Evening star., 1947-11-23
Ornandy Lists
Russian Scores
For Concert
By Alice Eversmon

First OF the new Snort SeTleS Oh
concerts by the Philadelphia Orches-
ira will be given Tuesday night
under the direction of Eugene Or
mandy. It will be Russian pro-
gram, with the Russian pianist.
Alexander Brailowsky. playing the
Tschaikowsky Concerto in B Fiat
Miner" Mr.. Ormandy will present
for the first time here Miaskowsky's
Symphony No. 81" and Prokofie1s
"Scythian Suite"
These orchestral works are of spe-
cial interest as they represent the
writing style of two composers who
had their roots in the old Russian
political regime and are now among
the foremost writers of the Soviet
era. The "Scythian Suite" is the
first large symphonic score written
by Prokofieff and one of his most
daring. Its first performance in 1915
aroused discussion OF unprece-
dented violence. 1t was called the
supermusic of the future" and hair
raising musical rowdyism." This
was all in the days when the COM
poser was the enfant terrible and
before he hewed to the line required
by his acceptance of Soviet citizen
ship.
There was no such decision neces-
sary in Miaskowsky's case. for he
made the transition from one order
to another with ease. He is pro-
life composer, having "A symphonies
to his credit and numerous works in
every other field. The Symphony
No. 81" was selected to open the
To-day festival Of Soviet music In
1910 and a year later the composer
received the Stain prize of the
first degree in recognition OF this
particular work. Few Of his SYM
phonies have been heard in this
country and. although the composer
is now 66, 10 years older than Pro-
kofieff, he Is one Of the leaders Of
the present school.
.Ormandy Policy Consistent.
The presentation of new works is
in line with policy Mr.. Ormandy
has followed consistently since he
became musical director and con-
ductor of the Philadelphia Orches-
ira. He has explored territory all
too often overlooked and made his
selections with care. For example,
there was the programming, among
others, Of Revueltas' "Sensemaya"
last year, the "Nobilissima Visione,"
from Hindemith's Ballet Suite" and
Roussels Concerto for Small Or
chestra.' The preceding year, he
brought Mignone's symphonic poem,
-Four Churches" and Rossellini's
"Canto de Palude," both interesting
items from well-known Latin Amer
ican composers. Harold Byrus' ar
rangement of Prokofieffs ''Diabolie
Suite" was another unfamiliar num-
Der by the Soviet composer and from
the modern Russian repertoire came
also Khrennikow's Symphony No.
l." Respighi's "Arie di Corti" fol-
lowed year later the performance
Of that composers "Gli Uccelli."
American composers have net been
forgotten, for it was Mr.. Ormandy
who first introduced Remnants
Night Soliloquy" and later played
his "Andante for Oboe and Orches.
ira" John Alden Carpenters SYM
phonic suite. The Seven Ages" was
premiered by the Philadelphians, as
was also Hermann's The Devil and
Daniel Webster" Harris symphony
No. g." Stills Plain Chant for
America" Benefits THE Four Free
doms' and Edward B. Hills Sin
fonietta for String Orchestra" From
the orchestra's personnel came the
unusual Suite for Strings and Per-
cussion," by the violinist- composer.
Louis Gesensway, and its manager
composer. Harl Mcdonald, had
notable first presentation of his
THE Santa Fe Trail" Symphony
No. 3" and San Juan Capistrano."
This is remarkable record for q
conductor who did not set out to be
an orchestral leader. instruction In
this art, however, was part OF his
studies in the Royal Hungarian
Academy of Music. Hig musical
precociousness won him 4 masters
degree at the age of u and o
diploma, granted because Of his
youth by special permission of the
minister of education, Count Ap-
ponyi, a year later. At tie same
time, he took degrees III piano, COM
position and conducting. Following
a years tour of Europe as q concert
violinist, he returned for more study
and to receive a doctor or music
degree from the university and an
appointment as professor of the
master class at the National Con-
servatory.
Story of Achievement.
Such was the background he
brought to the United States where
he arrived in 1921 to begin a guar
anteed concert tour that never ma
terialized. Five weeks previously he
had given his last violin recital in
Vienna to a sold-out house. The
story of how he moved from the
last chair in the violin section of
the Capitol Theater Orchestra in
New York, which he took in desper-
alton, to the conductors podium
and from there through successful
guest engagements with major Or
chestras to the full control of the
Minneapolis group and finally the
Philadelphia, Is well known.
Ormandy, who became an Amer
lean citizen five years and 80 days
after he landed, is one Of the few
American trained conductors. When
he took charge of the Minneapolis
Orchestra he infused it with new
life. He came first to Washington
as guest conductor of the Philadel-
phia Orchestra in 1888 and on that
program brought his first novelty,
the Debussy- -Molinari "L'Isle JOY
euse.' When, five years later, he
became music director of the Phila-
delphia Orchestra, he was called to
fill one OF the most difiicult posts
in the country. He was then 80 years
old. He stepped into the conductor
shoes of Stokowski whose brilliance
and personality had dominated the
orchestral field for many years.
He had critical and highly