MUSIC SUPPLEMENT Y 4, 4P A6F mUsIc SUPPLEMENT. Latest Deadline in the State VOL. LIX, No. 6 ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 148 PRICE FIVE CENTS Choral Union co-, tlcert S ries pens ct. 6 Orchestra of France Will Pla Here Munch To Lead Symphony Oct. 25 On its first American tour, the French National Orchestra will appear here Oct. 25 in the second concert of the regular Choral Un- ion Series. Founded in 1934 as the Orches- tre National of France, the or- chestra rose at once to prominence among the great symphony or- chestras of that nation. Arturo Toscannini conducted the group in a series of concerts in Novem- ber 1935, which marked its attain- ment of first place among French orchestras. WHEN WAR WAS declared, the National Orchestra was on the eve of making a tour of the ar- tistic centers of Europe. The or- chestra was completely broken up when the Germans occupied France in 1940. Many of the mem- bers were military prisoners, others were under the close ob- servation of the Occupation forces. However, the director and others who had been able to gain refuge in Free France decided to reorganize the Orchestre Na- tional in spite of the great dif- ficulties. .The plan took shape and by March, 1941, the orchestra had again begun its work. By Sep- tember, of the same year the or- chestra had begun its radio broad- casts again and was completely reestablished on a solid founda- tion. BETWEEN 1941 AND 1943 the orchestra kept up its regular ac- tivities in Marseille. Finally, in 1943, the complete orchestra was able to return to the capital, where it took up its headquarters in the Old Conservatory. At the Theatre des Champs- Elysees the Orchestre National be- gan a series of broadcasts devoted to the reestablishment of musical contact between France and the Allied Nations and to the musical reeducation of the French people. SEVERAL TOURS were then begun of French cities and Brus- sels, Berlin, Biel, Berne, Zgrich, Lucerne, Montreaux, and Geneva among others. The Orchestra Na- tional also participated in the great London Festival of 1947. Conducting the orchestra on its American tour is Charles Munch, the French conducwor who has won acclaim in many previous tours of this country. Szell To Lead Symphony in Third Concert The Cleveland Symphony Or- chestra under George Szell will present the third in the regular concert series, Sunday, Nov. 7. Szell, who took over the orches- tra two years ago, was born in Budapest and presented his first concert at the age of 11. * * * HE APPEARED as conductor, pianist and composer at the con- cert of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra when he was 17 and decided then on a career of con- ducting. Szell has conducted orchestras in Darmstadt, Dusseldorf, Berlin, Prague, Glasgow and The Hague in Europe, and New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los An- geles, Detroit and Cleveland in the United States. As composer, Szell also has con- ducted many of his own arrange- ments, including one of Smetana's String Quartet. * * * SZELL succeeded Erich Leins- dorff, who served as conductor from 1943 to 1946. Artur Rodzin- ski also directed the orchestra at one time, as successor to Nikolai Sokoloff, who led the orchestra through its first 15 years. Since its founding in 1918 by the Musical Arts Association of nl-ra- -r tl- nrn scrr lin arn Ezio Pinza To Be Guest Star in Fourth Concert Ezio Pinza, versatile bass-baritone of the Metropolitan Opera, will appear here Nov. 18 as guest soloist in the fourth concert of the regular Choral Union Series. This date will mark the popular Pinza's eighth appearance at Hill Auditorium. FAMED AS A GREAT ACTOR as well as a great singer, Pinza is most noted for his interpretation of the title role in Mozart's "Don Giovanni." His amazing versatility and extraordinary range, however, have given him a repertoire of 72 different characterizations, from the baritone role of Escamillo in "Carmen" to Basilio's basso profundo in "The Barber of Seville." But Pinza's fame has gone beyond the operatic stage: he is