February 16, 1922
Answers to letters received in this department are published as promptly as possible. The large number of inquiries and the limitation of space are responsible for any delay. The letters are answered seriatim.
First American Carmen.
Supplementing the information published in last week’s Informa-tion Bureau, the first performance in America of Bizet’s opera, “Carmen,” was given at the Academy of Music, New York, on October 23, 1878, with Minnie Hauk in the title role; two days later, October 25, there was a performance by the Strakosch Company at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia with the late Clara Louise Kellogg in the title role. This company was the first to take the opera on tour in this country.
What Is the Age of a Voice.
“Can you tell me about how many years a person can sing and have the voice acceptable to the public? If they begin singing at seventeen years, how long can they go on?”
Mme. Schumann-Heink, who began to sing in public at the age of fifteen, has sung for forty-six years and is good for many more. From statistics of well known singers of a century, it may be said that the age of a voice constantly appearing before the public is between forty and fifty years. In this list would be found Patti, Sims Reeves, Charles Santley, Victor Maurel and many of the older singers. Of course not all singers even when their voices permit, continue as long in their career; many things conspire to cause their leaving the stage—a competence often causing an artist to retire. It is quite surprising how many years a voice will continue in good condition, if well trained in the beginning and carefully used through life. But forty or fifty years may well be counted the age of a voice.
Schumann's Opera.
“One club has taken the subject of German song composers for this year’s study. Of course we know much about Schumann’s songs, but not of any opera he wrote, and I think it is a mistake to burden him with an opera he never wrote. Can you tell me if he did write one?”
Yes; Robert Schumann wrote an opera called “Genoveva” in 1847, which was first performed in 1850, Schumann himself conducting the score. It was withdrawn after a few presentations, but the overture still retains its place on concert programs.
Pittsburgh Hearing Unusually Fine Concerts and Recitals
Pittsburgh, Pa., January 27, 1922,—Pittsburgh has been favored with visits from many choral organizations, but never before has there been such spontaneous and unanimous acclaim as tendered the St. Olaf Choir on January 25. Syria Mosque was filled to welcome these unusual singers who came as strangers a year ago, and we are pleased to report they will sing a return engagement next Saturday. Regarding their tone, pitch, attack and general musicianship we can speak only in superlatives. It was one of the outstanding concerts of the season.
Vincent D’Indy was guest conductor for the Philadelphia Orchestra’s monthly visit and captivated his audiences with his quiet, forceful manner. The program consisted of numbers from the old French school, the Bach concerto for piano and strings, with Bruce Simonds at the piano, and works of modern Frenchmen, D’lndy’s own “Poemes de Rivages,” Le Flem’s “Pour les Morts” and Roussel’s “Evocations.”
Nikolai Sokoloff and the Cleveland Orchestra offered a very ambitious program, including Brahms’ symphony No. 2, Beethoven’s “Coriolanus” overture and Loeffler’s “Pagan Poem”—surely for mature music minds. The orchestra leaves a better impression after each visit; during the afternoon before the concert a matinee with Arthur Shepherd conducting was given the public school children of Pittsburgh. The importance of each instrument was explained and illustrated, and an hour’s program including Tschai-kowsky’s “Nut Cracker” suite, Mozart’s overture to “The Marriage of Figaro” and the allegretto from Beethoven’s eighth symphony was played.
The Art Society’s offering for the month was the Elshuco Trio, playing the Beethoven E flat, a Paul Juon and a Saint-Saëns trio. It is taken for granted that they should visit us every year.
Prihoda, a violinist new to our audiences, played very stirring interludes between the piano numbers of Maier and Pattison at the last Heyn concert. The pianists were heard to far better advantage than in the Schenley ballroom last season and were given a deserved welcome in Carnegie Hall. Their Bach prelude and fugue was a soul stirring performance.
Harvey B. Gaul, our local composer, was recently honored by the Forum Club, who presented an entire afternoon of his songs. Will Earhart affirmed that Mr. Gaul is always abreast of the times without showing “the mark of his tools” or making one conscious of the “smell of the midnight oil,” and the lyrics presented were living proofs. Mrs. Ro-maine Smith 'Russel, Allen B. Davis, David Bodycomb, Harry Hagmeier, boy soprano of Calvary Church, and Harry Austen were soloists.
The recent election finds William Oetting president of the Musicians’ Club. Mr. Oetting is a well known organist, composer and teacher, and the club is sure to benefit under his regime.
At the Bortz popular concerts Mildred Dillmg, harpist; Vera Barstow, violinist, and Theo Karle have appeared recently.	J.F. L.
Clark A. Shaw’s Fifty-Fifth Birthday
Clark A. Shaw, business manager of the Chicago Opera Association, celebrated quietly his fifty-fifth birthday on Friday, February 10. Shaw has always looked years younger than he really was, and on his fifty-fifth birthday he looks much more like a man of forty than one who has passed the half century mark by five years. Getting up at moonrise and going to bed at sunrise is Mr. Shaw’s advice for a long life.
Second Recital in Vancouver for Butt
(By Telegram.)
Vancouver, B. C., February 9, 1922.
To the Musical Courier:
Recital of Dame Clara Butt of February 7 brilliant success for contralto and assisting artists. Advanced sale including stage seats taken up days in advance although concert was held at eleven P. M. Demand so great second recital booked for February 10.
(Signed) E. R. S.
MUSICAL COURIER
Students of Adolf Hahn were heard at the Saturday noon recital given at the College of Music. Pupils of Giacinto Gorno and Irene Gardner were also heard.
Dan Beddoe was given a fine reception when he made his appearance in the Artist Series at the Jameson Conservatory of Music, of William Woods College, Fulton, Mo. The course was arranged by William Meldrum, a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and head of the music department there.
A program of the works of the Ohio Valley composers was given by the Norwood Music Club. Ida Anderson Klein was in charge.	W. W.
McQuhae Scores Enviable Successes
Allan McQuhae, Irish tenor, has scored some enviable successes on his present tour, as is^ shown by numerous favorable press notices. The Fall River Globe states that there was not a seat available at his concert at the Academy of. Music and that “even the stage was thronged with
26
CINCINNATI ORCHESTRA
GIVES RUSSIAN PROGRAM
ALLAN McQUHAE,
Irish tenor.
music lovers, who were eager to listen to what was one of the finest concerts ever given in this city.” The same paper says of McQuhae’s voice: “It is superb, and fairly rang through the auditorium.” The Fall River Herald says of him that “he has a pleasing personality, an easy stage presence and a ringing tenor voice.” The Evening News notes that McQuhae packed the Academy and that the vast audience listened to his recital with delight, and adds that McQuhae has sung in Fall River several times before and on each reappearance is greeted by a larger audience—“last evening’s far surpassing all previous ones, all who have heard him before are anxious to hear him again. Like his famous countryman,_ John_ McCormack, he achieves a perfect portamento, his diction is delightfully clear and added much to the pleasure of the audience.”
Ney to Play with Kindler
Elly Ney will appear in joint recital with Hans Kindler in Milwaukee on February 19. The artists will play two Beethoven sonatas and one by Brahms. Mme.^ Ney alone will play Schumann’s “Scenes from Childhood.” On February 25 Mme. Ney will make her second Boston appearance, playing an all-Beethoven program.
Schuxnann-Heink Not Available This Month
This month Ernestine Schumann-Heink is singing in concert in the states of Montana, Idaho, Utah, Colorado and Kansas, with not an open date to be filled.
Conservatory Orchestra Also Gives	Program—Other
Concerts—N otes
Cincinnati, Ohio, January 26, 1922,—Something in the nature of a novelty was heard by the patrons of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at the concert given at Emery Auditorium on January 20 and 21. It was the eighth program of the season and was made up entirely of Russian compositions. The fact that there was no soloist on the program added to the force of the orchestral numbers. Under the direction of Eugene Ysaye the concert proved to‘ be a brilliant event and one marked by a keen interest. The principal number was the sixth symphony in C minor by Alexander Glazounoff; it was played with feeling and power. Another number that was warmly received was the “Capriccio Espagnola” of Rimsky-Korsakoff, which was loudly applauded and seemed to impress the audience deeply. A fantasy, “Night on Bald Mountain,” by Moussorgsky, was heard for the first time at these concerts “The Steppes of Middle Asia,” by Borodin; “Russian and Ludmilla,” by Glinka, and the “1812” overture, by Tschaikowsky, closed the concert.
A fine program was heard at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music by the orchestra of the latter institution, in Conservatory Hall, under the direction of Pier Adolfo Tirin-delli. The work of these student musicians shows great progress and the recent concert was only another evidence of the advances being made. The concert was divided so that three parts of the program were devoted to the exclusive work of the orchestra, including the symphony in E minor by Tschaikowsky and the Hansen symphonic suite. Three soloists were also heard to advantage, Florence Byers, a pupil of Thomas James Kelly, who sang a Mozart aria from “Marriage of Figaro;” Rubin Phillips, a violin pupil of Jean ten Have, who played the Wieniawski concerto in D minor, and Marion Wilson Hayne, a piano pupil of Marguerite Melville Liszniewska, who gave the Liapou-noff concerto. The members of the orchestra are showing such marked progress as to give promise of much brilliance in the future.
A song recital that was much enjoyed was given in Memorial Hall by Mary Joyce Powelanskey, dramatic soprano, who has gained some notoriety since her graduation from the College of Music. She was a pupil of Hans Schroeder. The concert was given under the direction of the Menorah Society of the University of Cincinnati. The program included both classic and modern Hebrew music. She possesses an attractive voice, which was heard to advantage. Gordon Campbell was the accompanist.
Emma Noe, formerly a student of Cincinnati and lately with the Chicago Opera, gave a song recital at the Hotel Alms. She sings with fine appreciation and has recently appeared with a number of well known musical organizations. She will shortly leave for New York to continue her activities on the stage. She was formerly a pupil of Minnie Tracey.
A musical was given at the home of Mrs. Martin E. McKee, in honor of Mrs. Lynton P. Swift, of St. Paul, Minn. Mrs. Swift sang three numbers. There were several other participants, the program being much enjoyed.
Owing to repeated requests, “The Miracle Play,” by Minnie Tracey, was given again on January 24 at the Woman’s Club Auditorium. The play was presented for the first time December 15 at the Cincinnati Woman’s Club.
The eleventh Sunday afternoon concert was held at East High School Community on January 22. The program was given by the orchestra of the College of Music, under the direction of Adolph Hahn.
Helma Hansen presented her pupils in a recital at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music January 23.
The Juvenile Players of the Reulman School of Expression repeated their musical revue for the Royal Order of Foresters.
The eighth musical service of the season was given by the choir of the Church of the Advent, Walnut Hills, on January 22, under the direction of Garham Gordon.
At the Covington Woman’s Club Mrs. George B. Moore and Mary Elizabeth Green gave a program recently. Miss Green read a paper on “Music Form.”
At the Hyde Park Music Club a musical was given by Mrs. David Bruer, for the Woman’s Club of the Railway-Mail Service. Mrs. Lillian Simeral, soprano, and Mrs. Mary Crotty, contralto, were the soloists.
KATHRYN MEISLE at St. Joseph, Feb. 3
“A voice of such beauty as that possessed by Kathryn Meisle is not heard twice in a lifetime. It has incredible depth and seems unfathomable and gives to its wondrous sweetness a background full and rich.”
—St. Joseph News-Press, February 4, 1922.
SOME REGENT BOOKINGS
MARCH 12 APRIL 25 MAY 19
BOSTON CLEVELAND ANN ARBOR
HANDEL & HAYDN HARMONIE CLUB MAY FESTIVAL
Miss Meisle is under the exclusive management of Concert Direction: M. H. HANSON, Inc., 437 Fifth Avenue, New York