The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-25

stored 10 It's former glory e. an int
TO word from London.
During the war the spacious old
theater. built In 1883. has been
used as a dance han. The new
lessees viii take over next Jan. l
and are planning 10 re.establish
e as an independent center Of
opera and ballet.
Covent oardent Is stepped IN
tradition. The site on which It
stands has been q theater since
i73s. but the previous buildings
we're burned out IN 1909 and 1856.
Many historic first performances
have been given there and nearly
every great star Of the last IS
years has sung on It's stage.
WHEN Dorothy Maynor. dlstins
gulshed Negro soprano. sings nt
Tanglewood. Mass. on July % with
the Boston symphony Orchestra
under Serge Koussevitzky. II win
mark the NTH anniversary OF her
discovery by DR.. KoussevltEky dur
Ing the Berkshire Music Festival Of
1889.
DIR. Koussevitzky heard her at
an informal addition and invited
her 10 sing the next day at the
annual picnic for the members Of
the orchestra. She made her debut
the following December in New
York with the Boston Symphony
and since then has been heard
throughout the country with or
chestras and In recital. as well as
on the air.
THE state Of music and enter
tainment In the Allied Middle East
command Is reported TO have taken
a great up-turn now that Andre
Kostelanetz and his wife. Metropoii-
tan Opera star Lily Pons. are on
tour with the 50-man, all-GI or.
chestra which the American con-
ductor has assembled In Iran.
In a letter to friends In New
York. Kostelanetz reports:
We have been travelling strenu-
ously but most Interestingly. The
boys mere are really starved for
music and we are getting a grand
reception.
when this reaches you we will
have given our first formal con-
cert. We are going 10 travel to-
gether and cover some enmorous
distances. There are some dust
storms In prospect. I'VE carry res-
pirators1 The heat h 1880 some.
times It goes 10 1852. The orchestra
Is excellent. We have l6 violins
and all Of the U. s. Is well
represented.
I'VE play Kern Cshow Boat.
Porter lBegin the Beguinel,
Oershwin (Rhapsody In Blue).
Herbert. etc. We play each night
and sometimes twice n day"
The first formal concert to
which Kostenlanetz referred was
at Kazyin at the start Of the tour.
Mai. Gen. Donald II. Connolly.
commander Of the Persian Gulf
area. attended with several OF his
aides, as did the Russian Gen.
Yarmakevitch, defender of Lenin.
grad.
DEAN DIXON, conductor. has an-
nounced plans for the American
Youth Orchestra, now In the process
of organization and 20 be directed
BY him. It's object is set forth as
ito show youth a new field for
their imaginative and emotional
energies through introduction to
the classics"
The plan calls for an orchestra
of first .lass musicians. ranging
In age from rs 10 80. which viii
perform for young people through
out New York City. Programs VIII
be PREPARED. with the aid OF Dr.
Irving Lorge. professor OF psychol-
ogy at Columbia University. which
will reach children as young as
three years. The project Is spon-
sored by the American Youth for
Democracy.
THE Bach Circle OF New York,
now In its eighth year has planned
two Town Hall concerts next sea-
son on Jan. 20 and 20, under the
direction of Yella Pessly. harpsich-
Ordist,
IN accordance with Its policy OF
presenting rarely-heard works OF
J, 8. Bach, his sons, contempo-
raries and predecessors, the circle