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MUSICAL COURIER
June 15, 1922
Opera Society Summer Work
The Grand Opera Society of New York, founded 1919 by Zilpha Barnes Wood, Mus. Bac., announces summer sessions, with rehearsals Thursday evenings and Tuesday afternoons during the season. By joining this society one can gain operatic repertory, experience in acting, and eventually appearances before city audiences. The society has had many successful engagements in the past, and has been endorsed by leaders in the musical world. Mrs., Wood will come in from her summer home, Sea Gate, three times weekly for the coaching of ambitious summer students. Last year they produced standard works, such as “Martha,” “Faust,” “Carmen,” Cavalleria Rusticana,” and “I Pagli-acci.” This society has also given performances for clubs, schools, churches and hotel entertainments. A few endorsements from leading authorities read as follows:
I wish your undertaking every possible success.—Walter
Damrosch.	------
I am in sympathy with the aims which the Grand Opera Society of New York seeks to further.—Otto H. Kahn.
The Grand Opera Society of New York deserves the aid of Americans who desire to bring broader opportunity to young singers
of 1,408 notes a minutes; arpeggios in sixth, 576 notes a minute; interlocking chords, chromatic order, 480 chords a minute; octaves in fifths, C harmonic minor, 640 notes a minute, etc., and to prove the accuracy of the_ performers many of the exercises also were played on the piano. Those taking part in the program were Anna Farer, Evelyn B. Burton and Ida Iacapraro, all of whom were given due appreciation on the part of the audience for the brilliancy and strength with which they played, and also for the interpretative ability shown in compositions by Mendelssohn, Chopin, Grieg, Rubinstein, Liszt and other composers.
Portanova Pupils in Recital
Vincenzo Portanova, well known Italian vocal teacher, presented ten artist pupils in recital in the Astor Gallery, Hotel Waldorf-Astoria, New York, on Saturday evening, June 3. The participants, without exception, revealed unusually fine training in tonal emission as well as in interpretation.
The program, which consisted mainly of operatic arias, opened with the “Inflammatus” of Rossini, effectively sung by Anna Hartling and a chorus of Mr. Portanova’s pupils. Miss Hartling later sang an aria from “La Gioconda,” Ponchielli. Her excellent work won instantaneous recognition. William Fliedner sang “Amami” by Denza, rendering it artistically. Minna Eidt came next with the pastoral from the opera “Rosalinda,” Verracini. Her beautiful voice and clear diction won for her much sincere applause. Adele Abrams was heard to excellent advantage in Leoncavallo’s “Mattinata.”
Frederick Jagel, a young tenor who has studied with Mr. Portanova several years, scored a decided triumph with arias from “Carmen” and “L’Elisir d’Amore,” Donizetti. His beautiful, well trained and sympathetic voice was enthusiastically applauded. He was obliged to give two added numbers. Stella Moritz sang with much charm an aria from “La Boheme,” Puccini.
Ethel Pick won the approval of the large audience by her finished rendition of an aria from “La figlia Reggi-mento,” Donizetti. Eva Bergonzi sang with much warmth and intelligence “Vissi d’Arte” from “Tosca Puccini. Edith Milman won admiration for her delightful rendition of Denza’s “Li tu M’Amassi. Carol Droge sang the ballatella from “Pagliacci,” delightfully.
Two duets were rendered, “Nozze di Figaro,” Mozart, and “II Guarany” by Gomez, the first sung by Minna Eidt and Ethel Pick, and the second by Anna Hartling and Frederick Jagel. In both of these numbers the blending of the voices was admirable. Following each of the solo numbers, encores were demanded. The finished and highly artistic work of the students reflected great credit upon Mr. Portanova.
THE GRAND OPERA SOCIETY, photographed in a scene from “Pagliacci.”
for practical experience and to further the presentation of Opera in English for all.—Izeta Mae McHenry.
These young singers use the English language and they work earnestly, with unflaying enthusiasm. At the most recent meeting, excellent work was done by Belle Fromme as Carmen, Lydia McGregor as Micaela, Wm. Tucker as Escamillo and J. S. Green as Valentine in “Faust”.—Leonard Liebling.
Harlings Off for Europe
W. Franke Harling, composer, and Mrs. Harling are sailing for Europe June 17 on the steamship Rotterdam. They will spend the summer abroad, Mr. Harling engaging in musical work at first in Belgium, going later to Germany.
Radney, Ingram Scarbrough and Joseph Carroll, with Mrs. Luther Smith and Madye Heath accompanists.
The twenty-sixth annual convention of the U. D. C. was held here recently. Among those who took part in the program were Mr. and Mrs. Luther Smith, Mary Selman, Mrs. Eugene Murphree, and the Music Study Club chorus. A march composed by Kate Malone Parks Wood was given hearty applause. She is one of Troy’s best known piano teachers. The U. D. C. chapters of the State have accepted the march to be played at all future chapter meetings.
The classes of Mary Selman, Nelle Murphree and Mrs. Paul Kennedy were presented in a recital at the school auditorium.
Reciprocity Day was held by the Federated Clubs of the city on May 15. Mrs. Luther Smith and the Music Study Club furnished the musical program.	J. P. M.
Tuskegee, Ala.—When Mrs. T. J. Burke entertained a musical program was rendered by Mrs. Frank Conner (instrumental solos) and a solo was sung by the hostess.
J. P. M.
Union Springs, Ala.—Miss House entertained the Music Study Club, with Mrs. Cowan Dawson as leader. A journal review was given by Mrs. Chris Gholson, piano solos by Mrs. Sam Caldwell and Mrs. Edgar McKay and vocal solos by Mesdames F. W. A. Bosch and H. C. Crittenden.
The Service Star Legion offered a program recently. Especially interesting was a violin solo by Josephine Strickland.	J■ P--M.
Worcester, Mass.—(See letter on another page.)
New Plans for Warren Ballad Concerts
Frederic Warren, founder and originator of the Warren Ballad Concerts, in an interview with a representative of the Musical Courier, expressed himself as follows: “Several new policies will mark the fourth season of the Warren Ballad Concerts. The steady growth of song recital rendered by several artists instead of one, compelled me to secure larger quarters. Carnegie Hall was, therefore, chosen where six Saturday evening concerts will be given
FREDERIC WARREN
commencing November 4, 1922, and ending April 14, 1923. Popular prices will prevail, ranging from 25 cents to $1.25. There will be 500 parquet seats at a subscription price of $6 (including tax) for a series of six concerts where one may hear thirty standard artists in programs of the most interesting songs of the day.”
Mr. Warren furthermore stated: “Another feature of importance is the first performance of new songs rendered entirely in the English language, which means new songs written to English texts, but it may also include songs for which new and adequate translations have been made. All songs presented must, however, conform to the slogan for the concerts: Not to render popular songs, but to render good songs popular, as well as to the generally and broadly accepted term Good Music. Great care will be exercised in arranging programs for performance, which will include ensemble numbers, classic songs, folk-songs, ballads, etc. 1' shall co-operate with American composers desirous of submitting their new songs, and for this reason have decided to remain in New York throughout the entire summer arranging my programs for next year’s concerts, selecting artists and to carry out the ideals involved in giving such a series of concerts.”
In conclusion Mr. Warren said: “I do not believe in the star system, either in opera or concerts,” but contradicts himself by stating that .all of his artists, in their way, will be stars, for each one will bring some rare quality to the concerts, and quotes from “The Renaissance” by Walter Peter: “Besides great masters, there are a certain number of artists who have a distinct faculty of their own by which they convey to us a peculiar quality of pleasure which we cannot get elsewhere.”
Interesting Recital by Virgil Students
A piano recital was given at Rumford Hall of the Chemists’ Club on the evening of June 2 by artist students in the class of public performance of the Virgil Piano Conservatory. It was a most interesting as well as instructive recital, for the Virgil piano technic was illustrated on two tekniklaviers. Bravoura arpeggios were played at a velocity