190 ln A, v THRE MC1HGtN DAILY-MUirSIC 8ITPPLi~1[ENT mmmmm Annual Concert Season Will Open Tuesday _;> Frit Reiner To Perform March 12 Will Appear With ChicagoGroup The Chicago Symphony Orches- tra will appear in the fifth of the Extra Concert Series March 12 in the "new" Hill Auditorium. A perennial favorite of Univer- sity concert-goers, the Chicago or- chestra will be conducted by Fritz Reiner, former conductor of the Pittsburgh Symphony. CONDUCTOR Reiner caused a sensation as guest leader with that orchestra in 1938, and was later made permanent conductor till 1948. It was Reiner who developed this orchestra into a top-ranking organization in the United States. The Chicago Symphony's reg- ular season is a busy one, with subscription concerts Thursday evenings and Friday afternoons. Popular concerts are held every Saturday night and young peo- ple's shows given on alternate Tuesday afternoons. The organization keeps a lesser "civic orchestra which serves as a training group for symphony players maintained by the orches- tra's governing body, the Chicago, Orchestral Association. * * * DURING THE summer months the orchestra presents a series at Ravinia Park outside Chicago, with guest conductors and soloists. . HILL CONCERTS: New Hill Auditorium Artur RubIstei To Begin Season By PETE HOTTON Pianist Artur Rubinstein, after a 10-year absence, will appear at Hill Auditorium in the first of the Choral Union Concerts Oct. 4. Only about one pianist in 10,000 have reached the state of perfec- tion when the critics can only sit back and admire, say the critics, and Rubinstein is that one. FAMOUS in concerts, radio, movies and recordings, Rubinstein is perhaps the most widely known pianist in America. Last summer in Chicago's Ravinia Park pavilion (once a B-29 hangar), Rubinstein got together with two other equally 'U' Music Society Opens_71st Year Five Orchestras, Eight Solo Stars, Vienna Choir Scheduled for Series For the first time in its history, the University Musical Society will bring the Boston Symphony Orchestra here for two concerts this year. Charles Munch, successor to Serge Koussevitzky, will lead the group in the seventy-first annual Choral Union Series Sunday, Oct. 23 and the following Tuesday, Oct. 25, in the Extra Concert Series. Three other orchestras will be heard in the regular series of concerts-the Cleveland, under George Szell, on Nov. 6; the Cin- cinnati under Thor Johnson, Jan.$ CHARLES A. SINK * * * Third oldest in th4 United, States and in the higher quality brackets ever since it was found- ed, the orchestra is known to " the entire Mid-West by its tours and regular Wednesday evening radio concerts. Organized in 1891, the orches- tra was led by its founder 'Theo- dore Thomas until his death in 1905. Frederick Stock served until 1942, when his death interrupted almost a half century of building the orchestra intoone of the fin- est in the country. Two conductors have served since Stock's death: Desire Defaw and Artur Rodzinski. The podium has been vacant since '1948, while : a series of distinguished guest con- ductors conduct the seasons. Guests for the year include Pierre Monteaux, conductor of the San Francisco Symphony; Bruno Walter, musical adViger of the New York Philharmonic;. George. Szell, director of the Cleveland Symphony; EugenehOrmandy, conductor of the Philadelphia Or- chestra, Fritz Busch, Met conduc- tor; and Charles Munch, newly appointed conductor of the Boston 7 Symphony. Paul Paray Will Conduct Pittsburghers French Conductor Here February 23 When the Pittsburgh Symphony comes to Ann Arbor for a Choral Union concert Feb. 23, it will be under the direction of the much- acclaimed French conductor, Paul Paray. Since its long-time conductor Fritz Reiner resigned from his post in 1948, the symphony has adopted a guest conductor policy which has brought such stellar musicians as Artur Rodzinski, Erich Leinsdorf, Charles Muench, Leonard Bernstein and Paray to its podium. A irounces SiX Series Following is the annual message from Charles A. Sink, president of the University Musical Society: To Music Lovers:- The University Musical Society is happy to announce twenty-six major concerts for the season of 1949-50. These are divided into five groups-the ,Choral Union Se- ries, Extra Concert Series, "Mes- siah" concerts, Chamber Music Festival,, and the May Festival. This season the Society anticipates that its offeringswill by commen- sarate in artistic .signific2 nce with the renovated auditorium in whct.h they w111 b'heard. Hill. Auditorium, which was con- structed in 1913 and completed in ihe foir the May Festival of that year, stands as armonument' to the neincry of Arthur Hill. a dis- tinguished alumnus, and for many years a regent of the University. i was greatly interested in msic. The rusical development at the University has been largely a re- sult of his far-sighted wisdom in' providing this building. In its early days many distinguished musi- cians, including Paderewski, pro- nounced it the finest music hall in the world. Needed renovations, accumulated through the years, were made by the Board of Re- gents the last summer, and once again the building stands in its renewed glory as a memorial to a man who lived and understood the quotation adopted by the Univer- sity Musical Society "Arts Longa Vita Brevis." The University Musical Society is grateful to the University, to Arthur Hill, and to the general public, for all which has been done in the furthering of good music. The Society hopes that the offer- ings this year will come up to ex- pectations and that one and all will be well pleased with every program. Charles A. Sink, President. Endowment Fund The University Musical Society, a nonprofit corporation, has es- tablished an endowment fund to ensure high quality concerts in af era of rising costs.+ All contributions will be used to provide the best possible pro- grams. These gifts are deductible for income and estate tax purposes. Critics were skeptical - they were worried what might happen when three such excellent men got together. The three had practiced 10 hours a day on the West Coast for ten days and no one was al- lowed to kibitz. * * * SAID RUBINSTEIN: 'That was the kitchen work, and you don't cook in public." In Chicago, they took two test runs to try out Ravinia's deli- cate microphones. Rubinstein again commented: "With this mike, I play what is fortissimo and drown Jascha. But what should I do? Play mouse? I go crazy if I hold back and go nibble-nibble; fortissimo is not like a mouse." But after the performance, 8,000 Chicagoans were enraptured and the trio had Chicago in the palms of their hands. Said one listener: "You didn't know whether to shout or bow your head." * * * RUBINSTEIN was born in War- saw in 1889, and was an apt mu- sician at four, but didn't make his debut until he was six years old. After studying with the vioiinist Joachim, he made his debut with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra at 13 with his teacher conducting. At 16 he made his first trip to the United States, playing at Philadelphia, Carnegie Hall, and 75 other cities during his tour. During the following half dozen years he played in many European countries including Russia, where he played with Serge Koussevitsky at St. Petersburg. When he went into Spain to give four recitals, he was so successful that he stayed for 124 more. * * * DURING THE first World War he toured South America and showed up in America for the second time in 1919. He has been so much in demand since then he has had to be on the move al- most every month of his life. He has played in North Africa, China, Japan, Java and the Phil- ippines besides the majorcountries of the world. In 1939 he returned to America and played in Ann Arbor for the Renovated Hill To Welcome Choral Union Concert Goers -Daily-Carlisle Marshall NEW LOOK-Hill Auditorium will blaze forth in new splendor for the seventy-first opening of the annual Choral Union Concert Series. This summer the 30-year old structure underwent its first major interior overhaul since it was built in 1913. New upholstered seats, carpeting on the main floor, a new lighting and sound system and, a complete paint job are only a few of the improvements which will greet patrons. The installation of new seats has decreased the seating capacity by 383 to 4,195. To balance this loss in revenue, the Society has upped the price of season tickets by 10 cents per concert. By DAVE THOMAS A completely refurbished Hill Auditorium will greet concertgo- ers at the opening program of the Seventy-first annual Choral Un- ion Series, Oct. 4. Music lovet s can lean back in upholstered theatre-stylebseats and enjoy the new decorative and lighting accouterments as a fit- ting background for the artistry of the musicians that play there. The $209,000 job is the first major remodeling which the 36- year old structure has undergone since it's dedication at the May Festival of 1913. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR of the building has been given a thor- ough redecorating. Walls and ceiling in the main concert hall are done in a warm buff. The bright red of the floor and car- peting produces a striking con- trast with the traditional blue and yellow' of the seats. Even the corridors, stairways and back-stage area has come in for a complete paint job. The hardwood floor of the stage has been sanded down and polish- ed to a rich finish and above the stage the old "peach basket" lights have disappeared. In their MEMORIES REVIVED: Semi-Public Rehearsals Led To Present Series of Concerts first time. He has been in country ever since and month's concert marks his ond appearance here. this this sec- May Festival Tradition Will Be Continued The May Festival, one of the oldest and most-famed traditions of the University Musical Society, will be held May 4, 5, 6, and 7 next year. As in past years, the Philadel- phia Orchestra conducted by Eu- gene Ormandy will be a mainstay of the Festival. The University Choral Union, Thor Johnson, guest conductor; and the Festival Youth Chorus, conducted by Marguerite Hood, will also participate. Soloists for this year's Festival have not yet been annousced. Four evening concerts and two matinees will be presented as us- ual. Ticket orders with remittances will be accepted and filed in se- quence beginning Dec. 1. The tenth annual Chamber Music Festival, to be held Jan- uary 13, 14, and 15, will feature the Budapest String Quartet. Tick- ets will go on sale Oct. 1. Back in the days when a parlor organ formed the nucleus for a small musical community, Ann Arborites were buzzing over the news that three semi-public re- hearsals and two concerts would be sponsored by the University Choral Union. The occasion for the -announce- ment was the first public concert of the choral group, then a lusty infant celebrating its initial birth- day. * * * A SOUVENIR from the concert, Single Tickets On Sale Now Tickets for single programs in either the regular or extra con- cert series are on sale now at the University Musical Society's of- fices in Burton Tower. Remaining season tickets are also on sale there. Prices for in- dividual tickets are $3 for main floor seats, $2.40 for first balcony and $1.80 for the top balcony. Season tickets for the regular series are priced at $16.80, $14.40 and $12. Tickets for the five pro- grams in the Extra Concert Series are $8.40, $7.20 and $6. All prices include taxes. a faded yellow "programme," lay for many years in the scrapbook of a long-time district resident. Recently the Choral Union's spon- sors, the University Musical So= ciety, obtained it, and others like it, and they. are now being bound for the permanent files of the So- ciety. Some of these recall the days when Archduke Joseph's Hun- garian Gypsy Band brought down the house in old Univer- sity Hall. Another, printed for the May 21 concert in 1867, an- nounced the coming of Andre's Alpine Choir and laid special emphasis on the zither duet which would highlight the pro- gram. In 1889 the local group succeed- ed in drawing the forerunner of the Boston Symphony to Ann Ar- bor on its "Third Annual Grand Concert Tour.' SINCE THEN, the Choral Unioi concert series has come to include two series of fifteen concerts, the Messiah, May Festival and Cham- ber Music Festival annually. And although musical tastes have varied through the years, the concerts continue to create the same enthusiasm as the "semi- public rehearsals" kindled 69 years ago. place are new flood lights--re- cessed in the ceiling. * * * OTHER NEW features include rows of indirect lighting fixtures and two drinking fountains for the first balcony. A new switch- board illumination control panel now controls the lighting. On the main floor, a system of terraced floor levels has been constructed so that each seat rests on a level plane. This * technique has also -eliminated the two "blind rows" in the bal- -conies. * Experts believe - that the ab- sorptive qualities of the seat up- holstery and carpeting will fur- ther improve the already excellent accoustical qualities of the audi- torium. THEHUGE glass skylight has been cleaned and its border of electric bulbs removed. No long- er a real skylight, the opening in the roof has been bricked over. Officials say that this will fa- cilitate the successful showing of movies during daylight hours. Other boons to film-goers are a new dismountable screen and improved sound system. Built by funds bequeathed by the late Arthur Hill, alumnus and a Regent of the University, Hill Auditorium has long been consid- ered one of the country's finest halls. This year's renovation seems to assure it a place in the front rank for a long time to come. Promptness Asked By Sink Charles A. Sink, president of the University Musical Society, requested yesterday that concert- goers refrain from arriving late for concerts. He stated that the Society's, traditional policy of refusing to admit latecomers while the ar- tists are performing will be main- tained for all concerts in the So- ciety's five concert series this sea- son. He said that all afternoon con- certs will begin promptly at the time scheduled. 17; and the Pittsburgh under Paul Paray, Feb. 23. FIVE soloists plus the Vienna Choir Boys are also scheduled for the regular series. Artur Rubinstein, pianist, opens the season at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by the Vienna Choir Boys on Oct. 15. Italo Tajo, Metropolitan Opera basso, will return to Ann Arbor Nov. 16. Rise Stevens, opera, radio and movIe mezzo-soprano, will make her local debut Dec. 5. MYRA HESS, British pianist, will make her fourth local ap- pearance in the Feb. 17 concert. A violin recital by Zino Frances- catti on March 20 will complete the regular series. In the fourth annual Extra Concert Series the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Guest Conductor Fritz Reiner will be heard Mar. 12. Nelson Eddy, baritone, will lead off the series at 7 p.m. Sunday. Other artists scheduled to ap- pear in the extra series are Tossy Spivakovsky, violinist, on Nov. 22 and Carroll Glenn, violinist, and her pianist-husband, Eugene List, in a joint recital Jan. 6. Three other musical events will fill out the year for the Society. These include two performances of Handel's "Messiah" on Dec. 10 and 11; the tenth annual Cham- ber Music Festival featuring the Budapest String Quartet, .Jan. 13 to 15; and the 1950 May Festival scheduled for May 4 to 7. B uda pesters To Offer Fine StringMusic Famous Quartet Will Play inJanuary Local music lovers will have a chance to hear the finest in cham- ber music when the famed Buda- pest String Quartet appears on Jan. 13, 14 and 15 at Rackham Auditorium. The Budapest quartet first made its American debut in 1930, after touring in Europe extensively dur- ing the 1920's. It scored an imme- diate success, and has become in- creasingly popular in succeeding years. TODAY reputable critics gen- erally consider the Budapesters to be the top-ranking string quartet in the world. This is an impressive tribute, for chamber music is often called the "highest and purest" form of music. Its history dates from the 18th century when Hungary's Prince Esterhazy commissioned Franz Joseph Haydn to write and play quartets for him. For many years it appealed only to those gourmets of music, who consid- ered it as being a cut above opera and the symphony or- chestra. Today, thanks to te work of such groups as the Budapesters. chamber music is much more pop- ular. Records made by top flight string quartets sell rapidly at most of the nation's music shops. THE BUDAPEST Quartet has merged the talents of four great artists into an ensemble designed to meet the exacting demands of chamber music. First violin is in the capable hands of Joseph Roisman, while Jac Gorodetzky wields the bow for the second violin. Mischa Schneider, violoncello, and Boris Kroyt, viola, complete the group. Having appeared in the Uni- ,-'rir 'c f.h nmhar ThfcinPcevn ic Myra Hess, Piano Soloist, Will Appear British Artist To Perform Feb. 17 Myra Hess, pianist, who has won acclaim from audiences in Amer- ica as well as her native England, will make her fourth local appear- ance in the Feb. 17 concert of the Choral Union series. Hailed as one of Britain's major contributions to 20th century music, the famed pianist received a warm welcome from American audiences immediately following .,her debut in New York in 1922. ANNUAL CONCERT tours in this country became a part' of Dame Hess's annual program until tiey were unfortunately halted by the outbreak of World War II. Before that time, she had ap- peared in Choral Union coucerts here in 1928 and again in 1933. The war brought seven years of hard work to the British pianist, who won the honor of Dame Com- mander of the Empire for her out-. standing efforts to bolster the- morale of her countrymen. The award is the highest honor a - sician can receive in her native land. * * * MOST OF HER efforts were centered in organizing and taking part in daily lunch-hour concerts at the National Gallery in Lon- don. The aims of these concerts were to provide work for musi- cians, support the Musicians' benevolent fund, and, primarily, to bring music to a people that needed itsspiritual help as never before. Her return to Ann Arbor was made in January, 1948. Music lovers and critics alike noted the new depth and maturity which had sprung from her already pure musicianship. The famed pianist's enthusiasm for American audiences was quick- ly renewed after the war. She calls the spontaneity of audiences here "one of the greatest inspirations to a performer." Ignoring the "so-called popular music," she has found that here as well as in her native country, audiences appreciate the great classics most highly. 'Messiah' Will Herald Xmas Noted Stars to Appear On Annual Program Heralding the University's fes- tive Christmas season, the Musical Society's traditional presentation of Handel's Messiah will be pre- sented on Dec. 10 and 11. Featured in this year's perform- ance of the Yuletide classic will be Chloe Owen, soprano, Anna Kas- kas, contralto, David Lloyd, tenor, and Oscar Natzka, bass. In addition, the choral and in- strumental background will be provided by the University Choral Union and a special Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Lester McCoy. Distinguished in concert, opera and oratorio, Miss Owen has been with the Schola Cantorum of New York, the Carnegie Opera Guild and the Hartford Oratorio So- ciety. Miss Kaskas, a Metropolitan Opera contralto, proved herself an artist of fine capabilities at the PARAY, who conducts the sym- phony during' a four-week con- cert tour this winter, first at- tracted attentiondinuthis country with his Boston debut in 1945. European fame had come to Paray long before that time. Educated at the Paris Conserv- atory, he became conductor of the Concerts Lamoureux in 1923, and in 1933 leader of the Con- certs Caloone. Since his arrival on these shores, he has been guest conductor of the Boston. New York, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh Symphony Or- chestras. Paray is noted as an interpreter of French music. AS FOR THE Pittsburgh Sym- phony itself, it has long been one of the Steel City's institutions. MUNCH CONDUCTS: Boston Symphony To Give Two Concerts Y By ROMA LIP.SKY For the first time in Choral Un- ion history, the Boston Symphony will rPAcnt fum.rnnn - ar nA_ A Munch's first year as conductor with the Boston, he is no new- comer to Ann Arbor. Munch led The Oct. 23 concert will also include Weber's Overture to "Euryanthe," Piston's Sym- peared as guest conductor with many major symphonies, and spent last season touring the season at the Berkshire Festival, had led the orchestra for 25 years. The Boston SymOhony has