MUSICAL COURIER
38
January 26, 1922
was one of Mr. Kelly’s first students when he came to Cincinnati four years ago, and consequently this attractive artist pupil is one of the best exponents of his art. And well did she live up to this tribute in her recital, for the program was composed, and not merely thrown together in the form of a collection of songs chosen to “show off” the singer. Mr. Kelly is known as a master of program making, and his students are obliged to compose their own programs, subject to his correction and suggestion. The delightful artistry which the singer displayed is given full credit in the following article, which appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer:
Mrs. Pfau is one of those singers who attach as much importance to style and interpretation as they do to vocalization. Her voice is one of lovely quality, free and flexible, and of good range. She interpreted a group of Miss Cook’s songs with that rare understanding which comes from constant association with the composer, who presided at the piano, both as accompanist and as soloist in the piano numbers. There was a perfect rapport between those two musicians, both of whom gave evidence of the strong intellectuality underlying their musicianship.
Flonzaleys Receive Unique Christmas Gift
When Alfred Ponchon, second violinist of the Flonzaley Quartet, opened his Christmas gifts he found among them a small manuscript written for the violin. It was exquisitely done in ink by hand and at the top was the dedication—
“To Alfred Ponchon from Charles Sanford Skilton.”
Even before opening the rest of his gifts Mr. Ponchon took up his violin and played the music. But he could make no sense out of it. There was a charming theme, then many bars of rest, then the theme again in singularly detached phrases, and so it went on to the end. He thought this exceedingly strange, as he knew Mr. Skilton to be a composer of established reputation and a leading member of the faculty of the School of Fine Arts at the University of Kansas. He tried over and over to play the music so that it sounded like a real composition. Then he gave it up.
Later in the day the quartet had a rehearsal. Mr. Ponchon put the manuscript in his pocket. He would ask his confreres what they could make out of it.
No sooner had he arrived at the rehearsal than he drew forth the manuscript. At that very moment Mr. Betti drew forth a similar one from his pocket. Mr. d’Archam-beau and Mr. Bailly followed suit. Almost simultaneously the four men said:
“I received a manuscript dedicated to me from Charles Skilton, but I can’t make anything out of it.”
Mr. Betti laid the four copies on a table and looked at them intently. Then he laughed, joyfully.
“It’s a fugue! We have each received our parts as a personal gift!”
Ponchon, Bailly and d’Archambeau crowded around the table. They, too, examined the copies. And they saw that Betti was right.
Without a word each man walked to his music desk manuscript in hand. And so it happened that the first thing the Flonzaley Quartet played on Christmas Day was this unique gift which proved to be a most charming little fugue composed especially for them by Mr. Skilton.
Then, at the close, each man put his manuscript back in his pocket and vowed that never before had he received so perfect a Christmas gift.
Verdi Club Gives Musicale
With Clara Novello-Davies, Marie Novello (pianist), Mrs. P. Wright Edgerton (president-general of the Holland Dames), Mrs. Richard V. Lindabury and Mrs. Julian Edwards as guests of honor, the January 18 musical morning of the Verdi Club was a very enjoyable affair. President Florence Foster Jenkins announced at the outset that the Old Guard (the famous military organization) had offered its building without charge to the club for the ball on January 26; she called attention to the several theater parties which members of the club may join, naming that of January 25, Princess Theater, as the next; spoke of the annual “Silver Skylarks” pageant and ball, March 22 (benefit American Red Cross), and made other interesting announcements. The framed portrait of Caruso was conspicuous on the platform, and the room was so crowded that anteroom and halls held the overflow.
Marguerite Sylva gave what might be called a lecture-recital, for she talked as much as she sang, her humorous and illuminating remarks being altogether interesting. Songs by Laparra, Kramer, Tosti and others brought her enthusiastic applause, and of course she had to sing the “Habanera” from “Carmen” as an encore, Another encore, “Somebody Loves Me,” led the president publicly to remark that it should be “everybody.” John Mundy, cellist, played works by modern composers, attaining especially good tone in Wagner’s prize song; Corinne Wolerson was at the piano. Part II of the program brought an excerpt from “La Boheme” by Mary Fabian, soprano, and Oreste Biora, tenor, including the famous airs and the duet. These young artists knew their music thoroughly and contributed much to the interest of the morning. Beatrice Raphael was the capable accompanist. It looks as if larger quarters would have to be found for the flourishing Verdi Club!
Claire Dux in Concert
In addition to her performances with the Chicago Opera Association, Claire Dux will have concert engagements in many parts of the country. Mile. Dux’s first New York song recital will take place at Carnegie Hall on Sunday afternoon, February 5, when she will be heard in a program which will reveal several new aspects of her art and will include French and English songs. On the following day Mile. Dux will sing in Lynchburg, Va. She has appeared with Dr. Richard Strauss in recital in Kansas City and as soloist with him in orchestral concerts in New York and Chicago. She will also appear as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Chicago, under the direction of Dr. Frederick Stock, on February 10 and 11; with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on March 9 and 10, and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in Milwaukee on March 6.
Turner Returns from Abroad
H. Godfrey Turner, the manager, of New York, has returned from a trip abroad. Mr. Turner sailed for Europe on December 10 last, and returned to the metropolis on January 17.
contract, and she will begin her duties at the Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist, on Sunday, February 5.
Miss Potter last month was specially engaged by Fortune Gallo to sing the double parts of the Witch and the Mother in “Hansel and Gretel” in Philadelphia and Reading, Pa., and the Reading Herald-Telegram spoke of her as follows:
Mary Potter, as the Witch, had a thankless task, but a most important one, and her superb tones and remarkable diction were a pleasure to hear and will not be forgotten. “Come little mousie” and the “hocus-pokus” episode were delivered with admirable authority and consummate ease, and showed that she has a delightful way of doing things big. I can easily understand why she occupies such a high position in New York musical circles, and holds two of the best church positions.
Mary Potter studied with Joseph Regneas, under whom she has attained her present fine position; she recently dedicated a photograph to׳ her teacher with the following inscription: “To my teacher, Joseph Regneas, with gratitude from his pupil. (Signed) Mary Potter/׳־
A Flying Singer
W. H. Evans of Minneapolis (Minn.) represents the modern civic host. He invited Mina Hager, contralto soloist with the symphony orchestra there, on January 15, to see his city from above. She graciously accepted the invitation and enjoyed her interesting experience there after her concert. Mr. Evans’ letter of invitation follows : My Dear Miss Hager:
One of your good friends has advised me that you are going to honor the City of Minneapolis with your presence on January 15 next, and that this city is going to have the pleasure of hearing your charming voice with the Symphony Orchestra of Minneapolis. The writer is anxious to have you enjoy the opportunity of seeing Minneapolis from the skies while you are here. As he is the owner of an Avro three-passenger airplane, he desires to extend to you an invitation to accompany him and his pilot over the city of Minneapolis in a flight, which will show you Minneapolis in all its glory. Surrounded as it is with its many lakes and traversed through by the majestic Mississippi River, it is a most wonderful sight. I am sure, if you will take advantage of this opportunity, it will give you a most pleasing impression of our beautiful city.
Wishing you the compliments of the season, I remain,
Most cordially yours,
(Signed) W. H. Evans.
And Miss Hager replied as follows:
My Dear Mr. Evans:
Indeed I shall be glad to go up in your Avro! Only in my dreams and my imagination have I seen the world from above. I am very much excited and highly pleased at the prospect. I shall probably arrive in Minneapolis, Saturday (January 14), and stay at the Curtis Hotel. Shall I take out life insurance before I fly? And shall I bring many, many clothes? Since singing with the orchestra is my first reason for coming, I think I had better go up after the concert—I might come down from the flight speechless and voiceless! Thank you so much for the invitation, and I shall try to follow any instructions you may give me for this flight.
Sincerely,
Mina Hager.
Kelly Pupil Scores in Concert
Thomas James Kelly, artist-teacher of the department of vocal culture of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, recently presented his pupil, Mary Townsley Pfau, to a very large audience in a successful song recital. Mrs. Pfau
Mary Potter for Fifth C. S. Church
The last and largest edifice to be erected by the vast body of Christian Scientists occupies a spot in the busiest center of New York City, Forty-third street and Fifth avenue, in the heart of the theaters, the hotels and the retail shopping district. Since April last the music com-
MARY POTTER,
contralto.
mittee has been hearing voices, the singers having come from all over the United States and representing some of the best in the country. No decision had been made until now, when, after hearing several hundred voices, Mary Potter, the golden voiced contralto, was selected after her first audition, at a salary which is said to be the largest paid in New York for similar services.
Although still under contract with her former church (Harry O. Hirt, organist and choirmaster), the keen interest in the splendid progress made by this young American singer and love for her personally caused the church board, minister and choirmaster to release Miss Potter from her
LEVITZKI
Outside of his concert appearances, the sparkling brilliance and youth of Levitzki’s playing can only be heard thru
Wie AMP1CO
If you own an Ampico, Levitzki will play for you wheneveryouwish.To have the artistry of one great pianist,alone, ever atyourcommand is worth vastly more than the moderate cost of the Ampico.
You Arc Cordially Invited To Hear *The zArt Of The Great Pianists Reproduced
p ?ffmsrhi> yVSmxwm
lllll IIXVU Fifth fluerme at Thlrtxjninth St.