Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-06-14
FROM QUITO
Symphony
Is Enjoying
Its Tour

solo trumpet ana ASSISTANT
conductor OF the National
Symphony, Is OF more than
private interest. II was
iDritten from Quito. Ecuador.
Where the Symphony found
itself on June 3, tho iOeeks
into its three-month South
American tour:
DEAR DAY:
As you know, we opened In
Panama City May 81, repeat
ing the same program across
the isthmus in Colon the
next night. It was hot and
humid in both spots and
neither theater was air con-
ditioned. yet I have never
seen such attentive audiences
or such enthusiasm. We left
all the doors open 80 that
the crowds Of people In the
street could hear. People out
side were told that we'd have
to close the doors unless they
were quiet. They stood dur
ing the entire performance.
Naturally. they appreciated
the Cordero Symphony great
ly, but the Beethoven It'll
stole the show.
The manner Of applauding
down here is unique. It builds
in successive waves with each
curtain call. We at home do
Just the opposite until finally
the applause dies down. In
Latin America. 1t builds to q
standing ovation. and I'm
happy to say that we have
enjoyed exactly this kind Of
enthusiasm at every concert
thus far.
And the reviews have been
Just as great as everyone
could possibly wish. One
Bogota critic wrote what
sound" what marvellous
discipline to the baton" An
other Colombian paper wrote
that the National Symphony
belongs surely in the first
rank along with the New
York and Philadelphia Or
chestras." From Panama, we
few to Colombia for a 10.
day visit. AS in Panama. we
were all treated royalty.
Everyone has been amazingly
hospitable in arranging all
sorts Of recreational and So
cial activities for the entire
membership Of the orchestra.
This, Of course, includes golf
for Howard. Ralph and me.
We have enjoyed playing in
Panama. Bogota, Cali and
Quito, and they have some
sporty courses.
First concert in Colombia
was in the Teatro Colon in
Bogota. It's a wonderful old
plush opera house which we
could certainly use in Wash
ington. President Lleras OF
Colombia attended along with
other high government Of
ficials and diplomatic repre-
sentatives. so it was a gala
affair. We performed the
next night in the huge Tea
tro Colombia. which is nor
mally a movie house. Both
concerts were selloutS.
May 20. in BoRota. the or
chestra performed q free
children's concert in the
morning. 1t was the greatest
thing we could have done as
goodwill ambassadors. We
played for 1900 children
from orphanages public
schools and the shelter for
abandoned children.
It was such a success that
the most influential paper.
"El Tempo" ran an editorial
Gliding the local orchestra
for never having thought OF
such programs before. Howard
Is going to try and work them
in whenever the schedule al
lows.
From Bogota we went to
Cartagena for the festival.
which was a great success.
Howard conducted the open.
Ing concert and Guillermo
Espinosa the second.
After the closing concert,
the Mayor Of Cartagena en-
tertained for all the orches.
ira way up on top Of the
Fortress st. Felipe. 1t was
a wonderful evening Of folk
dancing and folk music.
From Cartagena we few to
Medellin for q single concert.
and judging by the audience.
this was our biggest triumph.
After the concert in Medel-
lin, we went on to Cali for
our last Colombian concerts
before going to Ecuador.
There, again, we were enter
tanned every night.
We are all tired, but the
musicians morale is very
high. and in spite Of the
normal amount OF digestive
troubles. we remain O pretty
healthy group.
So. I'd say we were of to
o more successful start than
anyone could have antic-
ipated. It's going to be q
marvellous tour. but we are
already looking forward to
our return to Washington in
August.
I'll try and keep you posted
from time to time.