Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-09
News Of Music
By Alice Eversmon

by Alice eVerSmon
After a 32-year absence, the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra re-
turned to give a program yes
terday afternoon in Constitution
Hall. It had, as it's director, not
conductor of the renown of
the late Frederick Stock, at the
helm in 1921, but the young
Rafael Kubelik, son of the IA
nous violiniSt, Jan Kubelik. The
interest in this particular con-
cert was divided between the or
cheStra as a body of experienced
musicians and the conductor of
whom much has been said.
The result was an ovation for
both. It rose in a crescendo dur
ing the program to a climax at
the end. The audience stood APP
plauding after the final number
and cries of bravo reSounded
from all sides. A conducting per-
Sonality was recognized and a
superb symphonic group warmly
welcomed.
Mr.. Kubelik is a tall, slender
man who knows well what he
wants from his ensemble. In
the first number, the Overture to
Smetana'S THE Battered Bride"
his individuality was impressively
visible. But it was evident also
during the program, that he is
not conductor equally success
full in all kinds of music. He
began and finished in a superb
manner, with the Smetana Over
ture, and with Moussorgskv's
Pictures at an Exhibition" In
between came Reethoven's Fro
lea" Symphony, a work by
which every conductor is tested.
Heavy-FOoted Delivery.
1t is difficult to understand
how, after a fiery, brilliant and
sympathetic reading of the Over
ture. he should fall short amid
the marvels of the "Eroica." It
was a dull performance, bright
ened here and there with some
extremely fine effects, but on the
whole heavy-footed and unin-
splred delivery. Nor did the
orchestra sound the same. It's
tone was more cramped and the
lustre that gave such a simmer
to the Overture was wanting.
The entire plane of interpreted
ton was made up of disjointed
ideas, some of them fine, and
others without special reason for
being.
Yet when it came to Pictures
at an Exhibition" in Ravel's
orcheStration. he gave an unsur-
passed performance. It was mar
veloUsly thought out with every
pictorial effect possible in the
orchestral body drawn upon
Here the conductor demon
strated to the fullest his individ-
uality and his artistic powers.
They are distinctive in the
conducting field but they func-
ton best in a particular type OF
music. The "Eroica" was not
that type. Mr.. Kubelik has great
temperament and a lively feeling
for virtuoSity. Smetana's Over
ture was played in light. rapid
tempo with impressive rhythmic
exactitude. In the Pictures, -
his concern for clarity in execu-
ton, for broad sweep of line, to-
gether with crystal-clear, deli |
cate touches, did not hamper the
abandon with which it was de-
llvered. Seldom has the true
Slavic flavor been so consistently
reproduced. The performance
showed Mr.. Kubelik as a spe-
clallst, a joyously inspired and
authoritative conductor when the
music means much to him.
Has Another Quality.
The Chicago Symphony has
gained another quality under his
direction. His imprint is dis
cernible in the rich, buoyant |
tone. the remarkable extremes
of dynamics which it achieves
so easily, and in its unShakable |
precision. Each section is notable
in its own right and in blending
together. the SOUND is velvety
and vital at the same time.
In the very beautiful "A Leg
end by Arne Oldberg of Chi
cago, given its world premiere
yesterday, the calibre of the or
cheStra could be gagged COM
pletely The work itself is out
standing, having particular
SmoothneSS of design for its
flowing melodic themes. The
saneneSs of this music does not
interfere with the skillfuI dis
closure of its poetic thought nor
is the interest IN its construction
lessened because of lack of dis
Sonance. The fine orcheStration
has strength and vigor and the
musicians UNDERSIGNED it's deep
sentiment with warmth and
Surging power Mr.. Oldberg,
present to hear the performance.
was given the audiences acco-
lade at the close, anart from that
accorded the conductor and the
musicians.
Hodges Presents Program
OF RoveI Compositions
By Elena de Sovn