Music: The Orchestras Begin

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(See front cover.)

Last week saw U. S. symphonies definitely launched on a new season, saw conductors back from Europe with new music and sharpened batons, saw stormy rehearsals and brilliant first nights. Many bridges had been crossed since last spring. Orchestras had been left leaderless, some penniless. Deficits had been threateningly announced; in a few dire cases, cleared. New leaders had been imported, borrowed. The situation:

In Manhattan. For 49 years a Damrosch has been host at the New York Symphony*— for seven years Leopold, its founder; for the last 42 Walter, the son. But at the first of the golden anniversary concerts given last week Walter Damrosch was not in his usual place, sat instead in the centre box and led the applause for Fritz Busch. Guests followed his lead, kept their eyes courteously to the front, applauded a respectful, uneventful performance of the Beethoven Fourth, the Brahms First. Five guest conductors are listed this season for the "one-man" orchestra: Fritz Busch of the Dresden Opera for the first half season, then Ossip Gabrilowitsch of the Detroit Symphony, Walter Damrosch himself, Maurice Ravel, coming from France, and Enrique Fernandez Arbós of the Madrid Symphony.

The Philharmonic Orchestra, with its second program, fitted an exquisite bit into its season's mosaic. Mme. Wanda Landowska was soloist, played to Josef Willem Mengelberg's accompaniment the Mazort Concerto in E flat, the Finale of his Harpsichord Concerto in D. Critics sat enthralled, spent their dearest words, said nothing worthy of so unique an artist.

The new Beethoven Symphony Orchestra, Georges Zaslawsky, conductor, made its debut as a permanent organization, gave an excellent first program, surprised critics of last year.

The Society of the Friends of Music, Arthur Bodanzky conducting the Metropolitan Opera House Orchestra, announced Beethoven's Misso Solemnis for its first concert, Oct. 30, promised nine others for alternate Sunday afternoons, beginning Nov. 6.

The Boston Symphony, opened its fourth season under Serge Koussevitzky, gave two worthy catholic programs — Stravinsky, Debussy, Brahms, Berlioz, Bach-Schonberg, Richard Strauss, de Falla. "This year," read a foreword in the program book, "owing to increased expenses the deficit is likely to be $85,000, and we ask all those who are anxious to see these concerts continue to subscribe towards the deficit." Figures showed the operating expenses increased by $32,696; the gross income $717,886; the gross expenditure $762,183.

The Philadelphia Orchestra began with Fritz Reiner of the Cincinnati Symphony for guest the first half season. Sir Thomas Beecham (England), Ossip Gabrilowitsch (Detroit), Josef Willem Mengelberg (New York Philharmonic), Pierre Monteux (France) and Frederick Stock (Chicago) are possibilities for portions of the last half. Conductor Leopold Stokowski (whose arm is lamed) sailed last week for Europe and the Orient, to be away a year looking for new, unusual music.

The Rochester Philharmonic, Eugene Goossens, conductor, announced an all-Wagner concert for its first, Nov. 10. The theatre orchestra, established by George Eastman, will again be augmented by faculty members of the Eastman school, their expenses met by the Eastman Theatre Subscribers Association.