25
MUSICAL COURIER
February 15, 1923
SUZANNE KEENER
Young Coloratura Soprano with Metropolitan Opera Co.
How »he prediction that “she will climb higher and higher in the ranks ol.beauliiullsingers is rapidly becoming true — Everywhere she sings she receives return engagements.
A FEW VERDICTS FROM THE PRESS:
Suzanne Keener, a young soprano, was the soloist at the Stadium concert last evening, where she sang “Caro nome” from “Rigo-letto” and “Ah, fors e lui” from “Traviata.” As encores she sang two English numbers. Somewhat given to mannerisms she showed a generally good tone with ringing high notes which carried very well. The Rigoletto aria seemed somewhat expressionless, but the number from “Traviata” marked considerable improvement in this respect, and Miss Keener’s voice and manner warmly appealed to the large audience.—N. Y. Herald.
A surprise of the evening was the singing of Miss Keener, a youthful soprano, whose performance of the “Caro nome” aria from “Rigoletto” disclosed a pretty, well trained voice with limpid high notes that provoked well deserved applause.—N. Y. Tribune.
It was an eventful evening chiefly for Miss Suzanne Keener, a young soprano, who sang the part of 1 Gilda in Rigoletto for the first time. In spite of nervousness the young lady managed it very well. Her voice is light but of pretty quality.—N. Y. World.
In the aria “Una voce poco fa” from Rossini’s “Barber of Seville” she was fascinating. Her encores were mere simple, tantalizing nursery scores and were chanted and trilled with a gay, fairylike charm. Petite Miss Keener, with her fresh, sparkling voice—more of her will surely be heard climbing higher and higher in the ranks of beautiful singers.—Elmira Star Gazette.
Miss Suzanne Keener, whose silvery tones were ravishing, was an utterly charming young person. In the aria “Regnava nel silenzio” from Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor,” her high notes, her thrills and her “big moments” were so well executed, and her spell over her audience so remarkable that her work seemed well nigh flawless.—Elmira Advertiser.
Suzanne Keener contributed in a varied program■ given last night at the Carnegie Music Hall to raise funds for the Brashear settlement. “Regnava nel silenzio” from “Lucia di Lammermoor” and “When I was seventeen” proved very popular and were extremely well received. Miss Keener’s charming manner adds to her power of interpretation.—Pittsburg Sun.
Aside from the philanthropical object of the entertainment the music appealed to the large audience by reason of its excellence.
In the theme and variations by Proch Miss Keener displayed her beautifully modulated coloratura soprano voice to great advantage and elicited generous, well deserved applause. Also a group of songs including a popular Swedish folk-song were well rendered by Miss Keener and brought rounds of applause.—Pittsburg Post.
Miss Keener was in her best mood. She tossed the glittering little tones of Proch’s “Variations” into the air with perfect ease. Indeed she did best as the phrasing grew more difficult. The accuracy and swift finish of her higher tones was astonishing.—
Brooklyn Eagle.
The public’s efforts to break the ironclad “no encore” rule were never as frantic as after Miss Keener had sung the “Caro nome” in a most brilliant manner. The singer had to appear time and again before the audience. Her high coloratura voice is splendidly trained and used with exquisite taste and effect. There can be no doubt that this young singer has a brilliant career before her. —N. Y. Staats Zeitung.
The future of Miss Keener who has youth, charm and a voice affords an interesting subject for speculation. She undoubtedly has in her voice a beautiful instrument. Its quality tempts one to enthusiasm. It is a true coloratura soprano with a bird-like purity and freshness in the upper register and richness and power in the lower notes. Vocally Miss Keener was quite equal to the demands made upon her by such numbers as the aria “Costanze” from Mozart’s “Entfuhring,” Proch’s “Variations” and Donizetti’s “Regnava nel silenzio” from “Lucia,” the difficult florid passages being executed with brilliance and fidelity to pitch.—Montreal Gazette.
Suzanne Keener charmed with her fresh, youthful mannerisms almost as much as her clear coloratura voice. “The last rose of summer,” “Bobolink and Chicadee” and “When I was seventeen” were a very happy choice for Miss Keener. In her duet with de Luca as Rosina listening to the world-wise Rossini’s Barber she won great applause.—Brooklyn Eagle.
Miss Keener in her numbers “Una voce poco fa” from Rossini s “Barber of Seville” and in the aria “Regnava nel silenzio” from “Lucia” as well as in her numerous encores sang admirably.—
Brooklyn Times.
Suzanne Keener proved her coloratura abilities singing Donizetti’s “Silence over all” from “Lucia di Lammermoor.” She is an American, trained in America and has been with the Metropolitan Opera since last year.—■N. Y. Herald.
Management: R. E. Johnston, 1451 Broadway, New York
Associates: L. G. Breid and Paul Longone
N. B.—Miss Suzanne Keener comes from the studio of Mme. Valeri, 381 West End Ave., New York. Mme. Valeri will teach, this coming Summer, exclusively at the American Conservatory of Music, 300 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, HI.