Evening star., 1948-10-04
By Alice Eversmon

Continuing the Mozart Festival in
the National Gallery Of Art, Rich
ard Bales brought the young pian-
ist, Peter Schaeffer, to be soloist
with the National Gallery Orches-
ira. Last nights audience nearly
matched in size that of the open
ing program and the attention was
as concentrated on the. selections
taken from the composers early 2os
for the most part, as Is ordinarily
accorded his more renowned works.
The performance of Mozart's
piano Concerto No. in B fiat
major, K 238" was something of a
novelty for nearly decade has past
since the last known presentation OF
it. Mr.. Schaeffer, who is 18 years
old, interested himself in this work
and went to a great deal of trouble
to copy parts and to write cadenzas
so he could play it. His affinity for
its particular style was apparent at
once. The limpid quality of his tone
was perfect medium for its grace
and charm while the more scintil-
lating passages were delicately por-
trayed with a splendid feeling for
the undulating line and the oppor-
tunity for coloring.
Although making no attempt to
touch any precise depth. the con-
certo is exquisite in its freshness
and It's poetic significance hoasting
one of the loveliest slow movements
in the Mozart output. Mr.. Schae1er
demonstrated high order Of musi-
cal understanding in the way he
was able to convey so much in such
simple and unaffected manner,
leaving the beauty of the music to
speak for itself. The warm applause
spoke of his success. It would be. in
teresting to hear him again in works
that called for more expansive and
more profound treatment than this
choice work of Mozart's Goth year
required.
The two symphonies, Number 81
and 80. are spaced 10 years apart,
and reflect distinctively the COM
poser's frame of mind. The formal
opening of the first, known as the
Paris" symphony, and its subse-
quent outburst into unfettered joy
BUSINESS contrasts strongly with the
majestic reach of the Symphony
No. &c." one of the last from his
pen. The orchestra's reading of the
first was marked by clarity and def
mite intent. The changing moods of
the more towering work were not so
strongly stressed nor the highlights
of intensity and lyricism sufficiently
underscored. But Mr.. Bales and his
expert players are Mozart-conscious
and their performance last night
was true in the essentials and many
times carved unforgettable phrases
through their united pliability and
skilled musicianship.
The "Divertimento in F ma jor, K
1873" completed the program and. If
| it suffered some on the side of in
tonation, 1t gave the string section
occasion to display its well inte-
grated and smooth tone.
Joint Recital At Phillips Gallery.
Rohini Coomara, cellist, and Lilo
mel Nowak, pianist. returned to the
Phillips Gallery yesterday afternoon
for another joint recital. The pro-
gram for both artists held some ex-
cursions into contemporary writing
but for the most part favored works
of familiar composers.
1t was in Eccles' Sonata in G
minor" and in Won Weber's Sonata
in A" that Miss Coomara's ability
was best shown. She has . large and
vital tone and her playing is i'm
bued with sensitivity that takes ac-
count of every infection. Mr.. No
walks presentation of Schubert's