April 6, 1922 This will be her fourth successive engagement under Dr. Wolle’s direction. Mrs. Alcock has just returned from several recitals in the Middle West, in which she had the capable assistance of Edgar Nelson as accompanist. Engagements for this contralto during April include appearances in Trenton, N. J.; Charleston, W. Va., and St. Louis, Mo. Evelyn MacNevin’s Instantaneous Success Evelyn MacNevin, contralto, born in Canada of Scotch ancestry, came to the United States at an early age. When four years old little Evelyn showed a decided liking for music. She would amuse herself at the piano for long periods, for which she found much encouragement from EVELYN MaoNEVIN, contralto. friends and admirers who discovered unusual talent in the child. She likewise had the advantage of the fullest cooperation from her parents who are both music lovers. At the age of eight, when crossing the ocean for Europe, she was asked to sing at the ship’s concert, when she greatly surprised her audience with the fullness and sweetness of her voice. . .. While in London, she studied piano, and later in Berlin continued her piano instruction under the best masters obtainable. One afternoon at a musicale in Berlin, Frau Schmalfeldt, of the Hanover Opera, noticed her marked interest in music and asked her if she sang; receiving an affirmative answer, she was invited to visit the singer at her studio the next day. After hearing her sing, Frau Schmalfeldt remarked, “Never do I recall having heard such range and volume in a child.’’ This encouragement from an artist of such high standing aroused a greater enthusiasm in the child and her parents, which prompted her to devote more time than ever before to her musical education. . Upon her return to New York, little Evelyn continued her piano work, and likewise took up the violin, which she studied for six years and on which she gained considerable proficiency. ״״ , , . Not until she reached the age of fifteen, did she begin the study of vocal art. Her general musical education was a great aid in her vocal studies. Her progress was so pronounced that, after a comparatively short period of study, her voice developed to one of wide range and golden quality. During the war Miss MacNevin sang at many charity concerts and frequently entertained the soldiers in the various camps. On April 8, 1921, she gave her first New York recital in Aeolian Hall, on which occasion she received much praise from the New York press. On November 1 she scored another triumph at her Toronto recital. On March 21 last she gave a second New York recital in Aeolian Hall which proved equally successful as her debut recital the year previous. Few young artists have gained the instantaneous recognition as was accorded Miss MacNevin at her debut recital in New York. She will be heard many times in New York and on tour during the season 1922-23. Schauffler in Demand as Accompanist Laurence Schauffler, who was heard in a joint recital with George Reimherr, tenor, at the National Theater on March 26, has been much in demand this season as an accompanist. Among those with whom he has worked are Louis Graveure, in Montreal and Quebec; May Peterson, in Utica; four recitals with Amy Grant in Pittsburgh, along with her New York appearances; recitals with Thomas Egan in Stamford and Greenwich, Conn.; in Peekskill, N. Y., with Joseph Stopak and Fred Patton, and in Chambersburg, Pa., with Richard Hale. Sundelius for Greensboro Festival Another spring festival date has been added to the list of those already booked for Marie Sundelius She is to appear at the Greensboro (N. C.) festival on May 5. The work to be sung is the Verdi “Requiem.” Last season Mme. Sundelius appeared at the Asheville (S. C.) music festival and such was her success there that this year she was engaged for the neighboring Greensboro festival. May Peterson Guest of Honor On Saturday, March 25, May Peterson was the guest of honor at a luncheon given at the Hotel Astor by the Wisconsin Society. MUSICAL COURIER Verdi Club Opera and Ball Florence Foster Jenkins, founder and president of the Verdi Club, and Estelle Christie, chairman of the annual performance of opera and “Ball of the Silver Skylarks, were surely gratified by the large audience and their evident enjoyment of this annual event, for the grand ballroom of the_Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was filled March 22. The beautiful souvenir program, with original cover, in colors of Verdi and some of his leading opera characters (originated by Mrs. Jenkins, and designed by Annabel Krebs Cul-verwell), contained pictures of the president, of Mrs. Charles Dorrance Foster (her mother), of Miss Christie, Mrs. Arthur H. Bridge (chairman of the Ways and Means Committee), Mrs. Oscar Gemunder (of the Reception Committee), and Col. Daniel Monroe Woods (chairman of ushers), besides the regular program matter. “La Tra-viata” brought Grace Hoffman, brilliant soprano; Claire Spencer, contralto, of routined stage _ experience; Ernest Davis, tenor of very sympathetic voice; Giuseppe Inter-rante, baritone, resonant and satisfactory; Amadeo Baldi, Vito V. Moscato, Giuseppe Romano, and Vincenzo Vito, all of whom sang their parts well. Conductor S. Avitabile knows his job, had an excellent orchestra, and kept things going, but with too long waits between acts. It was 11.15 before the “Tableaux Vivants,” in which so many people were interested, began. Among these, Mrs. Jenkins as Floria Tosca (when the appropriate “Vissi d’Arte” music was played) formed the climax of the evening, for she was a gorgeous figure. A speech is always expected and this was accomplished with ease and grace, following five sep- 52 Annie Frances Levins Photo MRS. FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS, as Floria Tosca. arate views of “Jenkins-Tosca,” demanded by the big audience. A beautiful string of pearls was presented her by admiring members of the Verdi Club; as this has been done before, Mrs. Jenkins must have nearly sufficient strings on hand to attire herself as did the Queen of Sheba! Following are the names of those participating in the tableaux: Tableau En la Feria (At the Fair) Scene I, A Spanish Beauty..............Mrs. Osc^ Gemunder Scene II, The Queen.........................Estelle Christie The Gypsy Musician.................Lucille Collette Violin Solo Airs Bohemiens................Sarasate Scene III, Dance La Jota . ״ . Señoritas—Pia Falconi Yaselli, Marguerite Hazapis, Ann Cal-isher, Gina Mauro-Cottone. ״ La Alegría......................Ofelia Calvo Keil (Spanish dances arranged by Ofelia Calvo Kell) Señoritas—Mrs. Elmer Gearing, Mrs. Paul V. Winslow, Mrs. William J. Taylor, Mrs. May Douglas, Libby Mara, Mrs. Frank Garraway Smith, Mrs. John Moran, Mrs. Florence L. Sudlow, Mrs. Frederick Montague Taylor. Thomas Senors—Harold Shelton, Caldwell Dumas, Carl Rosa, John Thomas, John Potter, Clarke Drummond, Thomas Weston Tableau Monsieur Beaucaire...... ..........Captain Carl Rosa Tableau Vignettes of Spring a la Watteau Hartoin Dance Adoration de Camelia......... - •• ...m/Í’™ Smith SdfES£־A