27
MUSICAL COURIER
April 5, 19 23
Montreal Has Music Week
Montreal, Canada, has just finished its first successful Music Week. It was run by the Delphic Club, Mrs. Armstrong president. More than one hundred meetings and concerts were given. Charles D. Isaacson of New York was the city’s guest and the chief speaker. He was in Montreal two days and spoke at more than a score of meetings including the Kiwanus Club with eighteen hundred present, the Mendelssohn Choir, the Notre Dame de Grasse, the Woman’s Club, the Delphic Club, the Methodist Church, the Strathcona Academy, the Central High School, West Mount High School, Lachine School, the Mount Royal Hotel, the Windsor Hotel (Prince of Wales Room), French School, the Y. M. C. A., etc.
Marion Ball Sings at Carroll Club
Marion Ball, dramatic soprano, gave an interesting program at the Carroll Club on February 18. Her program consisted of an old Italian air ■by Secchi, two French ber-gerettes, Les Hirondelles (David), songs by Horn, Bishop, Kramer and Curran, and a group of Negro Spirituals. Before singing the latter, Miss Ball spoke briefly about the spirituals, telling of their origin and so on. She was obliged to add two as encores. Miss Ball, who is coaching with Agnes Brennan, sang very artistically and the audience was most enthusiastic. Miss Brennan at the piano provided her usual sympathetic and thoroughly artistic accompaniments.
audience, which completely filled the large ballroom, liked Miss Chalfant, liked her work and especially her excellent enunciation, and also liked her delightful personality. Especially successful were the three songs by Miss Clark, which have a distinctly individual appeal. Auguste Rodeman played the flute accompaniment for the Densmore number, and Mylan Smolen played her piano accompaniments with skill.
Mr. Barclay is a baritone whose work may be counted upon to please. His fine voice and scholarly interpretations enhanced the interest of his three groups. These consisted of Automne (Faure), La maison grise (Messager), In the Silent Night (Rachmaninoff), The Goat (Moussorgsky), two old Scotch numbers, The Ballynure Ballad (which he gave by special request), two virile numbers by Keel, Port o’ Many Ships and Trade Winds, Schneider’s The Cave and Vaughn Williams’ The Roadside Fire. Two duets from Messager’s Veronique completed an altogether satisfactory program. Frederick Bristol played Mr. Barclay’s accompaniments satisfactorily.
The committee on music has undertaken to organize concerts by competent musicians, to be given at regular intervals in all musical hospitals and almshouses. Mrs. Russell H. Hoadley, chairman of the committee, spoke, told something of the work accomplished, stating that since July over 39,000_ patients have been given this pleasure. Volunteer musicians of excellence, good upright pianos and funds are needed for this worthy work, which not only gives pleasure but also, in the opinion of such well known physicians as Dr. Alexander Lambert, Dr. Foster Kennedy, and others, it is of incalcuable value as a material aid.
Danise Saves a Performance
For the second time since'he joined the Metropolitan Opera Company last season, Giuseppe Danise jumped into a role suddenly made vacant by the illness of a fellow artist on a recent Thursday and virtually saved Mr. Gatti’s “fat from the fire.” With a capacity audience expectantly awaiting, two newcomers in the Metropolitan’s much heralded matinee performance of Aida for the benefit of the Free Milk Fund, Frances Peralta and Mr. Danise, were given very short notice to appear in the roles originally intended for Barbara Kemp and Michael Bohnen. Forgetting the fatigue resulting from a long and extremely exacting role in the revival of L’Africana, sung only the night before, Mr. Danise gave a very creditable performance as Amonasro, and earned the thanks of both Mr. Gatti and the Mayor’s Committee of Women.
Hospital Committee Musicale
For the benefit of the Hospital Music Committee, Mrs. Vincent Astor kindly permitted the use of her house for a most delightful musicale which was given on Thursday afternoon, March 22, by Lucille Chalfant and John Barclay.
Miss Chalfant who possesses a coloratura voice of wide range and excellent quality, sang Handel’s II Penseroso, an aria for voice and flute by John Densmore, and a group of songs which included Stella du nord (Meyerbeer), Canto di primavera (Cimara), three charming little Japanese songs by Amy Ashmore Clark and Hageman’s At the Well. The
O-
IRENE WILLIAMS
Proves her right to be starred as Leonora (Fiordigli)
IN
WILLIAM WADE HINSHAW’S “COSI FAN TUTTE” COMPANY
Here are a few criticisms taken at random from nearly one hundred newspapers. Read them:
“Miss Williams is not only a singer with fine voice and exceptional training; she has great personal charm and rare beauty.” “Dainty,” “Charming,” “Ravishing,” “Captivating,” “Adorable”; all this and much more from all critics.
PORTLAND (OREGON), DAILY JOURNAL, Mar. 10, 1923. — Irene Williams as Leonora is a prima donna among the “top-notchers.”
PORTLAND MORNING OREGONIAN, Mar. 10, 1923.—
Irene Williams sang with marked authority.
SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, Mar. 13, 1923.—Irene Williams and her gifted company deserve the thanks of the Musical Arts Society members and such other music lovers as attended the presentation at the Salt Lake Theater last night. Miss Williams as Leonora proved personal charm, a gracious manner, a voice of great beauty and clarity, coupled with an excellent histrionic ability.
PUEBLO (COLO.), CHIEFTAIN, Mar. 15, 1923.—Irene Williams was superb both in her acting and her singing.
COLORADO SPRINGS EVENING TELEGRAPH, Mar.
16, 1923.—Irene Williams has a voice of unusually good quality. She sings with the utmost ease, never giving the slightest impression of “reaching” even for the most altitudinous notes.
COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE, Mar. 16, 1923_________
Miss Williams has that delightful, clear soprano so seldom found. She makes a charming Leonora.
LOS ANGELES DAILY TIMES, Feb. 27, 1923.—Irene Williams evidences an exact and brilliant intonation, singing the many difficult and florid passages with surety.
TUCSON (ARIZONA) DAILY, Feb. 21, 1923. — Miss Williams’ voice was all that was expected and more, and her dainty personality was admirably suited to her role of Leonora, the beautiful and (just a little) fickle victim of a cynical bachelor’s plot to expose woman’s irresponsibilities.
WACO (TEX.) HERALD, Feb. 4, 1923.—Irene Williams proved a general favorite. Her solos were satisfy-ingly beautiful and her speaking voice not less musical.
PHOENIX (ARIZONA) REPUBLICAN, Feb. 24, 1923.
—Irene Williams was a high light in the cast.
LOS ANGELES EVENING HERALD, Feb. 27, 1923.—
Irene Williams makes a very beautiful Leonora and sings with commendable freedom.
matter how intricate or in movement the theme, she failed in nothing.
ASHEVILLE CITIZEN, Jan. 13, 1923.—Irene Williams revealed again those admirable artistic qualities revealed in her former appearances here. She is a rare artist.
SAVANNAH (GA.) MORNING NEWS, Jan. 18, 1923.—
Miss Williams was charming, piquant, graceful, pretty, a typical eighteenth century maid in manner and appearance, and with a clear, sweet and admirably true soprano voice, plenty of power and a nice dramatic feeling.
PINE BLUFF (ARK.) DAILY GRAPHIC, Jan. 30, 1923.
—Proved herself not only a great singer but also a great
actress.
WACO (TEX.) TIMES-HERALD, Feb. 4, 1923.—Irene Williams proved a general favorite.
SAN ANTONIO (TEX.) EXPRESS, Feb. 6, 1923.—
Irene Williams gave a perfect demonstration of the silver filigree art of coloratura at its best as is only rarely heard.
FOUR STATES EXPRESS (TEXARKANA), Jan. 30, 1923.—The leading part of Leonora, sung by Irene Williams, was exquisite. Her voice has resonance, range, power, sweetness and facility. Miss Williams has a charming personality. She is beautiful, young, and has opportunity for a great future.
FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, Feb. 15, 1923—
Irene Williams was easily the outstanding artist in the fine all-artist cast.
EL PASO TIMES, Feb. 20, 1923.—Special praise must be given the Lovely-to-look-upon Irene Williams who sang the role of Leonora and proved herself to be a sprightly actress as well as songstress.
EL PASO HERALD, Feb. 20, 1923.—Irene Williams, in one solo, spanned the remarkable range of two octaves and two notes, and did it in clear, well rounded tones, without strain.
TACOMA (WASH.) DAILY LEDGER, Mar. 9, 1923.—
Irene Williams, as Leonora, in particular, evidences an exact and brilliant intonation, singing the many difficult florid passages with surety and classical technique.
MINNEAPOLIS MORNING NEWS, Nov. 14, 1922.—
Her work last night was throughout of a delightful character. She made an adorable Leonora.
TOLEDO TIMES, Dec. 7, 1922. — Dainty Irene Williams, beautiful to look upon, a born actress and with a soprano voice of clarity, force and sweetness was the most charming of Leonoras.
TULSA DAILY WORLD, Nov. 22, 1922.—Last night Miss Williams showed enviable grace and magnetism with a fine voice to sustain her throughout.
TOPEKA DAILY STATE JOURNAL, Nov. 17, 1922.—
Irene Williams (Leonora) is a beautiful girl, a skilled artist. Her daintiness is captivating.
MARIETTA TIMES, Dec. 2, 1922.—Irene Williams was the foremost of a well balanced cast. Her singing and acting throughout the seven scenes was most pleasing.
LEADER, SPRINGFIELD (MO.), Nov. 24, 1922.—Miss Williams, who possesses a beautiful voice of rare quality and delicacy, has in addition an attractive personality and beauty.
M U NCI E MORNING STAR, Nov. 29, 1922.—Miss Williams did magnificent singing; she achieved the most florid passages immaculately and her most important air was a triumph of sheer good singing.
COLUMBUS DESPATCH, Dec. 24, 1922.—Irene Williams sang the leading role in fine style.
PARK CITY DAILY NEWS (BOWLING GREEN, KY.), Dec. 4, 1922.—Irene Williams disclosed a voice of ravishing beauty and remarkable flexibility.
ERIE DAILY TIMES, Jan. 9, 1923.—Her voice is of lovely quality which she uses with great skill. The extremely difficult music of the last act she delivered in masterly fashion.
KINGSTON (ONT.) STANDARD, Dec. 13, 1922.—Irene Williams captivated her audience with her wonderfully sweet and pleasing voice.
BETHLEHEM (PA.) GLOBE, Jan 10, 1923. — Irene Williams has a fine voice, well trained and fully equal to the executions of a Mozart composition, which is saying a great deal. She sang her part beautifully and no
Next Season’s Bookings for the Cosi Fan Tutte Company Already 80% Filled Address: WILLIAM WADE HINSHAW	1 - ־ West 51st Street, New York