MUSICAL COURIER
3G
June 15, 1922
with dramatic action. It was well received by the audience. Rudolph Fornell, baritone (pupil of Elizabeth Bradish), closed the program with a sympathetic rendition of “Vale,” Russell; “My ain folk,” Lennon, and “For dig Allen,” Giehl.
Lina Coen, who collaborates with Mme. Hill, was at the piano.
Lester Donahue Active on Coast
Lester Donahue, the pianist, has been busy in and about his native city of Los Angeles the last few months. Among his recent appearances was a sonata recital in the Gamut Club Auditorium there when he and Roderick White, violinist, played a Bach-Schumann Preludium, the Brahms A major sonata and the Grieg C minor sonata. Mr. Donahue played the fifth Scriabine sonata for piano. The work made a tremendous and unexpected hit with the audience to whom it was new—it had never been played on the Coast before—and won recall after recall for Mr. Donahue.
LESTER DONAHUE,
pianist, and Victor C. Winton at Santa Barbara between concerts.
The Los Angeles Times of May 17 said: “What primarily struck one about Mr. Donahue’s rendition was its fine abandon. He was obviously not afraid of the difficult technical obstacles, and his fire and determination swept beyond the confines of mere notes and gave one a vision of the esthetic impulse—the picture.”
So successful was the joint recital that it was repeated at Santa Barbara on May 28 and is also to be given in July at La Jolla, San Diego, Carmel and other Southern California towns.
Another success for Mr. Donahue was a recital at Santa Barbara on March 31 where he played compositions by Bach, Brahms and Liszt together with a group of modern pieces including “The Woman and the Nightingale” (Granados), De Falla’s “Andalusia” and “The Island Spell” by John Ireland. Mr. Donahue’s activities on the Coast are under the direction of Victor C. Winton, former New York manager, who now lives in Los Angeles.
R. E. JOHNSTON’S
LIST OF ATTRACTIONS FOR SEASON 1922-1923
Luisa Tetrazzini........World’s Famous Prima Donna So-
prano.
Titta Ruffo .............Celebrated Baritone of the Metro-
politan Opera Company.
Rosa Raisa .............Foremost Dramatic Soprano and
Giacomo Rimini .........Italian Baritone of the Chicago
Opera Company. (Joint Recitals).
Beniamino Gigli ........Leading Tenor of the Metropolitan
Opera Company.
Giuseppe De Luca ....Baritone of the Metropolitan Opera Company.
Joseph Hislop............Scottish Tenor.
John Charles Thomas. Popular American Baritone.
Anna Fitziu .............Lyric Soprano.
Cyrena Van Gordon .. Leading Mezzo Soprano of the Chicago Opera Company.
Evelyn Scotney...........Coloratura Soprano.
Erwin Nyiregyhazi Hungarian Pianist.
Raoul Vidas ............French Violinist.
Edward Lankow ..........Basso of the Chicago Opera Co.
Tina Filipponi ..........Italian Pianist.
Robert Ringling ........American Baritone.
Rudolph Bochco..........Russian Violinist.
Clara Deeks ............Lyric Soprano.
Paul Ryman..............American Tenor.
Suzanne Keener...........Coloratura Soprano of the Metro-
politan Opera Company.
Marie Saville...........Soprano.
Caroline Pulliam ........Coloratura Soprano.
Lucile Orrell ..........Cellist.
and
THE BILTMORE FRIDAY MORNING MUSICALES
at the
HOTEL BILTMORE
«g»
For further particulars, communicate with
R. E. JOHNSTON 1451 Broadway, New York
ASSOCIATES
L. G. BREID	and	PAUL LONGONE
Louis Robert, Dutch Organist and Conductor
It is a pleasure to introduce to America a man of such splendid ability as Louis Robert, who was in Holland assistant conductor to Mengelberg, and who has a big reputation as organist and conductor in his own country, as well as Belgium, Germany and France. Here is what Mengelberg thinks of him:
I hereby certify that Louis Robert has assisted me for several years as chorus conductor and trainer, to my great satisfaction. He is an excellent musician, a first class organ player and a splendid accompanist. I can recommend him to every concert or choral society.
(Signed) Willem Mengelberg.
New York, May 15, 1922.
Arnold Schonberg, in a letter dated April 4, 1921, thanks him for his assistance in producing the Schonberg “Gur-relieder,” and Alphonse Mailly, Belgian Court organist, writes of Robert as an “artist of greatest distinction, a capable musician, who will fill any post in the finest way.”
Programs of his organ recitals in various countries show that he plays the largest works written, including those of Bach, Liszt, Vierne, Guilmant, Bonnet, Krebs, Dubois, Schumann, Wely, Gigout, Lemare, Best, Pierne, Widor, Mailly, Handel, Karg-Elert, Saint Saens, dePauw, Fresco-
LOUIS ROBERT
baldi, Borowski, Pachelbel, Franck, Buxtehude, Cleram-bault, etc. Berlin", Paris and Amsterdam indorse his organ playing in superlatives, as follows:
The soloist was Mr. Louis Robert. This organist possesses a staggering technical skill.—Le Matin, Paris, France.
Reger s toccata, Bossi’s sweet, melancholy cantabile and Bonnet’s Chat de Printemps were played by Robert in every respect admirably, so that the performer could be as satisfied by his success as the audience was pleased with the performance.—Berliner Borsen-Courier, Germany.
Louis Robert has shown with the performance of “Ein deutsches Requiem” that he is more than an 'excellent conductor, that he is able, whatever the requirements of either classic or modern scores may be, to fill his distinguished place in the world of art. Homage to Louis Robert.—Oprechte Haarlemsche Courant, Holland.
He has already appeared as soloist at Wanamaker Auditorium, ^ when on June 3 he played Russell’s “Bells of Beaupré,” the Bach fantasia and fugue in G minor, Mailly’s andante, and Viêrné’s finale. In September he will appear in the Wanamaker organ concerts in Philadelphia, giving a program of works by Dutch composers and Brooklyn will soon hear him. Besides his organ virtuosity, Mr. Robert has conducted such important works as “The Four Seasons” (Haydn), “Elijah,” “German Requiem” (Brahms), Beethoven’s choral fantasia, and modern works. There is no question of his attaining high rank in American musical life.
Jessie Fenner Hill Pupils in Recital
Jessie Fenner Hill, of the Metropolitan Opera House Studios, recently gave in her studio what she calls her “Experience Recital,” which is one of the studio events of the season. Those students qualified to sing, but who have never faced an audience, are permitted the experience of the psychology of the “first time.”
Built up from numbers given by the younger students, the program presented was interesting. Bernice Bouker (pupil of Elizabeth Bradish), assistant to Mme. Hill, sang “Voi che sapete,” Mozart, and “Vous dansez Marquise,” Lemaire. She was followed by Gloria Doyle, a young girl, who sang “The Little Grey Blue Dove,” Saar, and “The Blue Bonnet,” Russell. Bath revealed voices of fine quality and promise. Norma Cromwell, dramatic soprano, gave ‘My Love Is a Muleteer,” Di Nogero; “Homing,” Del Riego, and “Sonny Boy,” Curran. Bessie Harris, coloratura soprano, sang “If Flowers Could Speak,” Mana-Zucca; “The Wings of the Night,” Watts, and “II Bacio,” Arditi, which met with instantaneous success. Especially good was Miss Harris’ singing of “II Bacio.”
The next group of singers included Georgia Moore in “The Open Secret” (Woodman) and “The Little House” (Pierce) ; Helen Hennessy in “Love’s in My Heart” (Woodman) and “Sunrise and You” (Penn) ; Zelda Harris in “Vissi D’arte” (Puccini) and “The Golden Dancing Days”־ (Clarke); Dorothea Brand» contralto, in “Lullaby” (Scott) and “Song of Songs” (de Moya). Miss Brand showed fine advancement over the last recital.
Amelia Coleman and Mary Leard, contraltos, gave a contrast in the program by their rich voices, their numbers being respectively “The Light” (Vanderpool) and “The Last Hour” (Kramer); “The Old Mill’s Grist” (Mana-Zucca) and “Little Bateese” (Pierce). With fine effect did Miss Leard sing “Little Bateese.” Grace Douglas, a second year student, sang “The False Prophet,” Scott, and “Answer,Terry. Her cadenzas were clean and well given in the difficult aria, “Charmant Oiseau,” by David. Irma Fenner deviated slightly from the usual form of the program by giving “Roi de Thule” from “Faust,” Gounod,
DONATO
CELEBRATED VOICE SPECIALIST and GRAND OPERA COACH Studios: 807-808 Carnegie Hall, N. Y. Tel. 1350 Circle
(Formerly of
Milano, Italy)
Teacher of Singing
STUDIO:
333 West End Ave., (76th St.) Phone 5217 Columbus New York
ZERFFI
Voice Production without Interference
a. Fred WOLLE
ORGANIST
Management: THE WOLFSOHN MUSICAL BUREAU,
8 East 34th Street, New York
Miami Conservatory
MIAMI, FLA.
BERTHA M. FOSTER, Director
Music in all its branches, Art, Dramatic Art, Aesthetic Dancing and Languages.
Write for prospectus
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SOPRANO
Mgt. DANIEL MAYER	Aeolian Hall, New York
The Music Students’ League
An organization of music students to further mutual interests and to promote the spirit of cooperation.
MEMBERSHIP INVITED
Address
MISS FLORENCE MENDELSSOHN Secretary
Care of MUSICIANS’ CLUB 173 Madison Ave.	New York City
ISIDORE BRAGGIOTTI
THE FLORENTINE VOCAL AUTHORITY
In response to an insistent * demand, Mr. Braggiotti has decided to remain in this country for the present and will continue to divide his time between his New York and Boston studios.
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