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MUSICAL COURIER
WHAT THE JURY THINKS
[The music critics of the New York dailies constitute the jury in the appended extracts from criticisms which have appeared in our local newspapers. Many concerts and operas are given in the metropolis, and the following day the critics agree or disagree on the merits or demerits of the performer. However, on most occasions the writers do not agree, and this department is run for the purpose of reproducing some of the flat contradictions, showing that, after all, the review constitutes but the personal opinion of the critic who covers the performance.—Editor’s Note.]
tet gave interesting numbers, earning the warm approbation of all those present. This list included many notables, among whom were Mme. Sembrich, Mrs. Oliver Harriman, Arthur Hadley, Mr. and Mrs. Percy Rector Stephens, Sergei Kli-bansky, Mrs. E. Kent Hubbard, Charles L. Wagner, Mrs. Eustis Corcoran, Albert Morris Bagby, Berthe Erza, Eva Gauthier, John Majeski, Mrs. and Mrs. Breitung, Mmfe. Coulon, Mrs. E. de Coppet, Juillet de Coppet, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Golde, Yvonne de Treville, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Coghill, Louise Mundell, Emma and Ina Thursby, Adelaide Gescheidt, Rose and Ottilie Sutro, Hulda Lashanska, Mr. and Mrs. J. Campbell Phillips, Erik Huneker, Simon Frankel, Mrs. William Randolph Hearst, Cornelia Rider Possart, Air. and Mrs. J. Cummock, Walter Kramer, Giulio Setti, Mrs. Frank McLaughlin, Martha Maynard, Marie Damrosch Wiechmann, Mr. and Mrs. Max Smith and Sydney Blackmer.
Emma Calve, Soprano, January 20
American	Herald
The beauty of her voice and Mme. Calve was not in such the peculiar charm of her per-	excellent vocal condition as she
sonality counted for even more was at her first recital, than in the bigger auditorium.
Elly Ney, Pianist, January 22
Tribune
Mme. Ney’s playing . . . was not distinguished by clarity, rhythmical incisiveness or depth of sentiment.
World
At first the persuasive sounds which rose from her piano made the orchestra’s contribution seem stiff by contrast. .	.	. Elly
Ney’s rhythms and her feeling seemed to take possession of the musicians.
Chicago Opera, January 23
Times	Tribune
Brilliant First Night. (Head- Brilliancy Missing in Chicago kne)	Opera Opening. (Headline)
Muratore, Tenor, in “Samson et Dalila,” January 23
Tribune
The role of the strong man did not fit the French tenor to perfection either vocally or histrionically.
Herald
Mr. Muratore was an admirable Samson. .	.	. His acting
was excellent. It was a noteworthy impersonation.
T ribune
His impersonation was that of an artist long familiar with operatic routine, conventional, intelligent, but never for a moment tinged with greatness.
World
He gave a magnificent performance of thrilling dramatic intensity and emotional power. There are few actors alive who can surpass him.
D’Alvarez, Contralto, in “Samson et Dalila,” January 23
Evening Mail _	Times
Her Song of Spring in the Her tones, somewhat pale in first act reeked with color, ex- the “Spring Song.” pression and feeling.
Many Northwestern Dates for Godowsky
Leopold Godwosky’s tour of the northwest, prior to a large series of recitals on the coast, will include Pueblo, Col.; Caper, Wyo. ; Spokane, Bellingham, Aberdeen, Everett, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Victoria, В. C., and other cities in that part of the country. Mr. Godowsky’s present concert tour of America will be his last for at least a year, as he will play in the Far East next season.
Busch the New Director at Dresden
Dresden, Germany, January 10, 1922.—Fritz Busch, until now general music director for Wuertemberg at Stuttgart, has just been unanimously elected to a similar position in the Dresden State Opera and also made conductor of the State (Saxony) Orchestra, as successor to Fritz Reiner.	S.
Namara to Sing “Tales of Hoffmann”
Marguerite Namara has been announced by the Chicago Opera to sing Giulietta in “The Tales of Hoffmann” at the Saturday matinee on February 4. On January 31 she appeared in concert in Baltimore and the day preceding her appearance in the opera, at a concert in Washington, D. C.
4000 Hear St. Olaf Choir in Columbus, Ohio
A telegram received from Columbus, Ohio, and signed by M. H. Hanson, who is managing the tour of the St. Olaf Lutheran Choir, reads as follows:	“4,000 people
packed Memorial Hall. Most tremendous enthusiasm, only equalled in Pittsburgh, New York City and Buffalo.”
Oliver Denton at Aeolian Hall
Oliver Denton, pianist, will give his first New York recital for the present season at Aeolian Hall, Tuesday afternoon, February 7. His program will include works by Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Palmgren, Rachmaninoff and John Powell.
Muzio at Bagby Musicale
Claudia Muzio appeared with signal success at the Bagby Musicale last Monday morning. Her numbers were two arias, from “Trovatore” and "La Forza del Destino,” and two songs, “Bon Jour, Suzanne” and “Cuckoo.”
Greenwood Composers’ Festival
The third American Song Composers’ Festival to be held in Greenwood, Ind., will take place there on May 21 this year. Through the courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Polk, of Greenwood, a meeting will be held in the Polk Memorial Community Building in connection with the convention of the Indiana Music Teachers’ Association, which will be taking place at Greenwood at the same time. The Grace Porterfield Polk Indiana Song Contest will be a part of the festival. The prizes are $100 for the best song by a Hoosier composer (a song in the form of a ballad which can be sung by all and put on our best club programs), and a prize of $S0 for the best song written by a junior from the State Junior Music Clubs. DePauw University has offered a scholarship for a two-year course of study in harmony and theory for a graduate of any accredited Indiana high school.
Oscar Saenger, the New York voice teacher, has also offered a scholarship for his summer master course there at the Chicago Musical College as a prize for the singing contest, which is also a regular part of the festival. The festival schedule will also include programs by some of America’s best artists. This is the only festival of its kind held in the United States and Indiana is the only State that has an independent State contest for native composers.
Laura Littlefield to Debut Here
Laura Littlefield, soprano, is scheduled to make her New York debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra today, February 2, as A Voice in Casella’s orchestral excerpts from “Le Covent sur l’eau (le Covento Veneziano).” Mrs. Littlefield has sung the same part with this organization four times in Boston and once in Baltimore. She has been engaged for eleven appearances with the Boston Symphony this season.
Another Opera Company for New York
The People’s Opera Company will present in Greater New York grand opera performances at popular prices. According to printed matter at hand, this organization offers to teachers of recognized standing an opportunity to have their pupils take part in an actual grand opera performance with complete cast, full orchestra, chorus, scenery, etc. Antonio Dell’Orefice is the musical director.
Anderson Artists for Lindsborg Festival
Marguerite Ringo, soprano ; Mildred Bryars, contralto ; Charles Stratton, tenor, and Frank Cuthbert, basso, have been booked through Walter Anderson for the Lindsborg, Kans., festival, Easter week, April 9-16. The same quartet, with the exception of Phoebe Crosby for soprano, has been booked by the same management for the Newark Festival on May 6.
Marguerita Sylva to Sing Request Songs
Marguerita Sylva, who is to appear at the next Frederic Warren Ballad Concert, on Sunday evening, February 19, at the Selwyn Theater, will sing a group of request songs which she herself will announce from the stage. All requests should be sent immediately to Frederic Warren, 370 Central Park West.
Rosenfeld Visits New York
Maurice Rosenfeld, critic of the Chicago Daily News, came to New York for his annual visit last week, covering the opening of the Chicago Opera season and other, important musical events for his paper. Between this and social affairs, Mr. Rosenfeld may truly be said to have had a very busy time.
Music Students to Organize
There will be an organization meeting of the Students’ Music League at eight o’clock Sunday evening, February 5, at 31S West 86th street. Among the speakers will be Dr. Noble, of the Juilliard Foundation; Leonard Liebling, and Walter Kramer. “All interested in the welfare of the music student come, please,” says the committee.
February 2, 1922
Bertha Crawford’s Novel Experiences
Bertha Crawford, Canadian prima donna, recently returned to Toronto after an absence of several years. Before going to Europe Miss Crawford had appeared many times in her native city where her excellent work won much praise. After this success she went to London where
BERTHA CRAWFORD, Canadian soprano.
she gained distinction in concert, appearing in Queen’s Hall and Albert Hall. Then she went to Milan, Italy, to study operatic roles, and shortly after made her debut in Venice as Gilda in “Rigoletto.” Here her success was so pronounced that engagements in other Italian cities followed. Her repertory comprises all the leading coloratura roles, such as Violetta in “La Traviata,” Rosina in “The Barber of Seville,” Marguerite in “Faust,” Juliette in “Romeo and Juliette,” Amina in “La Sonnatnbula,” the title role of “Lucia,” etc.
In 1913 Miss Crawford accepted an engagement for several months at the Grand Opera in Warsaw, but owing to her great success there, she remained for a much longer period. Her popularity with the Polish people brought her much success not only in Warsaw, but also in Cracow, Lemberg and Posen.
During the German advance on Warsaw in 1915, she hastened to Petrograd, which at the time was still under Imperial rule, where she was at once engaged at the “Na-rodnydom,” or People’s Opera House. In commenting upon her work, the Russian critics spoke in superlative terms of her power, evenness, beauty, flexibility and control of her singing of coloratura roles. In 1916 she filled a long engagement in opera at Moscow where she scored one triumph after another.
At the outbreak of the Russian Revolution in 1917, Miss Crawford was in Helsingfors, Finland, and did not return to Petrograd until the Bolsheviki had seized power. Regarding her experience, Miss Crawford expressed herself as follows:	“The Boisheviki let artists alone, especially
women like myself, whom they knew had no political purposes nor affiliations. I remained in Russia until after the armistice was signed, when I went to Warsaw to visit my many friends.” During her three years’ sojourn in Russia, she appeared in all large cities, reaching such far distant points as Vladivostock, Caucasus and Crimea.
Miss Crawford is happy to be in her native country again, where she will be heard in concert.
At her first concert in Toronto, on November 9 last, when she appeared as soloist with the New York Symphony Orchestra, she received a rousing ovation.
La Forge Reception for Mme. Alda
One of the most delightful musico-social events of the past month was the reception given by Frank La Forge at his New York studios in honor of Frances Alda, Sunday afternoon, January 22. The justly popular La Forge Quar-
OPPORTUNITIES
charge of school of the theater; a teacher of Greek dancing, and piano teachers for intermediate^ department. References required. Write “C.S.S.,” care of Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York.
A Phonograph Recording Laboratory has added a new department to their activities and can offer to musical artists a personal phonograph record of their own work for a nominal charge. $35.00 will cover recording and one dozen records. For particulars address Personal Phonograph Record Dept., care of Electric Recording Laboratories, Inc., 210 Fifth Avenue,New York.
(Telephone—“Murray Hill 991”). Studios and floors to rent, with and without private baths. Suitable for clubs, exhibits, teaching—resident or non-resident. Strictly up-tordate studios for business people, and for teachers having a clientele appreciative of refined, dignified surroundings. Reliable hall and telephone service. Maid service available. Furnished studios with Steinway grand pianos to rent on part time basis, at an hourly rate. There will be furnished resident studios for teachers, students, or visitors to New York, to sub-let for the summer months, with or without pianos. Mrs. M. Duble-SCHEELE, proprietor. OFFICE, 41 West Ninth Street, near Fifth Avenue.
LARGE SCHOOL in Pacific Coast city seeks producer (man or woman) to take
ington Opera House, 51st Street and Lexington Avenue. Telephone Plaza 10172.
ACCOMPANIST: A. pianist with exceptional skill in sight-reading and technic, who is thoroughly familiar with the accompaniments of “art songs” and “opera,” also, with considerable experience in accompanying soloists and in numerous studios, wishes to accompany noted singers on concert tour. Address, “H. M. E.,” care Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York.
VANDERBILT STUDIOS, NEW YORK —Washington Square Annex, 37-39-41 West Ninth Street (Telephone—"Stuyve-sant 1321”) and 125 East 37th Street, Northeast corner Lexington Avenue
STUDIO PART TIME—Beautiful, very large studio, with concert grand piano, can be secured for part time by day or hours. Central location. Address “L. M. G.,” care Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York.
TO RENT—Furnished Studio Apartment of five rooms with Grand Piano. Located in Washington Heights district (coolest place in New York) from June 15 to September 15. First class references required. Address “A. P. T.,” care of Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York.
UNUSUAL STUDIO ARTISTICALLY DRAPED IN CLASSIC DESIGN—one hundred feet long—available for study and recitals. Address: Helen Moller’s “Little Theater Within a Theater,” Lex-