More than 2,000 guests jammed the Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf-Astoria tonight for the inaugural dinner-concert of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra presented by the American Fund for Israel Institutions. Leonard Bernstein conducted the orchestra. About $200,000 was raised at the function for the American Fund.
Preceding the concert, speeches were delivered by Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter, Israel Ambassador Abba Eban, Edward A. Norman, president of the American Fund for Israel Institutions, and others. Mr. Eban pointed out that the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra represents the “ardent strivings of the population of the Jewish state for high standard of cultural achievement.”
The premiere performance of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was given last night in Washington at Constitution Hall. The entire Washington press today hailed the performance as an outstanding event and critics agreed that the orchestra was superb. Serge Koussevitzky, who conducted the orchestra in Washington last night, was honored together with the members of the orchestra after the concert at a reception tendered by Ambassador Eban. Government officials, members of Congress and foreign diplomats were among those in attendance.
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