January 19, 1922
MUSICAL COURIER
MIROVITCH FASCINATED WITH CALIFORNIA
Russian Pianist Believes a Great Deal of the Future of America Lies in the Golden State_
Praises Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra—Also Talks of His Brother, Now in Russia—Many Engagements Booked
ALEXANDER GLAZOUNOFF
Latest photograph of the distinguished composer, director of the (formerly Imperial) Conservatorg at Petrograd, who told interestingly of Russian musical conditions today in an exclusive interview in last week’s issue of the Musical Courieb.
artists can be brought to Russia. I suggested to him, as a joke, that, at the present exchange, he would have to reckon out their paj'ments at so many carloads of rubles. I have already taken out my first papers here, by the way, but in becoming American I feel that I am remaining quite true to my Russian spirit. Russia and America are the two largest countries in the world. They are both young, both full of spirit and ambition, both extremely democratic, and both bound to develop rapidly along parallel lines, especially, I feel sure, in the field of art. Russia and America are climbing whereas other countries of the world are already over the peak and on the downward slope.”
Mr. Mirovitch will have the honor of being the first soloist with the newly formed Symphony Quartet of Boston, with which he will play the Tschaikowsky trio and the Cesar Franck quintet early in February. A few days later he will give his first joint recital with Joseph Press, the celebrated Russian cellist, with whom Mr. Mirovitch is planning to give a considerable number of joint rehearsals. This artistic partnership will not be one of those haphazard associations of two first class artists, which are only too frequent; on the contrary, the programs will be carefully chosen and worked out together in advance by Mr. Mirovitch and Mr. Press.
In May Mr. Mirovitch is going to Europe for a few months, giving three recitals in London during that month and June. He will spend the summer in Europe, devoting his time to the Completion of several new compositions which he has on hand —one of them called “Paganiniaria,” a virtuoso piece for the piano re-
Metropolitan Opera Company next season. According to C. J. Foley, Miss Farrar’s concert manager and personal representative, the famous diva will devote a year to concert work, and as yet is uncertain whether or not she will return to the Metropolitan the following year. Her contract with the Broadway house expires at the close of the present season.
sembling in general character the
famous twenty-fourth caprice of the ---------------------------
great violinist. He had intended remaining in Europe through next season, but a tour of thirty concerts already booked for him by his manager, Sol Hurok, will bring him back to this side of the water. He will arrive in New York about the end of October.	O.
W. H. G. Burnett Obtains Default Judgment for $50,000 Against Graveure
W. H. C. Burnett, of Detroit, Mich., former manager of Louis Graveure, baritone, obtained a default judgment of $50,000 against the artist for breach of contract before Presiding Judge Plarry J. Dingeman, in circuit court, Tuesday afternoon, January 10. Mr. Burnett held a five-year contract with the singer, signed July 19, 1920, which had been in force but little over a year when Mr. Graveure cancelled engagements and announced himself under another management. Under the terms of the contract arranged with Mr. Burnett the latter was to confine his managerial efforts to Graveure, Eleanor Painter and Mr. Burnett’s own daughter. Mr. Burnett had booked for Mr. Graveure in Detroit for this season three recitals, scheduled for October 31, January 31 and March 21, and various engagements through the state of Michigan and also a tour across the country and a possibility of one abroad. By the terms of the contract Mr. Burnett was also to receive fifty per cent, of the proceeds from this recitalist for services and thirty-five per cent, of the royalty receipts from the sale of Mr. Gra-veure’s records.
Air. Burnett’s first knowledge that there was dissatisfaction on the part of the singer was, it is said, when the latter cancelled his October 31 date in Detroit, as Mr. Graveure, Mr. Burnett states, had pleaded illness when he did not keep an earlier engagement. Mr. Burnett’s attorney immediately served notice on the artist and his new manager that, if the baritone attempted to give a concert in any city, legal action would be taken to obtain Mr. Burnett’s portion of the proceeds. Personal action was secured in Chicago November 1, 1921.
Reengagements for May Korb
May Korb, the charming coloratura soprano and pupil of Mme. Sembrich, appeared at a musicale for the Dickens Fellowship in December. Her success was so instantaneous that she was immediately re-engaged for two other dates, the first being on January 20 and the second on February 7 at the National Arts Club.
ALFRED MIROVITCH
No Heifetz Recital at Erie
Erie, Pa., January 11, 1922.—Owing to disagreement between Jascha Heifetz, the violinist, and the local manager, Eva McCoy, the concert by Heifetz, which was scheduled to have occurred last evening, did not take place, an audience of about 3,000 which had assembled being dismissed after an announcement made by A. W. Mitchel, counsel for Mrs. McCoy. The differences arose on account of the changing of the place of the recital from the Park Opera House, named in the violinist’s contract, to the Erie Arena.
Alfred Mirovitch,- the Russian pianist, now in his second season here, is just back in New York after making his first concert trip to the Pacific Coast. Mr. Mirovitch had seen California before, but he had never lingered there nor visited the state in a professional capacity, and he expressed himself to the Musical Courier as delighted and surprised by the impressions he received.
"I really think,” said he, “that in California there lies a great deal of the future of America, especially its future in art. In the first place, one sees as many happy faces out there in two days as one might see in two years in New York, where there is hurry, bustle and worry. Out there, too, they are not afraid to make their enthusiasm apparent, which is very pleasant for the artist; and how the love of music and interest in it has developed there, all within the last ten years, I am told! Credit, I think, goes most particularly to the women for this, especially to the women’s clubs, which foster and support music as nothing else ever has.”
During his stay in California, Mr. Mirovitch played nine, times, and with such success that he has been re-engaged for another tour of eight concerts in March. He was splendidly received wherever he played. Encores after every group and a lot of extra numbers at the end were the rule at every recital. In San Diego two hundred people were crowded into seats on the stage after .the rest of the hall had been filled.
Mr. Mirovitch was very enthusiastic in his praise of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, with which he is to play on his next trip west.
“It has some of the finest material in America,” he said, “material which has been splendidly drilled by Walter Henry Rothwell. I had the pleasure of spending a day at the home of this fine conductor. He has, by the way, a most unusual collection of original manuscripts of the great composers, including an entire set of the Beethoven ‘Bagatelles,’ which was presented to him by William A. Clark, Jr., founder and supporter of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.”
News from Russia.
. Alexander Mirovitch, brother of Alfred, is the most active impresario in Petrograd at this time, and through him the pianist receives regular news of the doing of the Russian musical world today. Alexander Mirovitch writes that the arts, and especially music, stick closer to the traditions of ante-revolution days than anything else in Russian
Zerola Engaged for “Samson” in Baltimore
Nicola Zerola is to add to his operatic laurels by appearing as Samson in “Samson and Delilah,” to be presented by the Washington Opera Company in Baltimore at the Lyric Theater on February 20. This month Mr. Zerola will appear as soloist with the Reading (Pa.) Symphony Orchestra in that city, and the first week in February he will sing in Washington, D. C.
Maier and Pattison to Play at Toronto Festival
Guy Maier and Lee Pattison have been engaged by the famous Mendelssohn Choir, of Toronto, Can., for the midwinter festival, in which the chorus will be assisted by the Philadelphia Orchestra. The two pianists will make their first appearance in the Canadian city on February 18.
Schipa Photographed by Lumiere
The photograph of Tito Schipa appearing in the advertisements and on the front cover of this issue are copyrighted by Lumiere, of New York.
La Forge-Berumen Reception for Alda
Frank La Forge and Ernesto Berumen will hold a reception in honor of Frances Alda at their studios on Sunday afternoon, January 22.
Farrar to Leave Metropolitan
Just as the Musical Courier goes to press word has been received that Geraldine Farrar will not be with the
ALFRED MIROVITCH’S HANDS
life, confirming what Alexander Glazounoff stated in the interview with him which appeared in last week’s Musical Courier. There are even more concerts than in the days before the Soviet Government came into power. In the summer of 1921 there were no less than four symphony concerts every week in Petrograd and perhaps eight or nine recitals. There is a noticeable tendency in these recitals to give what might be called “unit programs,” devoting them entirely to the works of one composer, or at the most, not more than two. Sometimes these combinations are peculiar indeed, one recital giver having joined Mendelssohn and Prokofieff, and another, Schumann and Scriabin.
“I feel sure,” said Mr. Mirovitch, “that before very many years Russia will again be a leading factor in the world of music. My brother is already reaching out to make connections through which some of the foremost international
Another Spring Festival for Middleton
Arthur Middleton, now on an extensive concert tour of the West, will appear in St. Joseph, Mo., on April 27, at the Music Festival to be held in that city at that time. Among Mr. Middleton’s recent more than usually successful appearances was a joint recital with Paul Althouse in Denver, Colo.
Hofmann’s Second Recital
Josef Hofmann’s second piano recital of the season be given in Carnegie Hall on Saturday afternoon Fef ary 11.
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