Evening star., 1947-03-16
|Antonia Brico
Tells of Visit
|ToEurope
By Alice Eversmon


eminent orchestral conductor, An-
tonia Brico, Of her recent expert
lences in Europe. Miss Brico made
her first appearance here when di-
recting the National Symphony
water Gate concerts in 1885. She.
directed again the following year
and in 1910 and 1S41. Last August
she left for Holland to visit her
family which she had not seen in
mine years. After sojourn at home
and a rest in Switzerland. she left
for Finland. She writes: ~
"The happiest days of my whole
trip were spent in Finland-tnere
with the great master musician
composer, Jean Sibelitls, who Is now
I81 years old, and his lovely wife, who
lis 76. What an inspiration to
be with this great composer-hours
and hours at q tin1e--and to 60 over
many Of the scores Of his music with
him, and to listen to the words OF
wisdom falling from his lips! Nine
years had waited for this opportu-
nifty, and my happiness at being
with him and studying with him
far exceeded my dearest hopes.
IT conducted two concerts in Hell
sinki, and one in Raun1a, city
north of Helsinki. These concerts
were all sold out and the press and
public were most enthusiastic, with
the result that I was invited to re-
turn to conduct the S.belius' festival
concert for his 81st birthday. The
concert took place on December 2,
although his birthday wasnt until
December 8.
II returned to Amsterdam, prepared
to go to London for my concert which
took place at Royal Albert Hall for
about 5000 people. Everywhere I
conducted it was the first time
woman directed, so there was great
enthusiasm and interest.
People Starving for Music.
"After leaving London again few
to Stockholm from Holland, and
this time it was colder and darker
In Finland-dark until 9 am. and
lat pm. night started again. The
all -Sibelius concert was sold out so
fast that I had to give an extra
concert at 3 in the afternoon on
the day Of the main concert, and
it, too, was sold out. The people
are starved for music and they will
stand in line all night for tickets.
This time 7 stayed two weeks in
Finland, and was with Prof. Sibelius
many times during that period.
II was engaged in Holland to con-
duct a concert in honor Of Sibelius'
birthday on December 5, with the
Radio Philharmonic Of Holland
just outside Amsterdam. My entire
family of about Is people attended
this concert, and it was the first
time that they had seen me con-
duct. Among the audience was an
uncle Of mine who had been in a
japanese prison camp for year
and half. It made me very happy
to conduct in the country Of my
birth and especially to bring the
music of the great Sibelius to Hol-
land.
MADAM Butterfly" In Serbian.
"After several days of waiting to
fly, and not being able to because
of bad weather, I finally few to
Prague and stayed one day, and
then took another plane to Belgrade
where I was invited by the Yugo-
slav government as goodwill rep
resentative. I was to conduct con-
certs in various cities. In all there
were four concerts. I also directed
Madam Butterfly" which was sung
in Serbian. This took place in Ia
greb in one of the most beautiful
opera houses have ever seen. Other
cities where I conducted were
Ljubljana and Belgrade-such en-
thusiasm, such warmth, and such
fine kindness. People there are
crazy about music, and the orches-
tras and operas are all supported
by the government.
my return journey had to be by
train7A-48 hours to Prague-in an
ice-cold train-no heat-20 degrees
below zero, and no food on the
the train! On January 13 I flew
to New York from Amsterdam
on the American Overseas Airliner.
After q hectic week in New York
returned to Denver on the train to
my various activities which T had
neglected for so long. In my spare
time I'm trying to prepare for fu-
ture orchestral programs, as I am
ret,1rnir1o to Et1rnne this s1H1noer0 -