Evening star., 1949-10-23
Outstanding
Concerts Mark
Seasons Start
By Alice Eversmon

This week will see the musical
season of Washington started on
it's seven months course. The first
major concert of the year fell to
the Philadelphia Orchestra last
Tuesday, but those beginning to-
day include the interesting Hayes
series and that of the National
Symphony Orchestra on Wednes-
day. Special local significance at
taches to the first concert of the
Symphony which this year be-
gins a new era under the direc-
ton of Howard Mitchell.
The piano recitals by five Of the
greatest pianists of today, which
is one series of four to be pre-
sented this season by Patrick
Hayes. will open with the appear
ance this afternoon of Guiomar
Novaes in Constitution Hall. Nine.
Novaes will give an all-Chopin
program as the first in this city
featuring his piano works in this
year of the Chopin death eenten-
nial observations. The Brazilian
artists affinity with the music Of
Chopin should be very close for
she has both the sensitivity and
the technical brilliancy to make
her an ideal interpreter.
Won Fame as > Child.
Nine. Novaes was a child prod
ICY. The interest of the Bra
lillian government was aroused
and manifested itself by sending
her to Paris for further study.
The story of her triumph over
nearly 400 contestants for a schol-
arship in the Conservatoire is well
known. From her debut appear
ance until the present time. she
has maintained her standing as
one of the worlds renowned
pianists.
Realizing, perhaps, that her ca
reer was made possible by the
encouragement and support of her
country's government, she, in turn,
sponsored a plan for assisting
young artists. It was organized
IN 1941, primarily as gesture OF
friendship between the two coun-
tries and was called the Guiomar
Novaes Award. It provided for
tour of Brazil for a North Ameri-
can pianist winning the award
in open competition. Joseph
Battista was chosen. Four con-
certs were arranged at first
but so great was the in
terest that it was expanded
to more than twice the number.
Later a pendant award was es-
tablished by the Columbia Con-
certs for a Brazilian pianist to
tour the United States. Arnoldo
Estrella was the winner and he
appeared as soloist with the Ma
tional Symphony in 1943.
Mitchell in Full Command.
BY this time, Mr.. Mitchell Is
well known for his conducting
skill and as a worthy successor to
the late DR.. Hans Kinder. This
year, however. he assumes full
responsibility of a major season re-
quiring such variety as to be q
challenge to the new director. He
has gone about his arrangements
for the musical enjoyment of the
Symptoms patrons with the
highest intent. He refuses to be
Influenced by past procedure and
has already asserted his individ-
uality by establishing a new seat
ing plan for the orchestra and by
having his programs all ready for
perusal by prospective concert
goers long before the season
opened.
These, however, are minor
matters in the bigger prospective
Of the Orchestra'S future. The
public's response so far has been
most encouraging and seems to
indicate that the time has at last
arrived for complete rallying Of
support for the local organization.
There is every reason to be proud
of the National Symphony, to
admire its vitality and resiliency,
to be grateful for it's contribution
to community culture and for the
impression it has made in other
cities. Mr.. Mitchell brings, besides
his thorough musicianship, an
alert, youthful outlook and an
artistic integrity that promises
much.
1t remains now for the public
to demonstrate it's interest, and
to give evidence of it's apprecia-
ton of the scope and profundity
Of the music it will hear. A new
start is being made that presages
the reaching of new heights which
should bring glory to this city.
Menuhin To Be SoIoist.
Soloist for the opening concert
on Wednesday. which also inaug-
urates Mr.. Mitchell's plan to make
the Wednesday of every week
symphony Night" will be Yehudi
Menuhin. violinist. He will play
the Elgar Concerto" which, years
ago, he performed in London with
the composer conducting.
This American born artist, whose
talent was first trained in this
country. has a remarkable rec
ord behind him which includes
more than 160 concerts for serv-
ice men all over the world during
the war. He will make his first
tour of South Africa, however, In
1850.
Last year he received the Legion
of Honor in Paris. the youngest
recipient of this distinction, and
was commended by the Pope in q
special audience for his efforts
toward international understand
ing
Mr.. Mitchell's program will in
clude Bach's "Komm suesser Tod"
in memory of DR.. Kinder, and the
Beethoven Symphony No. T."
l. A