Evening star., 1953-02-01
News of Music

Each inauguration StirS up
once more the complaint that
Washington has not a proper
hall in which the festivities
can be held. The present in
auguration was no different.
Among residents of the city
and among the visitors, the
feeling was unanimous that
the Capital should have some
dignified and decorative build
ing where the celebrations
connected with the establish
ment of a new regime could be
properly staged. It is the repe-
tition of an old story.
1t is time to remind all con-
cerned that a remedy for the
situation has been before the
public for many years. If the
Government heads and the
city fathers will listen to those
who have agitated for an opera
house. not only for the arts
but for gala events as well, the
solution is at hand. The mat
ter was placed before the
House of Representatives once
more not so long ago.
On January 3, bills were in
troduced by Representatives
Carroll D. Kearns of Pennsyl-
vania and Charles R. Howell
of New Jersey. They are SINH
lar in great part to other bills
sponsored by these legislators
many times. Following the
same plan, they ask for the
establishment of "a National
Memorial Theater and Opera
House as a living memorial to
the gallant men and women of
our armed forces and devoted
to the fine arts which are of
the highest Importance in in
terpreting for our generation
the values and cultural her.
itage of Western civilization"
Duty to the People
Such a theater, according to
details of the plan, would serve
the dual purpose of housing
the arts and of providing an
impressive auditorium for gala
occasions. But. as worthy and
necessary as the fostering of
art is admitted to be. it as
Sumes secondary Importance
beside the vital national and
international questions before
Congress. There is, however,
a duty to the people all over
the country to leave nothing
undone that will add prestige
to their Nations Capital. The
impressions of such an event
as an inaugural would be
heightened by appreciation of
a building devoted to the fine
arts" and at the same time
honoring the memory of "the
gallant men and women in our
armed forces"
One of the purposes of the
National Opera Guild of
Washington, formed last year,
is to sponsor. the building of
an opera house. David E.
Finley. first vice president of
the organization and head of
the Commission of Fine Arts,
has Endorsed it and Represen-
tative Kearns reiterated his
support at a luncheon meeting
this fall. He went further
and introduced a bill asking
for the transfer of the $1.4
million unexpended by the
National Capital Sesquicen-
tennial to the general services
administration for the build
ing of such a theater and opera
house. Curt Schiffeler, presi-
dent of the guild, pledges the
full cooperation of his group.
The erection of a building
where the cultivation of the
arts can progress at all times
is important not solely to the
community but to the entire
country. The people from the
different sections are proud of
their Capital and desire that
1t have the best. To find that
it had no adequate and i'm
preSSive place to celebrate the
Inauguration must have been
diSilluSioning. And the arts
OF music, the theater, paint
ing, sculpture, and the dance
are not simply decorations.
They are vital to the spiritual
life of the Nation. The Cap
ital should lead the country
IN fostering them and provide
the incentive to practice the
arts which will elevate the
thinking and the living of the
people.
1t Would Pay
Were an opera house to be
built following the outline in
the bills before Congress, it
would be useful in many other
ways. There is no question but
that it would be a paying prop
position. But it is to be hoped
that the more vital need of
advancing the cultural life of
the country will be paramount.
Washington is the place for
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