First Symphony Concert Ever! to be Given in Nanking History will be made when the Shanghai Municipal Orchestra. visits Nanking on April 15, as this will be the first time that a symphony orchestra has ever visited the capltal, or for that matter, anywhere else in China outside Shanghai. Following on months of negotiations, this trip to the capital is a part of the pioneering work which its conductor, Mario Paci, carrying out with his orchestra. In fan interview with the "North-China ald" on April 7. Mr. Paci explained eagerness to Interest "hardly one Chinese was noticed at our concerts ffiven at the old Town Hall. In that year, however, they began to be interested in our concerts, and since then the development of their taste and. interest in" music has been At present, 23 por cent. fof the audiences at our symphony concerts are made up of Chinese, mostly of the younger generation, who are taking an increasing inter= est in Western music."
Me. Paci hae been in correspond. fence with the Central Government for a considerable time with regard to the possibility of taking his orchestra to Nanking, the main diMiculty s0 far having been the lack of a suitable concert hall, Now, however, with the opening of a magnificent new National Assembly. Hall in the course of a three weeks' exhibition of art and culture which commenced on the first of this month, an opportunity has at last presented itself, $3,000 For One Concert In spite of a certain amount of! opposition to the orchestra in Shang: hal, Mr. Paci is specially gratified that the Central "Government has gone to the extent of paying $3,000 expenses merely for one concert by the Municipal Orchestra, The Shanghai Municipal Council is Joaning the orchestra free of charge for the. occasion.
The concert, which is being given under the patronage of the Ministry of Education, is to take place on April 10, and will consist of a num ber of well-known symphonies with which most of the audience will be already acquainted through gramo-Phone records and wireless broad. feasts, The younger generation of Chinese will thus be given an opportunity of hearing performed Classical' compositions which will already be familiar to. them by "The concert will include the 'Tannhauser Overture, and Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, and three shorter pieces. It will' be preceded the playing of the Chinese National "Anthem, and a short cantata, sung by a Chinese chorus to words by Generat Chiang Kal-shek himself, and rouse by Tang Schan-yon, a well-known Chinese composer. Famous German, French, Mahan and Russian pieces will be included.
Tt is expected that General Chiang Kai-shek, Madame Chiang, leading Chinese" government officials and members of the diplomatic body will be present at this concert, On the
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