Evening star., 1943-08-08
Music
Notes

The Washington public is to be
congratulated on Its good sports
manship and stamina, according to
Ralph Lycett, summer concerts
manager of the National Symphony
Orchestras Sunset Symphonies" at
the Potomac Water Gate. Lycett
resumed his duties early this week
with Columbia Concerts Corp, New
York, following q two months leave
of absence during which he man
aged the Sunset Symphonies.
Before leaving Washington Lycett
revealed that for a time this spring
the orchestra's administration COM
mittee felt it was debatable If it
should make plans for a series OF
summer concerts, so many circum-
stances had changed since the close
of last summers season, But, feel
ing that the need for summer con-
certs was greater than ever before
and that it could rely on the good
will and affection that the orchestra
had built up in Washington during
its twelve years, 1t decided that 1t
would try the concerts for at least
the first week. 1t took just one con-
cert, Lycett said, to discover that
whatever fears had been entertained
were unjustified. In spite of dubious
weather, ten thousand fiocked to the
Water Gate for the series opening.
I'VE are proud, too, Mr.. Lycett
said that we we're able to accom-
modate some 5000 service men and
women during the season, whose
uniform admitted them to the con-
certs in lieu Of admission charges.
And approximately Is times that
number heard them free from the
various vantage points. Various
concerts, too, were dedicated the
several services because we felt that
during this particular period We
should pay tribute, at least in our
own small way, to those who are
giving so much for our country"
The largest audience of the sea-
son and of the Water Gates history,
Lycett revealed, was that attracted
to the June Is concert, when Paul
Robson sang with the National
Symphony under the guest direction
of Allard de Ridder. Second largest
turned out for the third annual all
Gershwin concert, when Alexander
Smallens conducted and soloists
were Jesus Maria Sanroma, Ken
meth Spencer and Muriel Rain.
Three soloiSts-James Melton, Law
renee Tlbbett and Alex Templeton-
attracted audiences next in size and
three more Igor Gorin, Frank
Sinatra and Dorothy Maynor (the
last with permanent conductor Hans
Kinder on the podium) m)-brought
out record attendances.
There are four reasons for the un-
usual success of this summers Sun
set Symphonies" according to the
summer manager, who added that
he did not list them in order of
importance: The quality and draw
ing power of the assisting artists;
the increased population in Wash
ington and dearth of entertain
ment facilities; the general trend
throughout the country of increased
support of all things musical; and,
he said, ''it is natural to suppose
that place as unique as the Water
Gate naturally attracts people by
itself"
Because of the controversy regard
Ing Frank Sinatra's appearance
with the National Symphony Or
'chestra in a special concert for the
orchestra's sustaining fund, Lycett
made brief comment on the situa-
ton. There has been a bit of
criticism" he said, about the ad-
visibility of presenting popular
attraction so foreign to the usual
symphonic program, but as it worked
out the concert attracted an almost
entirely new patronage to the Water
Gate. This is not an unhealthy
condition, since it introduced the
National Symphony for the first
time to followers of other forms of
music. 1t is to be hoped that many
who heard the orchestra at this
concert will want to return to it
during its regular winter season in
Constitution Hall.
Lycett left his summers Job with
nothing but praise for the National
Symphony and its conductor. AS a
parting word, he said, One of the
reasons was attracted by the pros
pect of coming to Washington was
that the National Symphony is one
OF my favorite orchestras. After
working with that orgsnizati ton over
the summer period, 1 still think it's