37
MUSICAL COURIER
March 9, 1922
Concerning Antonio Scotti’s First Teacher
THE VANDERBILT HOTEL, Thirty-fourth street, east of Park avenue,
New York, March 3, 1922.
To the Editor the Musical Courier,
.437 Fifth avenue,
New York.
Dear Sir :
Will you kindly correct a misstatement which I read in the book by S. Fucitto, “Caruso and the Art of Singing,” in regard to my teacher.
Mr. Fucitto says that Vergine was my first teacher of singing. As a matter of fact, I never met Maestro Vergine in my life.
My first teacher was Signora Ester Paganini-Trifari, and afterwards I studied with Vincenzo Lombardi.
Many thanks.
Sincerely yours,
(Signed) A. Scotti.
Three Orchestral Dates in Five Days for Dux
Claire Dux gave Italian arias, lieder, and French and English songs on her program at the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis on February 28. On March 6 she made her fourth appearance of the season with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under Dr. Frederick Stock; she also sang with this organization in Milwaukee, presenting Mozart arias and songs by Weingartner, Humperdinck and Strauss. On March 9 and 10, Mile. Dux will sing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, under Ossip Gabrilowitsch, at Detroit, making a total of three orchestral appearances within five days.
Berumen to Play at New York University
Ernesto Berumen, who scored a brilliant success in a piano recital, at the New York University last season, again will appear at that institution on March 14, this time having the valuable assistance of Charles Carver, basso.
Mr. Berumen will be a soloist at a concert to be given at the Elks’ Club House of New York on March 12, when the young pianist will appear in conjunction with the Duo-Art piano. Mr. Berumen’s Aeolian Hall recital takes place Thursday afternoon, March 30.
Zanelli Back at Metropolitan
Renato Zanelli, South American baritone, just returned to New York from a concert tour in the West, was called upon at once to sing at the Metropolitan. Friday, February 24, he sang Tonio in “Pagliacci,” and Saturday matinee, February 25, he took the role of Valentin in “Faust,” scoring in two days very measurable successes.
of Dan Beddoe, has a contralto voice, brilliant and full, which she used authoritatively in the aria, “Farewell Ye Forests,”׳ by .Tschaikowsky.
Schumann-Heink on Ether to Far Audiences
Thousands throughout the western states recently “listened in” as Aime. Schumann-Heink christened with songs the Stockton, Cal., Record’s new radio station. Bubbling with happiness and radiating that wonderful personality which brings her so close to her audiences, the great contralto climbed two steep flights of stairs to the Record’s new radiophone station, and was ready to sing and inaugurate the station the instant she arrived. She was escorted from her hotel by one of the officials of the wireless telephone company and her accompanist.
It was a few minutes before eight when the diva arrived. It had been announced in advance that she would sing between eight and a quarter after, so she was asked to wait until the time: set so that none of the listeners at the other end of the ethereal waves would be late. At last the appointed time arrived. Mme. Schumann-Heink stepped up to the trumpet. First she sang James;. H. Roger’s “At Parting.” When the last notes of the beautifully rendered solo had died away,־ it was found that two minutes of the allotted time was still left, so the singer immediately volunteered to sing the favorite “Rosary.” While singing this selection her picture was taken for the newspapers,
“Send me one of the pictures—maybe more,than one?” requested the diva with enthusiasm. “And don’t forget to send some of the papers.” For although Mme. Schumann-Heink is used to plaudits from great audiences from one end of this country to the other, this is the first time she had sung through a radiophone, and she was interested in the new experience.
It came time for her to go. She was helped into her wraps and was on the way to her concert at the local auditorium with a “God bless you all” waved to the favored few who had seen and heard her sing into the radiophone.
In announcing the event, the following introduction went out broadcast over the country:
“Hello, hello, hello, hello, all Western States. This is the Stockton Evening Record radio station of the Portable Wireless Telephone Company at Stockton, California, Radio 6F1. This is the opening radiophone concert of this concern, formerly the Oard Radio Laboratories. It is with especial pride and gratification that we are announcing Ernestine Schumann-Heink, one of the world’s greatest singers, whose voice is known and loved by thousands the world over. Aime. Schumann-Heink has graciously consented to christen our new station with the opening number. Hello, all Western States. I take honor and gratification in presenting Mme. Schumann- Heink. One moment, please.”
And then the great contralto, stepping forward, rendered the two selections that were heard by thousands of. “listeners in” throughout the Western States, as the hundreds of letters and telegrams from various quarters that poured in the next day and the days following attested.
Pietro A. Yon’s Recital March 11
Pietro A. Yon, organist-composer, will be heard in an organ recital at Aeolian Hall on Saturday afternoon, March 11. He will play, besides his own “Hymn of Glory” (new), “Gesu Bambino” and “First Concert Study,” also works by Liszt. Saint-Saëns, Bach, Bossi, Kramer, Remondi, Weaver and Schminke.
DAI
BUELL
“One of the few pianists whose growth is steady and in the right direction.”—Wm. B. Murray, in Brooklyn Eagle, Nov. 9, 1921.
THINGS SHE HAS DONE
(Others follow)
Chosen to give the Morning Musicale in the great “Woman’s Day” at the Copley-Plaza Hotel, Boston, now being duplicated everywhere.
Season of 1922-23 Now Booking
Address SMALLEY CONCERT BUREAU 80 Boylston Street,	Boston, Mass.
Another Verdi Club Affair
Clara Novello Davies, Marie Novello, Beatrice Maud, Airs. Julian Edwards and Estelle Christie were guests of honor at the March 1 meeting of the Verdi Club (a Verdi program), Florence Foster Jenkins founder and president. The handsome Waldorf Apartments looked festive, with American and Italian flags, the Verdi Club banner, the floral decorations, the Caruso portrait on an easel, etc., and last but not least, the genial President Jenkins, radiant in a costume which no mere man can describe. The honor guests each said a few words, Miss Maud also reciting two poems, and Aliss Christie acknowledging a gift commemorating her faithful work for the club of five years. Edna Aloreland was also similarly remembered, and Hilda Spong and Norman Trevor were on the list of honor guests. The president spoke of this as the most successful season of the club, and Historian Edith R. Pearsons mentioned the Red Cross ball, which takes place Alarch 22, named the opening dance of November 9, the musicales, the December 31 supper party, the Old Guard Clubhouse dance of January 18, the several teas, and the coming annual breakfast of May 3. All her words echoed the genuine regard felt for President Jenkins.
Josie Jones, dramatic soprano, showed her unusual quality as singer_ in arias from “Aida,” “La Forza” and “La Tra-viata,” with high tones of special power. As an encore she sang “Visi d’arte.” Robert Leonhardt, baritone of the Metropolitan Opera Company, gave forth thrilling high notes of dramatic intensity in arias from “Un Bailo,” “Otello” and “La Traviata,” and both singers united in a duet from “Tra-viata.” Bratines Raphael was an efficient accompanist, and the president and officers held a reception after the program, which was heard by an audience filling the salon and corridors.
Minette Hirst’s Popularity on the Increase
Minette Hirst, composer and playwright, declares that she is as proud of her two “boys” (meaning her two pets, Yankee and Gigi) as she is of being a composer; or, rather, she says, she is proud of “the boys” and “grateful” for her gift of song.
This public spirited woman has forged her way to the point of being recognized among the foremost American composers, and all within the past four years. Although Minette Hirst started to write negro jingles at nine years of age, and short compositions for the piano at fourteen, she only began to put her words to musical settings four years ago. Last summer when in Europe Mrs. Hirst wrote a libretto for grand opera and her friends declare it to be “a most thrilling love story” of old Spain and Italy. Her songs are featured and sung by many great singers of opera and concerts, among whom are Geraldine Farrar, Giuseppe De Luca, Rafaelo Diaz, Orville Harrold, Ellen Dalossy, Ida Geer Weller, Per Nielsen, Inez Wilson (an English society girl), and many other artists and society women of New York.
Alinette Hirst prefers to be looked upon as a woman with an object in life rather than a woman identified with society alone, although she entertains extensively in her beautiful apartment at 375 Park avenue, New York, and, as “Cholly Knickerbocker” puts it, “Mrs. Hirst is one of the most charming hostesses in the metropolis, and her dinners and entertainments, to quote one patron, are ‘gems.’ ”
A recent brilliant affair at Mrs. Hirst’s apartment was the appearance of Georgette Leblanc-Maeterlinck in “An
Photo by Marcean
MINETTE HIRST,
American composer and playwright, photographed with her two little mascots, Yankee and Gigi.
Hour of Aiusic and Poetry.” Aime. Leblanc was preceded by Nicolai Nicostro, cellist, in a program of Oriental music. Mme. Leblanc sang songs, the most important being “Dreams,” Wagner; “La Steppe,” Gretchaninoff, and “Le Mirroir,” Ferrari; she also read many beautiful poems by French authors. Among those who attended were Mes-dames John D. Ryan, William Lowe Rice, Lady Henry of London, John Aspegren, Daniel Hennessey, Ten Broeck Terhune, Albert Aiken, Baroness De Aieyer, Stilson Hutchins, Walter Lewison, Lady Duveen, Daniel Bason, Patrick Francis Aiurphy, Joseph Knapp, Charles Scribner, Countess Janni, Mrs. M. Wertheim, and the Misses Wilson, Aiills, Steele, Storr, Rice, Burnside, Perkins, Hall, and also Robert Keeling, Edmund J. Stone, William Ai. Sullivan, Ber-thold Neuer, Albert Brennan, George Morgan, Christian Hemmick, Reginald Barker, in addition to Giuseppe De Luca, Orville Harrold, Rafaelo Diaz, Oliver Denton, Bam-boshek, Roberto Aioranzoni, Adamo Didur, Claudia Muzio and Ellen Dalossy.
Many new songs by this popular composer will be brought out in April, which doubtless will add to the fame of Minette Hirst as a poetess and musician of high rank.
1922-1923 AN UNUSUAL CONCERT OR SINGLE ATTRACTION
(Season Sixteen Weeks)
“I Pagliacci” (In Italian) preceded by the woodland pantomime “An Hour Before the Cock Crows.” Full scenery, costumes, lighting and a small orchestra of chamber musicians. Cast of high excellence. Territory, Ohio, Mich., Penn., N. Y., Virginias, Carolinas and New England.
Now Booking—Wire or Write
K1NGSBERY FOSTER, MGT.	66 West 38th St., New York
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA¿A
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Coenraad V. Bos, Pianist Louis P. Fritze, Flutist
New York ^ _________A
MANAGEMENT OF FRIEDA HEMPEL 164 Madison Avenue,
HEMPEL
•4
•4
•4
■4
•4
•4
•4
Cincinnati Conservatory Orchestra Concert
The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was the scene of an enthusiastic demonstration from an audience gathered on February 23 to hear the Conservatory Orchestra, under the direction of Pier Adolfo Tirindelli. There was an instant rapport that reflected itself in the brilliant playing of the orchestra. The Pergolesi concerto for strings was flowing and warm. Chalmers Clifton’s “Interludio” is a fine bit of modern orchestral writing, full of power and beauty. The Schumann “Scotch” symphony was given a spirited reading, yet dignified withal. The three soloists who helped round out the artistic balance of the evening were Irene Gromme, pupil of Marcian Thalberg, who played the Schumann piano concerto in A minor. She is a pianist of marked individuality, possessing strength and technical fluency. Gladys Lyon, pupil of Haig Guderiian, played the violin concerto by Lalo, displaying finger fluency, a good flowing tone, and a fine sense of phrase. Lucy De Young, a pupil
AVAILABLE
November to April
Exclusive Management:
DANIEL MAYER Aeolian Hall, New York
HANS LETZ, 1st Violin EDWIN BACHMANN, 2nd Violin EDWARD KREINER, Viola HORACE BRITT, ,Cello
LETZ QUARTET
T
H
E