CRIMSON PLAYGOER

Soloist: Margaret Matzenauer

The Fiftieth Anniversary Festival of the Boston Symphony Orchestra will begin this afternoon, when Sir George Henschel lifts his baton. Returning after fifty years to the post which he held in 1880, Sir George, who conducted the first program of the Orchestra, will again lead the musicians, this time in celebration of fifty years of musical life.

This afternoon's program will be composed of exactly the same numbers as that first one fifty years ago. It will be opened fittingly by Reginald DeKoven's Overture, "Dedication of the House." Madame Matzenauer, who replaces the soloist of the first concert, will have two arias, one from Gluck's "Orpheus," the other from Bruck's "Odysseus." Many of the audience will recall her singing in the Brahms Festival of this past spring.

Plans for the Boston Symphony series of concerts are this year more attractive than usual, as was to be expected in a Festival year. Serge Koussevitzky has brought from Europe the score of many numbers which will be given their first performance in Symphony Hall, in honor of the Anniversary. Ravel, Stravinsky, Roussel, and numerous others have contributed to Mr. Koussevitzky's repertoire.

This afternoon's program which begins at 2.30 o'clock, will be repeated tomorrow night at 8.15 o'clock.