Evening star., 1948-12-20
By Alice Eversmon

"llCUltC1 b1lC addAS4ASC Nu&AAS w VAeS
Christmas program given by the
National Symphony yesterday with
the realization that this was the
last such concert under Hans
Kindler's direction or not, there
was evident an especially warm
feeling in the generous applause
after each number. The spirit Of
Christmas pervaded Constitution
Hall and the concert turned into
real honey get-to-gether with
the singing Of carols at the end.
It was started when the Choir Of
the Washington Cathedral came on
the stage and the young boys voices
sang "Come Unto Him" from Han
del's Messiah" as the first number
of their solo performance. When
the program was over, everyone felt
that community life had been knit
clccer with the sharing Of the be-
loved sacred hymns of the season.
The, steady, pure voices of the
youngsters are a perfect medium
for the expression of Christian SEN
timent and marked silence fell
on the audience as it listened to
the clear tones proclaiming the
sacred text. When joined by the
men in the capella singing of Vic
toria's 20 Magnum Mysterium" and
the Burgundian carol, "Patapan,"
the effect was enriched by the
deeper vocal quality while the
singing remained on the same high
level. Paul Galloway, choirmaster
Of the Cathedral, who conducted
his group, creates many fine nu-
ances without ever forcing the
singers volume beyond a refined
and eloquent fullness.
The only departure from the
Christmas theme among the orches-
-tral selections was Beethoven's
'Leonore Overture No. 3" with
which the concert began. The per-
formance of this work is among the
most polished Of the repertoire and
yesterdays playing of it was dra-
matte. The unity of tone, the pre-
else attacks and the fiexibility in
shadings which the orchestra now
commands was used with telling
effect. DR.. Kinder has expanded
the players color range and the
pronounced pianissimo which has
been achieved serves as q base
from which every degree Of dy-
namics can be reached with greater
contrast. The eight sections of
Brahms variations on Chorale st.
Antonii" presented q splendid op-
portunity for the display of the or
chestra's elasticity in this respect
and the performance again illustrat-
ed the artistic capabilities Of the
musicians.
Bachs chorale prelude. "Nun
kor1in, der Heiden Heiland," was
less carefully set forth for the legato
that gives breadth and dignity to
this noble work was rarely present.
But in the Introduction and Polo
fnaise" from Rimsky Korsakoff's
"Christmas Eve" the color prism
was once more vividly employed and
the rhythmic character of the dance
brought out rich sorority of tone.
Individual solo passages throughout
the program, including Sylvia Mey-
er's harp interlude in the Christ
mas Eve" introduction, were ad-
mirably played.
DR.. Kinder was I'm the best of
form, infusing his directing with
vitality and inspiring his men not
only in matters of tempt and shad-
ings but also in emotional express
sion. It was a program thoroughly
enjoyed by the audience which re-
scalled the conductor many times.
Hungarian String Quartet Plays.
The concert conlmemorating the
anniversary of Stradivari's death
given Saturday under the auspices
of the Gertrude Clarke whittall
Foundation in the Library Of Con-
gress. introduced locally q new en-
semble, the Hungarian String Quar-
tet. Lately come to the United
States, the quartet Is well known in
Europe where 1t was organized in
1885. It's members are Zoltan
Szekely and Alexander Moskowsky,
violins, Denes Koromzay, viola, and
Wilmos Palotai. cello.
The Hungarian Quartet sets a
new record in chamber music play
ing. 1t has acquired, or preserved,
the character belonging to this
field of music which is so often
forgotten by other groups. 1t was
an evening Of lovely, intimate play-