Evening star., 1944-10-30
BY ELENA DE SAYN.

II uc rOuilucT Lay COllCCTb yCotcA
day afternoon at the Library OF
Congress, second In the series Of the
tenth Chamber Music Festival given
under the auspices of the Coolidge
Foundation and in celebration of
Mrs. Elizabeth Sprague COOLIDGE S
Both birthday brought many out-of-
town and local musicians together.
The artists were the Stradivarius
| Quartet, Wolfe Wolfinsohn and
Raphael Hillyer, violins, Eugene
Lehner, viola and Ivan d'Archam-
beau, cello, Albert Sprague Coolidge,
viola, assisting and the duo-pianiStS,
Celius Dougherty and Vincent Ru-
zicka, who presented two novelties
| by Stravinsky and Rieti.
| The event was one of those oc-
casions when the executants, in ad-
dition to their artistery and expert
ence throw into the balance an
extra amount of care, expressed in
the rounding out of every note and
of every phrase. The Stradivarius
Quartet began by giving notable
reading to Mozart's Quintet in D
Major, K. v. $685." Mr.. Wolfinsohn's
tone, which has gained greatly in
warmth and sympathy since his last
performance here, fairly throbbed
with emotion in the lovely "Adagio"
and other passages where quality
played an important part. One
could also appreciate the individual
efforts of his associates in the quiet
opening bars of the "Larghetto," in
which the cello plays a conspicuous
part, and in the "Menuetto" where
each instrument contributes to the
graceful pattern of the whole. The
crystalline clarity and the fine style
of their performance was duly ap-
preciated by the large audience
which filled the auditorium and the
adjoining pavilion.
Two compositions for two pianos
commissioned by Mrs. Coolidge, Igor
Stravinsky's Sonata" and Vittorio
Rieti's Second Avenue Waltzes," /"
received their first hearing on this
occasion. OF the two, the latter,
with it's modern tone, illumined by
imagination and sincerity. has the
greater faculty of sustaining inter-
est at a first hearing. It's half
dozen of waltz rhythms, modern
set that may take some day its
place beside the familiar one by
Brahms, is characterized by spon-
taneity and an undaunted spirit
which prevails over an underlying
melancholy Working up to
bravura climax, the duo-pianists,
Mr.. Dougherty and Mr.. Ruzicka
showed a splendid balance through
the entire gamut of delicate, dreamy
or eXurberant themes which pass in
colorful review in an ingenious and
novel treatment.
Stravinsky's Sonata" impressed
one as series of episodes (Theme
and Variations ending on an abrunt
questioning note. Representa- of
his present style, it flows haltingly
and is more on the inventive side
than the inspirational. In spite of
rather Russian rlood of folk theme
character, it lacks the sparkle and
animation of his earlier works. It's
barren content reveals not so much
the poet of the former days but the
thinker Of the present. 1t found,
however, the type of interpreters in
Mr.. Dougherty and Mr.. Ruzicka to
bring out its best points and embel-
lish it with the lucidity of their mi
mute analysis
Opening with Schubert's Fan
tasy in F Minor. Op. 103," the artists
excelled themselves in this perform
ance. Their rubato playing in the
allegro motto moderate was superb,
catching the spirit of old Vienna and
achieving some of the loveliest ef-
fects of ensemble performance
Both young men were accorded a
well-earned ovation at the end of
their program.
Sinfonietta Gives
Mozart Program.
A program dedicated to the works
of Mozart, Fine Kleine Nachtmusik
K. 525," Concerto No. in D Major,
K. 218" and Symphony No. 36 in C
Major, X. 425," was given last night
at the National Gallery of Art by
the National Gallery Sinfonietta
Richard Bales, conductor. with Dor
othy Averell, violinist, as soloist.
Any violinist, who attempts to
play works by Mozart or Beethoven
puts his style and command of the
left hand and bow arm to the sever
lest test. Whereas performances of
works by other composers may be
more taxing from a purely technical
n pla xviii Hxy artn