Fraternity-Testvériség, 1959 (37. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1959-10-01 / 10. szám
2 FRATERNITY JOSEPH KECSKEMETHY: ITEMS OF INTEREST A PERFORMANCE FOR LIBERTY . . . The evening of October 7, 1959, not only marked the beginning of the symphony season in Washington, D. C., but also unveiled to this Capital of the free world a monument to the everlasting integrity and indomitable, freedom-loving spirit of man. On this night, the Philharmonia Hungariea, under the direction of guest-conductor Antal Doráti, made its Washington debut in Constitution Hall. This orchestra, which is composed of Hungarian refugees who fled (heir homeland after the abortive revolt of 1956, is presently on a 19- city tour of the United States. Its Washington concert was sponsored by Co-ordinated Hungarian Relief, Inc., an organization with headquarters in Washingtonn, D. C., which is devoted to helping Hungarian refugees throughout the world. The Concert Committee, which was in charge of preparations for the concert, was dotted with many Washington luminaries . . . among them Mrs. Richard M. Nixon and Mrs. Jean Montgomery Riddell, National Honorary Chairman of Co-ordinated Hungarian Relief, Inc. The list of sponsors and patrons included many members of the diplomatic corps. We are proud to say that Mrs. Joseph Kecskemethy, the wife of our Secretary, was a member of the Executive Committee, and as chairman of the Hospitality Committee, was successful in housing all 79 members of the orchestra in American and Hungarian homes throughout the capital city. We are also pleased to report that our Federation played an important part in welcoming the members of this distinguished group to Washington by tendering them a luncheon in the main dining room of the Continental Hotel upon their arrival. All of our officers participated in this reception. Our Secretary gave the invocation and our President made the welcoming address. Further words of welcome were spoken by Mr. Béla Bachkay, Secretary of the American Hungarian Federation, and by Dr. Béla Maday, Secretary of the Co-ordinated Hungarian Relief. Warm appreciation on behalf of the orchestra was expressed by Mr. Zoltán Rozsnyay, founder and permanent director of the orchestra, who introduced the members of the Philharmonia Hungariea. Critics in Washington, as in other cities in which the orchestra has appeared, heaped praise on the musicianship and spirit of this excellent ensemble. “The sensitivity and intimacy with which the men and women of the . . . orchestra played these (Kodály and Bartók works) subtle and elusive scores was evidence of their close acquaintance with the very sources from which the music originally proceeded.” — Washington Post. “It is the life, the inexpressible living quality of the Phil- harmonia Hungariea that makes it so impressive and immediately
