Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-04-10

ard Mitchell, conductor soloists. Lois
Harshan. SOPRANO; Margaret Snow
Norman Treisie. bass. Howard Uni.
versity Choir. Warner Lawson, d.
rector. In Constitution Hall. Proeram;
The Creole Faust Overture; Ginastsro:
65, Beethoven: THE SONG of De-
mocracy, Howard Hanson symphony
No. o, d minor. Opus 1875, Beethoven
For the final concert of the
season, Howard Mitchell and the
National Symphony last night
brought Lois Marshall back to
Constitution Hall. They also
brought Howard Hanson, Bee
thoven, the Howard University
Choir and three other effective
soloists - no inconSeQuential
supporting cast. But there was
no question as to who was the
hit Of the show, for the soprano
voice of Miss Marshall, under
the domination of her superb
musicianship. was nothing less
than sensational.
She sang the long. intimate
and passionate reciative and
aria "Ah Perfiido" of Beethoven,
one of the most beautiful of his
very early works. CThe late opus
number is misleading, indicating
only the time of publication.
Her voice has at least eight
distinguishable colors, and ex-
presses as many different moods.
The precision of her singing.
the control of every phrase. of
every infection, even, and the
wide range Of her emotional
communication, are unbelievable
to one who has not heard her,
and are in my experience a COM
bination found in no other single
singer. DR.. Mitchell's orchestral
accompaniment was entirely
sympathetic. The II or IS min
utes of true music-making were
one Of the most captivating
coverings of musical recreation
Washington has heard this sea-
son.
Howard Hanson, dean Of the
Eastman School of Music, was on
hand to conduct his new choral
work THE Song Of Democracy"
commissioned by the National
Education Association for its CEN
tennial celebration. A work which
could be sung by a first rate high
school choir was stipulated. DR..
Hanson has done solid job with
his text from Walt Whitman.
Works specifically written for
patriotic or educational ends. and
at the same time designed to be
performed or listened to by het-
erogeneous and perhaps unmusi-
cal groups. often do not flow
from the purest springs of must
cal inspiration. DR.. Hanson's
music. however, is neither banal
nor pretentious. 1t is short. direct
and workmanlike, and pulls a
coy counterpart over two highly
unlikely bedfellows-Walt Whit
man and the National Education
Association.
DR.. Mitchell has conducted
Beethoven's ninth symphony
many times, and his interpreta-
ton has crystalized into a vivid,
romantic and compelling read
ing. For me, the first movement
lacks som e hing Of nervous
energy and the characteristic
alienation of lyric repose and
elemental drive, but the rest is
very fine. To single out one Of
several particularly happy mo-
ments, I mention the bassoon
counterpart in the first varia-
ton Of the finale--genius at its
most incandescent, and beauti-
fully played.
The Howard University Choir,
trained by Warner Lawson.
Joined the orchestra and the
four soloists - Miss Marshall,
Margaret Snow Roy. John Nc
Collum and Norman Treigle. AS
in the Hanson cantata. the
choir was excellent - powerful.
clean and generally in good bal
ance.
Mr.. McCollum's strong and
dependable tenor voice made the
ALA marcia a delight, and Mr..
Treigle's opening recitative and
banter with the chorus was good.
The four soloists were completely
genial in the quartet.
The entire program will be
repeated tonight in Constitution
Hall and tomorrow afternoon in
I,isner Auditorium.