February 1, 19 23
MUSICAL COURIER
42
GENNARO CTJRCI AND HIS BRIDE-TO-BE.
Caccia seated in the center, with Mrs. Pier A. Tirindelli and Giovanni Martinelli on Miss Caccia's right. (Photo © Lumiere.)
Curd and Elvira
Gennaro
“In Mitzi’s new play,” the author pointed out, “we need a group of girls who can be all these things, and instrumental musicians besides. Thirty years ago I’d say it couldn’t be done. Today I’m confident that I’ll have a prize collection together within a Week.”
MacDowell Club Concert
An interesting program was heard by a large and discriminating audience at the MacDowell Club on Saturday evening, January 27. Songs by Werner Josten were sung by Dicie Howell, Harriet Eells and John Barclay. Miss Howell sang in her silvery clear soprano voice a group in French, with good diction and finish of style, giving atmosphere to each individual number. Miss Eells, a pupil of Marcella Sembrich, who was present in the audience, put considerable feeling into a group of songs in German and showed intelligence and sincerity in interpretation. John Barclay interpreted with excellent effect a group of baritone songs. His resonant voice, of rich timbre, and his artistry showed to advantage these beautiful songs, one of which— Sumer is icumen in—had to be repeated. Miss Howell and Mr. Barclay were heard together in a lovely duet, Waldein-samkeit, both artists bringing to it an emotional warmth and beauty of tone. The compositions of Werner Josten revealed much of real merit and individuality of idea. The composer was at the piano and modestly accepted the enthusiastic applause bestowed upon him. The vocalists, too, were well received. Dohnanyi’s C sharp minor sonata for violin and piano was given a pleasing performance. Sandor Harmati, violinist, and Irene Schwarz Jacobi, pianist, together achieved many fine effects.
A Fine Tribute for Idelle Patterson
Among the very recent engagements of Idelle Patterson, lyric coloratura soprano, are the following: January 13, Commodore Hotel, with Armand Tokatyan, tenor of the Metropolitan Opera, at a concert for the Police Square Club; January 14, intimate recital at her residence studios; January 16, soloist for the Near East Relief, New York; January 21, second of the series of intimate recitals at her studios. Following Mine. Patterson’s appearance in Binghamton, N. Y., January 8, one of the critics had this to say: “Mme. Patterson was the outstanding artist of the concert. Her perfect tone quality and exceptionally high voicerange won her spontaneous applause. Her display of technic was a revelation in vocal art. The concert was the last to be held at the Goodwill, and without exception was the best .ever staged there.”
Reception for'Gennaro Gurci’s Fiancee
On Saturday afternoon, January 27, Mrs. Pier A. Tirindelli gave a reception in honor of Elvira Caccia, fiancee of Gennaro Mario Curci, which was attended by more than a hundred people, many of whom are prominent in musical and social circles. Miss Caccia, a charming picture in blue and silver, received with Mrs. Tirindelli and Mr. Curci.
Among those present were Giovanni Martinelli, Giuseppe de Luca, Adamo Didur, Cesare Sturani, Armand Tokatyan, G. Gondolfi, Fiorelli La Guardia, Mr. and Mrs. T Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. White, Mr. and Mrs. P J Phee, Mrs. John A. Drake, Charles Isaacson. Mr. and Mrs Perera, Mr. and Mrs. Scriarretti, Alvin L. Schmoeger, Mrs. Bonfiglio, Vice-Consul General Rochira, Mr. and Mrs. Bruno Zirato, Dr. Gauldiani and Dr. Marafiotti.
During the afternoon a delightful musical program was given by Armand Tokatyan, tenor of the Metropolitan; Mr. Gondilfi, baritone of the Scotti Grand Opera Company; Edwin Idler, violinist, and Magdaleine Erbland, coloratura soprano, and Renata Flondino, both pupils of Mr. Curci
Zelda Sears Wants Young Musicians
Zelda Sears, author of The Clinging Vine, was so largely responsible for its casting that Henry W. Savage has asked t° assemble the players for the new musical play which Miss Sears recently completed for Mitzi, the dainty star of Lady Billy.
The first necessity for the forthcoming production is a bevy of pretty girls who can, as Miss Sears puts it, “sing, ’look,’ act, dance—and play either a harp, a violin or a cello.”
Miss Sears will see that every young lady who fills these demands is given an audition at the offices of Henry W. Savage. She further promises good salaries will be paid to successful candidates.
"There must be hundreds of pretty and talented girls to whom a chance like this will appeal,” observes Miss Sears. “Yet the demands are severe, I know. When I went in a musical comedy chorus myself, thirty years ago, a girl’s best recommendation was a shapely limb. If she was young and pretty, so much the better. If she could really sing and dance, there was no stopping her.
“Now see how rigid musical comedy requirements have grown! Few managers today would dream of engaging a girl for her looks alone. She has to be able to sing and dance, and in most modern musical plays, to be an actress too.
Club Gives Musicale for MacDowell Colony Fund
Mrs. Edward MacDowell continues to recover, slowly but surely, from the effects of the automobile accident of which she was the victim on December 30 last.
Immediately after her accident, Joseph Regneas wrote to the Musical Courier, offering to be one of twenty-five to subscribe one hundred dollars apiece towards a fund that should be a testimonial to Mrs. MacDowell and replace for her the income lost through her illness, thus avoiding any possibility of the interruption to the work of the Peterborough Colony.
Mr. Regneas has just forwarded the following letter to the Musical Courier :
WASHINGTON HEIGHTS MUSICAL CLUB
January 22, 1923.
Dear Mr. Regneas:
I was greatly interested to read in the Musical Courier of January 4 your letter concerning the accident to Mrs. Edward MacDowell. As the members of our club are great admirers of Mr. MacDowell’s music and of the Work that Mrs. MacDowell is doing in maintaining the Colony at Peterborough, we are anxious to subscribe to the Mrs. MacDowell Colony Fund. We are therefor changing our regular club recital of January 30 (Artist: Ethel Grow, contralto), to a benefit recital, gross receipts from which will be turned over to said fund.
May I ask you to convey our compliments to Mrs. MacDowell, as well as an expression of our regret at her accident. Very truly yours,
(Signed) Jane R. Cathcart, President.
Without doubt there are numerous other clubs that would be glad to follow the example of the Washington Heights Musical Club and the receipts of a recital or club musicale could be devoted to no purpose more deserving.
The Musical Courier will continue to act as collector for the fund. Contributions, which will be acknowledged in these columns, should be addressed to the Mrs. MacDowell Colony Fund, care Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York.
Mary McCormic Asks Separation
Mary McCormic, one of the sopranos of the Chicago Civic Opera Company, has filed a bill seeking annulment of her marriage to Chester A. McCormic, says a report in the Chicago Herald Examiner of January 26. Her action caused considerable surprise, as her marriage to Mr. McCormic had been kept a secret. Ht!, it is stated, was her attorney in her suit for divorce against her first husband, Kenneth Ranking, to whom she was married in 1906. A divorce from him was granted her in October, 1916. They had one child, a girl, who is now twelve years old.
Charlotte Silverson Foreman Active Abroad
Charlotte Silverson Foreman, the American pianist, is now playing through Germany and Austria. Among the cities in which she has already appeared are Brandenburg, Berlin, Dresden, Munich and Vienna. Before coming back to the States in the spring, she will have played in Paris and Brussels.
Elman On Pacific Coast
Mischa Elman is at present concertizing on the Pacific Coast from where his usual immense audiences are reported. He will return East via the Southwest and is booked to play practically every day until the end of April, winding up his season with a tour through the South and some festival engagements in May.
Leonard Snyder Wins Favor in Cuba
Leonard Snyder has returned to New York after a most successful operatic season in Cuba, where he met with the unanimous favor of the public and critics.
Frances Nash’s Recital
Frances Nash, pianist, will give her only New York •recital for this season in Aeolian Hall on Wednesday afternoon, February 21.
Use Niemack’s European Appearances
Ilse Niemack, American violinist, who has been winning success in Germany this season, includes the following among her recent and forthcoming dates: Dresden, January 24; Hanover, January 27; Bremen, January 31 ; Hamburg, February 1; Berlin (third concert), February 7: Stuttgart, February 16, and Munich, February 18, with other engagements pending. Miss Niemack invariably wins high praise from the critics and public. Following her Munich concert this young artist will go with her mother to spend a few days at Garmisch, a winter mountain resort near-Munich.
Walter to Conduct New York Symphony
Bruno Walter, the distinguished European conductor, who will make his first appearance in New York as the guest conductor of the New York Symphony Orchestra, will lead three concerts in Carnegie Hall, Thursday afternoon and Friday evening, February 15 and 16, and the Sunday afternoon concert in Aeolian Hall, February 18.
Althouse Sings in Fairmont
Paul Althouse, tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, assisted by Rudolph Gruen at the piano, presented an interesting program before the music department of the Woman’s Club of Fairmont, Va., on Jaunary 11.
Nash and Latta at Harcum School
The Studio Club of the Harcum School entertained Frances. Nash, pianist, and Elizabeth Hood Latta, vocalist, at tea after their recital on January 10.
Hofmann in Third New York Recital
Josef Hofmann will give his third New York recital at Carnegie Hall on Sunday afternoon, February 4.
Rosa Ponselle, although she is completing her fourth season as prima donna of the Metropolitan Opera, and is known all over the United States as a concert artist, is still far below the age where even prima donnas cease to celebrate birthdays. Her twenty-sixth one took place on January 2J! and there teas a great party at her New York home. At the same time, the youngest member of the Pon-selle family, her nephew Anthony, iras christened. One photograph shows Miss Pon-selle, who acted as godmother, with little Anthony, five weeks old, and the other shows part of the company just before the birthday cake was cut. Photographed arc: Antonio Ponselte, father of little Anthony; Rev. 8. J. A ruezek, who christened the baby; Edith Prilik, Miss Ponselle’s secretary; William T h orner ; Oarmela Ponselle ; Rosa Ponselle; G. Papi, conductor, Metropolitan Opera; Marie Sundelius, Metropolitan Opera; Jl. Neuer; Frances Peralta. Metropolitan Opera; Rev. W. Brennan; Jeanne Gordon, Metropolitan Opera.
(Photo © Keystone View Go.)