Evening star., 1950-02-02
By Alice Eyersmon


Constitution Hall, where he WELD
ed the baton as guest director of
the National Symphony Orchestra.
The Elasticity of his readings and
his grasp of the interpretive po-
tentialities of the orchestra when
due consideration is given each
section were powerful enough to
keep the tension of the audience
at high pitch. His program selec-
tions are evidently favorites of his
and the familiar numbers bene-
fitted by the individualism of his
conception.
The one novelty for the local
public, Faure's ''Pelleas and Nell
sande" Suite, revealed in a par
ticular way the extent of the con-
ductor's artistry. It is lovely
work. quite different in atmos-
phere from the type of music De-
busy wrote for the opera of that
title. Faure's suite is formed from
the incidental music he wrote for
the play in which Mrs. Patrick
Campbell starred and the sections
played last night are entitled
Prelude" "Fileuse" and "Meli-
sande's Death" If the mysterious
and impalpable quality that De-
busy wove into his music is not
present in that of Faure, the
sweetness, charm and delicacy of
the character of Melisande, and
the poignancy of her love story
with Pelleas is wonderfully ex-
pressed.
Because breath of too much
emphasis would destroy the il
lustion and the most delicate
handling is necessary to create the
picture, only a conductor of Mr..
Ansermet'S sensitivity could out
line it so eloquently. He did this
by his complete mastery of or
chestral dynamics and by the
matching of its most expressive
colors. The beautiful, soft tones
he drew from the strings in the
wistful Prelude" the fragile
grace in the delivery of the Fill
euse" and the pathos of his de-
piction of the death were matters
OF artistry of highly developed
kind.
He put his stamp also onto
Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony,
which has seldom been presented
with so much f1nesse. There was
not a measure set forth without
a rare kind of PERCEPTION as to
Its immediate intent, as well as its
prominence in the overall idea.
Iridescence in color went side by
side with noble feeling. Some
might take exception to the re-
f1nement of his reading, prefering
q more boisterous Beethoven in
the Finale, a more terrifying con-
ception Of the Marcia Funebre"
and greater virility in the open
ing movement. Perhaps broader
sweeps Of the orchestral brush
would have achieved these results.
This was not Mr.. Ansermet's way.
II the fame of this great work
did not scorch and the grandeur
OF the composers daring was not
overwhelmingly underscored, the
reading was rich in imagination.
The tempt were controlled, so
that the horns could distinguish
themselves in the tricky passages
OF the "Scherzo" and the wood
winds, particularly the oboe, spin
their melodies expertly and beauti-
fully. Every measure of the first
and last movements was clearly
defined and, If someberness and
finality were not SO much q part
of the Funeral March," its deep
grief had softness of outline
quite far from the often didactic
presentation.
The musicians OF the Orchestra
responded superbly to the difficult
demands on pliability that Mr..
Ansermet imposed on them. Their
tone carried with mellowness, and
the f1neness of it's shadings was
one Of the outstanding character.
istics of the performance. The
conductor recognized their excel
lent work each time he ac-
knowledged the applause, COM
mending each section with ges-
ture.
The program closed with the
"Suite" from Stravinsky's pet
rouchka" which Mr.. Ansermet
conducted often when with the
Diaghileff Ballets Russes. This
was indeed the climax of the
program. Built up with remark
able skill, with all its rich coloring
and crowded action kept in ka-
leidoscopic motion, it was a nota-
BILE performance, interpretively
from the conductors side and
musically from the members of
the Orchestra. 1t well merited the
ovation that followed.
Sesqui Concert Given.
In the Departmental Audito-
rum last night, the Army Band
under Capt. Hugh Curry's direc-
ton continued it's Sesquicenten-
nial concerts. New Jersey was the
State honored on this occasion
and fluctuations of the Cover
nor were conveyed by William j..
Fleming, president of the New