that is
often overshadowed by orchestral
volume. In fact, the full sorority of
the orchestra Is seldom called upon
but rather made subservient to the
expressive color of different instru-
mentS.
."Sixth Symphony" Dramatic.
This was particularly noticeable
In the Shostakovich symphony,
where its moods are voiced in
changing tonal color and its power
full climaxes built through this
means. The Sixth Symphony" re-
fleets q deeper thought than the
composers preceding works in this
style, with a Sibelius touch evident
in the first movement. The somber,
brooding atmosphere Is complete in
itself and the two lighter movements
that follow seem irreverent. Unlike
Prokofieff, whose delightful "ClaSsi-
cal Symphony" held keener note
of contrast in Koussevitzky's reading,
the Sixth Symphony" was highly
dramatic in the pointed manner in