Evening star., 1950-05-18
Sesqui Contract
Troubles Tie Up
Orchestra Members,
Artists Unsigned
For Concert Series

Plans for this summers Water
gate symphony concerts are un-
certain because of contract diff
culties involving the Sesquicen-
tennial Commission, it. was learned
today.
Despite a commission announce
ment that it will sponsor the
series, neither the orchestra men,
bers nor any guest artists have
been signed up-with only seven
weeks left till the scheduled open
ing early in July.
The National Symphony Orches-
ira has been designated to give the
series of IL concerts in July and
a proposed contract for the con-
certs is being submitted to the
General Accounting Office. Who
can collect money for the tickets
and other legal questions remain
to be ironed out. But Walter M.
Bastian, commission counsel, said
he anticipates no difficulty in this.
No Definite Planning.
Pending the signing of the con-
tract, orchestra officials are MAX
ing no definite preparations for
the summer concerts and have no
plans for sponsoring the orches-
tra's own series If arrangements
with the sesqui commission are
not completed.
Sesquicentennial officials did not
disclose details of the contract
difficulty. Paul M. Massmann,
general manager, emphasized,
however, there was no disagree
ment between the commission and
the symphony management, but
merely legal complication.
Wording Difficulty.
The problem, he said. is simply
one of wording" and he added
he is confident lawyers" can
Straighten it out. He said he ex-
poets the contract will be signed
in less than a week, and without
being returned to the commission s
Executive Committee for further
approval.
Carter T. Barron, executive vice
chairman of the commission, said
he is confident the concert plans
will be carried out. He said it was
a question of legal machinery
somewhat similar to the legal ma
chinery question which blocked the
proposed Freedom Fair.
Since we are a Government
commission it means we have to
do things according to Govern
ment rules" he said. I'm this
case it, means a delay in action
that hurts any creative job"
The proposed contract gives the
Sesquicentennial Commission full
financial responsibility for the
series. The orchestra itself has
managed the series, in past sea-
sons.
Despite Mr.. Massmann's opti-
Despite Mr.. Massmann's and
Mr.. Barron's optimism, respon-
sible officials are concerned that
prolonged delay in settling the
contract may jeopardize arrange
ments for the concerts. While
tentative approaches have been
made by the orchestra manage
ment to some prospective artists
they can't be tied up positively
until the series is assured in writ
ing. &
Personnel Unsigned.
The symphony's summer per-
sonnel, moreover. must be signed
up separately from the winter sea-
son, and regular players can't wait
indefinitely for assurance of EN-.
ployment.
The sesquicentennial Offices an
nouncement of the July series
issued some days ago. said there
would be IL concerts, offering
guest soloists and some guest con.
ductors. Emerson Meyers, sesqui.
centennial music director, has
invited several foreign govern.
ments to sponsor appearance.
by representative guest artist.
from their countries. A group o1
all-American programs also is
projected.
i Posed Financial Problems.
i The National Symphony ha.
presented outdoor series at tn,
Watergate for the past ii sum.
mers, but not always withou'
financial difficulty. Last year the
series was underwritten by Franz
r. Jelleff, Washington merchant
Two years ago it was presented
only after q last-minute fund eff.
fort among business firms under
leadership Of the Board of Trade
), The symphony association has
no means Of underwriting the Sc.
ries itself this year, according t.
its president, Raymond E. Cox. A
$4,000 fund drive, begun last
January, still is short of the
amount needed for next winters
concerts alone, a spokesman said
Il think it would be very sac
for the city of Washington and
all the visitors who are expected
to come here this summer If they
weren't going to have the benefit
of one Of the biggest summer at
fractions the city has to offer