Evening star., 1952-09-28
News of Music

AS the OrcneSCfal programs
for the winter begin to shape
up, it would seem that Eugene
Ormandy has chosen some of
the most interesting unfamiliar
works for the Philadelphia Or
chestra performances. The noted
conductor has been in Berlin
to conduct q radio orchestra
concert as part Of the Berlin
Festival. BY the time this Is in
print, he win be back home at
the head of his PhiladelphianS
for q program In Atlantic City.
His series of eight concerts in
Constitution Hall begins October
28.
On the second program, No
vember IS. he will give a first
local hearing to Arthur Honeg-
gers Jeanne dare au bucher."
The work is styled a dramatic
oratorio and the principal roles,
those Of Jeanne and of Frere
Dominique, are spoken parts.
They will be taken by Vera
Zorina and Raymond Gerome,
who appeared in the American
premiere at Carnegie Hall, New
York in 1948. The Temple Uni
versity Chorus of $50 voices will
participate with Frances Yeend.
Carolyn Long. Martha Upton,
David Lloyd and Kenneth Smith
in solo roles.
Honegger's oratorio was a
long time reaching the United
States. It was heard throughout
Europe and in South America
many times since it was COM
posed but not in New York until
brought by Charles Munich for
a concert of the New York
Philharmonic-a short time
after the composer arrived in
this country. He was bound for
Tanglewood for the summer
sessions. When asked if he
would remain in America he
answered NO" adding signif-
icantly There is not a country
where you can go and say,
Here I live without war;"
Dedicated to Dancer
He was in a depressed mood
following his experiences during
the war and thought he would
compose no more. "The work
of serious composition" he said
sis for young men," Neverthe-
less, he wrote his symphony
No. S." which Mr.. Munich and
the Boston Symphony played
here last year. some time later.
AS others. from Honegger's
pen. Jeanne dare" is dedicated
to the famed dancer. Ida Rubin
stein, whose artistic influence
was strongly felt in prewar
France. She took the role Of
Joan of Arc in the Paris per-
formance in 1899. The poet.
Paul Claudel, one time French
Ambassador to the United
States, wrote the text as he did
for Honegger's later work,
''Dance Of Death" and for
many compositions by Darius
Milhaud. The story has to do
with the unfolding of the life
of the saint as bound to the
stake, she undergoes her martyr
dom. It is a mystical and
symbolical work where charac-
ters in her earthly drama are
depicted as animals, in contrast
to the heavenly voices of her
deliverance.
Another chorus. the Univer-
sity of Pennsylvania Choral So
ciety, Robert Godsall, conductor,
will take part in the presentation
of Mahler's Symphony No. 2"
on April IA. Soloists will be Rita
Kolacz and Janice Moudry, who
were selected by Ormandy es-
pecially for the Resurrection"
symphony, as it is known. They
will sing in the final movement
which, Mailer describes as,
"The answers to our questionings
are found in eternity" It is be-
lieved that Mailer was inspired
to use the text of a poem by
KlopStock for the chorus at a
memorial service held for his
friend, Hans Won Buelow in
Hamburg. Perhaps the whole
symphony is SO inspired for
Mahler's program notes begin
I'VE stand at the coffin of one
beloved-And in this solemn
moment a voice of terrible
earnestness calls to our hearts
What is this life and this death?
Is there a future for us-Is this
all a wasted dream?"
Novelties in Store
The first novelties will appear
on the opening program when
Jean RIVERS Symphony No.
3 for Strings" will be played and
Virgil Thomson's setting of five
poems by William Blake will be
sung by Mack Harrell, baritone.
Rivier is contemporary French
composer whose works are only
occasionally heard in this coun-
try. A quartet by him was
presented by the Pascal String
Quartet in the Library of Con-
gress in 1948. The final novelty
will be the performance of a
new violin concerto by Gian-
Carlo Menotti. Efrem Zimbalist
who has not played in public for
some time. will be the soloist.
Another violinist. Zinc Frances
catti, is scheduled for the all
Brahms program on February
Programs Of the Week