Evening star., 1949-04-04
By Alice Eversmon

unlike the conclusion Of other sea-
sons for Its direction was In the
hands Of the guest conductor.
Walter Hendl. at present assistant
conductor of the New York Phil
harmonic but scheduled TO take
over the baton of the Dallas Sym
phony next year. II the occasion
was without q farewell TO the or
chestra's regular leader. 1t was
nonetheless a splendid finish OF
the years work. Credit for this
goes to Mr.. Hendl who inspired
the orchestra to some fine playing
in a varied and exciting program.
It's choice of numbers gave also
a very clear insight into Mr..
Hendfs musical scope and con-
Quoting style. He directed the
National Symphony once before
but the program was all-Gershwin
with himself features as soloist in
the Rhapsody in Blue" Gersh-
win and the youthful Mr.. Hendl
were admirable companions. Yes
terday, he had Schumann, Pro-
kof1eff, Tschaikowsky. Debussy
and Peter Mennin to test his
powers. He achieved a triumph.
The same vigor and enthusiasm
remembered from his former ap-
pearance was present again and its
effects on the programs music
was to keep a vital fire constantly
aglow. Each number bore the i'm
print even while his notable mu-
cianship took cognizance Of the
composers individual style. AS
a leader. he Is alert and positive,
equipped with an interesting array
Of dynamics and knowledgeable
In contrasting the orchestra's
range. At the same time. he main
tains clarity at all times and even
in the crashing climaxes he Gre
ated yesterday.
What amounted to a novelty for
this city was the performance Of
Schumann's Symphony No. l."
There is hardly symphony on
record so lacking in many re-
spects and yet so thoroughly con-
vincing and enjoyable. 1t is in
deed. as the composer called 1t,
Spring" symphony. speaking both
of the budding season and of
young rapture. 1t dances and
sings with a tender thoughtful
ness introduced at times. 1t
starts with a great pronounce
ment by horns and trumpets and
then goes on its lifting way.
The performance was zestful
and cleancut. From a personal
viewpoint, the conductors tempo
in the ''Larghetto" was too fast.
AS yet, Mr.. Hend does not favor
a strong romantic statement as
was apparent also in the love
theme of Tschaikowsky's Romeo
and Juliet" The Symptoms
second movement is q lovely song
and, as in the love music of
Romeo" provides a welcome con-
trast. The drama Of the Tschai-.
kowsky tone poem, however, was
splendidly evolved with magnifi-
cant ebb and flow of sound and
constant intensity.
: IN, Prokofieff's Classical Sym
fhol1y." his treatment was serious
with the purity of line preserved
while it's spirit was kept fresh.
The two nocturnes Of Debussy.
Clouds" and Festivals" were,
perhaps, the finest examples Of his
skill in delicacy of effects and
colors. While this program,
opened less conspicuously by Men
nin's Folk Overture" showed a
musician of understanding and
vision, the individual quality of
Mr.. Hendl's talent lies in his
power to keep every phase Of the
music alive. Not only does he
sense this need but knows how to
attain it from the musicians and
what technical means to employ.
He is an American born and
trained conductor who should go
far. His success yesterday was
proof of 1t.
National Presbyterian Choir.
The first Washington perform
ance Of THE Lamentations of
jeremiah" by the Argentinian
composer, Alberto Ginastera, was
given by the Chancel Choir Of the
National Presbyterian Church
last night under the direction of