Review  of  the  first  performance  by  Antonia  Brico’s  Women’s  Symphony  Orchestra  at  Town  Hall  in  New  York  City.  

The  New  Yorker  March  2,  1935  Pages  30  to  32    By  Robert  A.  Simon    MUSICAL  EVENTS  Miss  Brico  and  Her  Woman's  Symphony    As  there  were  no  reserved  seats  for  the  invitation  premiere  in  the  Town  Hall  of  the  Woman's  Symphony  Orchestra,  the  Committee  thoughtfully  assigned  debutantes  to  occupy  the  chairs  generally  allotted  to  reviewers  and  to  surrender  them  to  the  scribes  as  they  arrived.  This  was  a  shrewd  notion,  not  only  because  the  debutantes  were  gracious  and  disarming  chaperons  but  also  because  so  many  invitations  had  been  distributed  that  scores  of  distinguished  guests,  whose  chairs  had  not  been  protected  by  members  of  the  Junior  Committee,  heard  the  concert  from  the  lobby.  There  were  high-­‐toned  riots  outside  the  auditorium,  and  the  guests  who  managed  to  find  places  were  equally  noisy.  Their  clamor,  however,  was  prompted  by  enthusiasm  for  the  performance  of  the  eighty-­‐six  players  and  the  conductor,  Miss  Antonia  Brico.    From  the  intermission  address  by  Mme.  Olga  Samaroff,  ever  a  charming  and  persuasive  commentator,  I  gathered  that  the  new  orchestra  wishes  to  be  estimated  on  its  merits  rather  than  on  its  value  as  a  demonstration  of  what  women  can  do.  After  all,  a  women's  ensemble  isn't  a  novelty.  Miss  Leginska  directed  one  several  seasons  ago,  and  in  another  field  there  is  an  expert  girls'  orchestra,  directed  by  Mr.  Phil  Spitalny.  The  new  organization,  naturally,  isn't  yet  fused  into  a  unit,  but,  ably  led  by  Miss  Brico,  it  came  through  triumphantly  with  so  dangerous  a  symphony  as  Schumann's  First  and  turned  in  a  thundering  account  of  Tschaikowsky's  "Romeo  and  Juliet."    The  strings  are  especially  good;  the  concertmaster,  Miss  Elfrieda  Mestechkin,  knows  her  business  thoroughly;  the  solo  flute,  Miss  Rose  Fishbein,  seems  to  be  exceptional;  and  the  tympanist,  Miss  Muriel  Watson,  proves  that  women  may  be  experts  with  more  than  the  domestic  varieties  of  kettles.  Miss  Brico  is  a  conductor  who  has  not  only  talent  but  also  a  sound  batonic  routine.  On  March  16th,  in  the  Town  Hall,  the  new  orchestra  sets  up  shop  for  a  series  of  concerts,  and  you'll  enjoy  it,  even  if  you  haven't  the  pleasure  of  having  your  seats  guarded  by  debutantes.  

5/16/12 1:00 AMThe New Yorker, Mar 02, 1935

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5/16/12 1:00 AMThe New Yorker, Mar 02, 1935

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5/16/12 1:00 AMThe New Yorker, Mar 02, 1935

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