These late-beginning orchestras played last week their season's inaugural music:
The Rochester (N. Y.) Philharmonic under Conductor Eugene Goossens gave the first of eleven concerts. This year it is coexistent with a Civic Orchestra, planned last year to provide employment for Eastman Theatre musicians when that theatre was leased to Publix Corp. The new orchestra, composed of 50 players (nucleus of the Philharmonic), financed by 10,000 Rochesterians, has begun a season of 75 concerts, 32 of which will be given free during schooltime to public and parochial students, 32 on Sunday afternoons with small admission charges.
The St. Louis Symphony began a Golden Jubilee season to milestone its 50 years of existence. As has been the situation for two years past, St. Louis has no permanent conductor; guest leaders will split the schedule. Spaniard Enrique Fernandez Arbos held the baton last week. Italian Bernardino Molinari will succeed him in January. Then follows George Szell of the Berlin Staatsoper, making his U. S. debut, and Eugene Goossens (see above).
The Portland (Ore.) Symphony began its 19th season, its fifth under Conductor Willem Van Hoogstraten. This year's program includes ten Monday-evening concerts, five Sunday matinees, five concerts for young people. A special feature will be the presentation during the Christmas season of Handel's Messiah.
The Omaha Symphony, managed by the Women's Division of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, began its sixth season under Conductor Sandor Harmati. New this year will be three graded series of educational concerts. Again several appearances will be made in nearby Council Bluffs, Iowa.
The Syracuse Symphony, under Conductor Vladimir Shavitch, began its ninth season. Among the six soloists announced is Hallie Stiles, Syracuse daughter who has scored at the Paris Opera Comique and this year joins the Chicago Civic Opera Company (TIME, Nov. 4).