Music: Denver’s Happy Orchestra

The Denver Symphony Orchestra, six years ago, was a lackluster outfit playing to small, dutiful audiences, and losing money on a budget of $60,000. Last week the budget was up to a smart $260,000; the symphony season opened in Denver Municipal Auditorium (3,200 seats) with a near sellout crowd in evening dress, and the music sparkled.

Denverites give the credit to Saul Caston, 50, their energetic conductor since 1945. Denver picked Manhattan-born Saul Caston partly for his musical ability (he was associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra under both Stokowski and Ormandy), partly for his dependability: he proposed to take root in Denver, not just use its podium as a springboard. Conductor Caston built up his orchestra to 76 pieces on the same principles—ears cocked for musical ability, eyes peeled for settlers. The result is “a happy orchestra,” with most of the musicians under 30. Among them: a Negro bass viol player and a Nisei violinist.

Caston won Denver like a Pied Piper—by winning its youngsters. At his first children’s concert, when rowdy kids hooted, hollered and whistled, Caston had his musicians hoot back. He has lured Denver adults-at-large into the tent with special family concerts: the whole family goes in “under, one umbrella” for $1.20. Last season the umbrella worked so well that extra seats had to be installed. For the mink-and-Cadillac set, Caston made the opening concert of the season and the annual fund-raising ball two of the big social events of the Denver season.

From his podium, Caston gives them hearty classical fare well spiced with moderns. Last season the Denver Symphony was among the leaders in performing American music.

Caston has also invaded the hinterland. This winter the orchestra will brave snow & ice on bus trips to such cities as Cheyenne, Wyo., Fort Morgan, Colo, and Scottsbluff, Neb. As usual, Caston & Co. will play matinees for the children. After all, he and his musicians expect to be in the Rocky Mountains a long time.