The Wilmington morning star., 1947-12-25
STRAVINSKY WORK
ON new OPERA
To Be Based on Story
"The Rake's
Progress"

NEW 1o4tAA, oCS' So'
Igor Stravinsky is working on a
new opera, it has been an
nounced by Boosey and Hawkes.,
who will publish it.
The librettist will be W. H.
Auden, British poet. The theme
of the opera, which is to be in
three acts, will be based on Ho-
garth's series of engravings,
"The Rake's Progress. It will
call for four or five soloists, an
orchestra of about 35 and
chorus which will play an i'm
portant part in the musical de-
velopment.
Stravinsky will not start COM
pposing the music until he has
finished the Mass on which he
is now working. He does not
promise the score of the opera
| for perhaps two years. Stravin-
sky will visit New York next
March for the premiere Of his
ballet, "Orpheus," on which he
is collaborating with George
Balanchine as choreographer 1t
will be presented by Ballet So
ciety.
Stravinsky previously has
composed several works in op-
cratic form, as well as his
better known ballets.
The Musical Fund Society of
Philadelphia is accepting appli-
cations for additions from stu
dents of piano, woodwind,
stringed instruments and organi-
zed ensembles. The society's
purpose is "the advancement of
music by introducing talented
young musicians to the public"
The society will finance debuts
at the Philadelphia Academy Of
Music for the winners, to which
the public will be admitted free
to assure a large audience. Each
solo recitalist also will be given
an award of 5000.
4 Application forms d rules
may be obtained from the So
ciety at 1048 Public Ledger
Building, Philadelphia 6, Pa
The society was formed in 1920
and is the oldest such American
organization in continuous exis-
tence. 1t was established by "a
group of gentlemen who met
weekly to play, for their own en-
joyment and that Of their
friends, the quartettes of Beeth-
oven, Bcccnt mi and other com.
roscrs. My famo s singers
and musicians appeared on its
programs through the years.
The first performance in the
United States of major excerpt
from Henry Purcells "Har-
monia Sacra'' will be given at
Carnegie Hall on Jan. 13 by El-
labelle Davis, American Negro
soprano.
The figured harmonies OF the
18th century English master
have been arranged by his 10th
century fellow countryman. Ben
iamin Britten, and the vocal
parts edited by the British tenor,
Peter Pears. The work is from
volume two of the Purcell "Har-
monia" and is entitled, The
R1occed VIRGINS Expostulation."
"King Harald,' a dramatic
opera in three acts by Anders
Emile, will have its world pre-
miere in the Hunter College
PLAYHOUSE in New York on Jan.
IL.
The libretto was written by
Pearl Cleveland Wilson OF the
Hunter College classics depart,
ment. It deals with a story LAID
in Norway at the time OF the
Vikings.
DR.. Emile, composer Of the
score, is a graduate OF the Ma
tional Conservatory of Music IN
Oslo, Norway, and director OF
the Hunter College Choir.
Kerstin Thorborg, Swedish
mezzo-soprano, has arrived with
her husband to rejo.n the Me7co-
politan Opera. She will be heard
in her favorite ro'es an1 after
the season will give several con-
certs in this country.
Andres Segovla, gujtarist, lii
celebrate the Goth anniversa #
his American def Ut Whe1 he
gives Town Hall recital in New
York on Jan. 4. urrently "a his |
first European tour since the
war, Segovia is scheduled to re-
turn to the United States at the
end of December.
HOW BIG A HOUSE?
NEW YORK U.D-L. J. Gal
lagher, a Brooklynte, wrote to
a New York newspaper, said he
could not find a place to live
and asked if anyone knew of a
haunted house, for which he
would be willing to act as care
taker.