Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-10-31

The undoubted center Of at
traction during last nights
National Symphony Orchestra
concert at Constitution Hall
was the youthful soprano Mar
garet Tynes, who is better
known abroad than she is in
her native land.
Miss TyneS flashed onto the
international scene only last
summer at the Festival Of Two
Worlds in Spoleto, thanks to
her debut as Salome. 1t was a
sensational beginning for the
hitherto little known singer,
duly reported in the big news
weeklies as well as in the mus
ical press.
Yesterday, Miss Tynes was
heard singing part Of the same
role, the gruesome final scene
from the Strauss opera. It was
not difficult to understand why
she made such strong impact
on the Italian audience. She is
q most attractive young wo-
man, with q definite flair for
the dramatic and a strong, ex-
pressive voice.
Nevertheless, 1t did not seem
to me that she can triumph
in this difficult part through
her vocal gifts and attributes
alone, even though on stage
and in costume, she may we'll
be a most impressive Salome.
When pushed beyond the
mezzoforte, Miss Tynes' voice
tends towards edginess. While
her singing is always intelli-
gent and musical, 1t seemed to
me that she has still not fully
developed her obviously great
potential. For one thing, her
diction leaves something to be
desired; for another, her vocal
coloration, at least last night,
tended toward the monochro-
matte.
Earlier In the evening, Miss
Tynes was Joined by the fine
tenor, George Shirley well
known locally from previous
appearances with the Opera
Society in the final act Of
Puccini's now rarely heard
"Manon Lescaut."
Both singers did extremely
well by this lush, characteristic
cally Puccinian score, and some
of the most affecting moments
Of the concert came in its quiet
er passages. The fact that she
was reading the music from
a score somewhat cramped Miss
Tynes' histrionic style. New
ertheless, she gave a remark
ably fine account Of herself in
those parts Of the finale which
she learned only after her ar
rival in Washington, and a
brilliantly melodramatic read
ing of the famous "Sola, per-
duta, abbandonata" aria which
was in her repertoire before
hand.
The purely orchestral con-
tributions to the evening in
cluded the fragrant Brigg Fair
of Frederick DeliuS (who will
champion this exquisite small
voice now that Sir Thomas
Beecham is deadO the Beetho-
ven First Symphony and the
Dance of the Seven Wells.
The orchestra was in top
form. The Beethoven and De-
Illus works were beautifully
played; the seductive Strauss
was properly sensuous and
glittering. A small credit should
60 to timpanist Fred Begun,
whose 1nimetic reaction to
Strauss seven wells was q
pleasure to behold.
During the intermission, DR..
Mitchell made q short speech
to the audience, calling atten-
ton to the fact that yesterday
marked the 34th anniversary Of
the laying Of the cornerstone
for Constitution Hall, express
ing his gratitude to the OAR
for its hospitality to the or
chestra, and presenting that
organization with an honorary
life membership in the National
Symphony Orchestra Associa-
ton. Mrs. Robert B. Duncan,
president general of the OAR,
accepted the membership with
q few graceful words.
The program will be repeated
tonight.