Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-06
News of Music

y
Philadelphia Orchestra April
20. At the end Of April are three
performances by the Metro
politan Opera. Monday, April
%, followed by two on Tuesday.
April 20. This event is a real
gain, since over two score years
have passed since the company
last visited this city. Concerts
Of Importance may continue.
Of course. even though those
sponsored by the leading con-
cert bureaus and by the Ma
tional Symphony end.
This season has been a par
ticularly rich and rewarding
one. The old saying that WASH
ington is an unmusical city and
has nothing to offer does not
hold good anymore. The great
est orchestraS and most famous
artists have been. heard here
and musical knowledge has
been stimulated and advanced
by the performance of new
works and the resurrection of
others by old masters.
The National Symphony has
been ambitious in its programs.
Hardly a concert under How
ard Mitchell'S direction but had
a first performance. Unfamiliar
compositions by Bach, William
Boyce, Lord Berners. Berlioz,
Richard Strauss, Liszt, Haydn
were played. A world premiere
was given to Creston's Sym
phony No. 4" and first local
hearings to Roussel's Sym
phony No. 4" and John Powell's
new Virginia Symphony"
There we're other novelties also.
such as Dvorak's Concerto in
B Minor for Cello" introduced
here by Gregor Piatigorsky at
the opening concert; the Saint
Saens' Symphony No. 8" for
organ and orchestra; Bruckner's
Symphony No. 6" and the
charming Suite Eulogistic" by
LaSalle Spier.
Three Guest Conductors.
Three guest conductors add
ed to the glamour of the SYM
phony's season. Sir Thomas
Beecham, who premiered De-
Illus lover the Hills and Far
Away" proved to be the live
Hest and most entertaining of
these. Stokowski startled the
Symphony patrons by giving
them their first encounter with
sixteenths tones in Carrillo's
Horizontal" besides turning the
seating of the orchestra all
around in an experiment. Viii
la-Labos came Unexpectedly to
conduct, giving an opportunity
to hear some of his important
symphonic works.
The most notable accom-
pliShment of Mr.. Mitchell was
the presentation of all Beetho-
ven concertos by prominent ar
fists. The Triple Concerto was
played by the first chair men
of the orchestra. Szymon Gold
berg performed the violin con-
certo. The five piano concertos
were heard from William
Kapell, Ania Dorfman, Jorge
Bolet, Marylan Filar and Ru-
dolf Firkusny. Other soloists
from top ranks, were Jascha
Heifetz. Dorothy Maynor, Pa
trice Munsel, Earl Wild and
Artur Rubinstein.
The three concerts by the
Boston Symphony were con-
Quoted by Charles Munich,
Pierre Monteux and Ernest
Ansermet. The Philadelphia
Orchestra's concert of January
% marked the local debut Of
Victor de Sabata, as conduc-
tor. Premierred by the Phila-
delphianS under Eugene Or
mandy'S baton, was Schuman's
symphony No. 6" and Swan
sons Short Symphony"
Had Brilliant Season.
The Hayes Bureau has had
q brilliant season starting out
with the Hurok company in
two performances of Strauss
die Fledermaus." The New
York Philharmonic, under Nit
ropoulos was the next attrac-
ton with Gena Bachauer as
Soloist in her local debut. The
pianist later gave a notable re-
cital in Lisner Auditorium
Both the National Symphony
and the Hayes Bureau moved
to Lisner Auditorium for some
events. The piano series, ini-
tiated some years ago by Mr..
Hayes, was transferred there.
The Symphony repeated three
OF its Constitution Hall pro-
grams in the smaller hall
for an afternoon audience.
Through Mr.. Hayes auspices,
the Spanish soprano of the
Metropolitan Opera. Victoria de
los Angeles and the good look
ing. talented Singing Boys of
Norway were heard in Wash
ington for the first time.
Some Of these events stood
out for superlative quality,
amongst them were Rubin
STEMS piano recital and that
by Bachauer, on the Hayes
series. Song recitals by De los
Angeles and Gladys Swarthout
belong in this category. Hell
fetz's performance of the
Brahms violin concerto, with
the National Symphony, was a
memorable one. In some re-
spects it eclipsed even his excel
lent recital on the Hayes series
ITikIn