MUSICAL COURIER
April 26, 1923
14
National Opera Club Gives “Members’ Program”
The National Opera Club of America, Inc., Katherine Evans von Klenner president, presented a program of variety and interest at its “Members’ Meeting” at the Waldorf-Astoria, April 13. All of the soloists were received enthusiastically and the whole program was an artistic success.
After greetings by Mme. von Klenner, the president, Sybil Van Wezel, soprano, was heard in two vocal numbers— Dawn, by Pearl Curran, and an aria from Herodiade (Massenet)• She has a strong, clear voice of agreeable quality and interprets with considerable feeling and with intelligence. Mrs. Bernard Hirsh accompanied her at the piano. Gustave Becker has recently completed a new song, written to Coue’s formula: “Day by day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.” Perhaps this song would be of particular'benefit to vocal students. Or perhaps it would have better effect on any one if sung in such pleasing and varied musical phrases as Mr. Becker has given it, rather than merely spoken. Surely it would if sung in the manner in which Adele Rankin, soprano, interpreted it, with her charm of manner and lovely voice. ' Bertha Becker played three harp solos: Impromptu, op. 49 (John Thomas), ״Fluerette (Van Rogers) and Mazurka (Schnecker). Her admirable performance won her favor with the audience, which recalled her for an encore.
An opera talk was given by Eva F. Phipps, who discussed the season’s novelties, mentioning Anima Allegro, Mona Lisa, Snegourotchka, Cosi Fan Tutte, William Tell and Fidelio.
Evelyn Grahame Smith, contralto, followed with Voce di donna (La Gioconda), singing with real expression. Elsie Peck, coloratura soprano (said to have nearly a score of operas in her repertory, created enthusiasm by her singing of the Message of Love (Mereille), her trills on high_ B flats, closing •C, etc., all showing special facility. Marie Elise Johnson played with fine tone and good style pieces by Chopin, Tirindelli and Kreisler, with Miss Parker at the piano. Madeleine L. Hulsizer showed a true soprano voice and musical spirit in her singing of songs by LaForge, Kramer and Curran, and the deeply expressive voice and distinct enunciation of Leila Troldand Gardner gave genuine pleasure in her own songs, Believe, Love’s Vision and My Gift. An intellectual and greatly enjoyed paper was read by Emily Grant Von Tetzel on America’s Operatic Future, and Anna Bosetti sang Ritorna Vincitor (Aida) with excellent dramatic impulse. All these numbers were contributed by members of the National Opera Club, showing a vast amount of talent, for the program was well done throughout. Mrs. Loth introduced a thirteen-year-old pianist, just arrived from Germany, Frances Schotter, who held the attention of the audience after the regular program was finished; she played Chopin pieces, the Revolutionary study making a special hit, indeed a sensation, for she is a well developed artist.
Among items of interest, President von Klenner announced the annual Spring Festival, May 9, evening, constituting the ninth birthday of the National Opera Club.
Rosati to Teach Through Summer
,Enrico Rosati, the noted singing teacher from the Royal Musical Conservatory of St. Cecilia in Rome, who recently came to this city, has been invited by the International Chautauqua Assembly to give a course of singing at Lake Orion, Mich., during this summer, which invitation has been accepted.
Maestro Rosati has that peculiar quality which has brought honor to his brilliant teaching at St. Cecilia as an artist creator of singers. Among his pupils are Beniamino Gigli, who for the past three years has reigned triumphant at the Metropolitan, and Giacomo Lauro-Volpi, the young tenor whq has gained so much favor with the public of the same: house—two artists, who brilliantly illuminate the Italian operatic stage.
Among Maestro Rosati’s pupils are also the great baritone, Bqnvenuto Franci, who was reengaged for three years at the Royal •Opera House in Madrid, Spain, and recently made Chevalier of the Crown of Spain by King Alfonso in recognition of his tremendous success in Rigoletto, and who is already engaged for the coming winter season at the La. Seal a Opera House in'Milan; the baritone, Fabio Ron-chi, who has distinguished himself in the principal opera houses of Italy, recently singing a responsible role in the new opera Julia, of Maestro Quintieri, and the leading baritone role in the Primavera of Respighi at the Augusteo in Rome; the famous Italian soprano Francesca Cavalieri who recently sang at Regio di Torino the role of Freia in the Rhemgold and in Charpentier’s Louise under the direction Marmuzzi, and the tenor, Giuseppe Darzotti, known as the Italian McCormack, ’ who is now on a concert tour in Ireland and England.
Easton Engaged for Cincinnati Festival
Florence Easton has been 'especially engaged to appear at the important semi-centennial Cincinnati May Festival on May 1, 3 and 4. The performances in which she will take part are Mendelssohn’s Elijah, soloist at an orchestral matinee, and Pierne’s The Children’s Crusade. She will sing the soprano role in the first oratorio, operatic arias and song groups with the orchestra for the afternoon performance, and Alain in the French work
order and was enjoyed by all who had the privilege of hearing them.
Marcel Dupr£ Plays at Woolsey Hall.
Marcel Dupre was heard on March 14 by a host of lovers* of organ music. His improvisations were remarkable, seeming incredible for their completeness, both in form and harmonies.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Rogers in Joint Program.
Under the auspices of the New Haven branch of the Women’s Overseas Service League, Mr. and Mrs. Rogers gave one of their unique programs on March 7 at the Faculty Club of Yale University, when a goodly sum was realized for the aid of this excellent work. Mr. Rogers sang several groups of songs and was in his best form. Mrs. Rogers gave original monologues in her unique and naive way. All were enthusiastic over the program.
Faust Sung by 650 Voices.
A very creditable performance of Faust in concert form was given by pupils of.the high and commercial schools in Woolsey Hall on March 9, before an audience which filled the auditorium. William E. Brown, director of music in the public schools, conducted and the orchestra, selected by Frank Fichtl, was assisted at the piano by W. Frank Chat-terton and Edgar A. Ford. Among the soloists were Helen Marek (C.H.S. ’23) who sang Siebel; Catherine H. Dotten (N.H.H.S., ’23), who sang Martha. Faust was sung ,by Victor Valenti; Margherita by May Bradley Kelsey, while Charles Kullman sang the three parts of Valentine, Mephis-topheles and Wagner.
Notes.
The regular monthly recital was given by the St. Ambrose Music Club at Hotel Taft on March 13, before a large audience. The guest performers were Margaret Sheppard, pianist; Mrs. George Hutchison, violinist, and Mary E. Kimball, vocalist.
At Sprague Hall on March 21 the lives of Debussy and Ropartz were given in resume by Mr. Simonds, who, later on, was assisted by Hildegarde Nash Donaldson in playing
“The fine display of welcome at her return to Sacramento and the club— the singer was quick to appreciate and respond
Sacramento Bee said the about May Peterson, so-of the Metropolitan Opera
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the sonata in G by Debussy, and the sonata in D minor by Ropartz.
On March 2 and 23 the second and third informal recitals were given by the pupils of the Yale School of Music at Sprague Hall, where excellent work reflected much credit on the instructors. The programs consisted of piano, violin and vocal solos, and ensemble string numbers. Much real talent was displayed.
On March 12 H. Frank Bozyan, instructor in organ and assistant organist at Yale University, gave his annual organ recital in Woolsey Hall. His program comprised numbers by Bach, Franck, Jepson and Widor, all of which were played with excellent technic and finish.
In the same hall, on March 28, Carleton Wheeler L’Hom-medieu also gave an organ recital, at which he played the prelude and fugue in D major, by Bach; prelude, fugue and variations by Franck, and the fifth organ symphony by Widor. Mr. L’Hommedieu will graduate in 1924, and gives much promise for a musical career.	G. S. B.
Minneapolis Orchestra Booked for Columbus, Ohio
The Woman’s Club, of Columbus, O., has booked the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra, Henri Verbrugghen conductor, for its final orchestral concert on April 10, 1924. Lenora Sparkes, soprano of the Metropolitan Opera Company, will be the soloist.
Berumen to Teach All Summer
Ernesto Berumen, pianist and teacher, will remain in New York all summer teaching at the La Forge-Berumen studios and also preparing new programs for next year. Mr. Berumen has had a very busy winter—teaching and concertizing.
NEW HAVEN HEARS EXCELLENT
VISITING AND LOCAL TALENT
Chaliapin Enthusiastically Greeted—N. Y. Philharmonic and Mengelberg Welcomed—Mischa Elman’s Concert Enjoyed—Noted Pianist Plays—New Haven Symphony Orchestra Closes Its Twenty-ninth Season— Horatio Parker Choir Gives Fine Concert—
Last of the Whiting Expositions Given—
Marcel Dupré Heard at Woolsey Hall—
Mr. and Mrs. Francis Rogers in Joint Program—Faust Sung by 650 Voices—Notes
New Haven, Conn., April 7.—Woolsey Hall was thronged, on March 10, with music lovers who greeted Chaliapin’s appearance with prolonged applause. He won his audience from the beginning by his originality, vocal technic and artistry. Although his program was not heavy, it had variety in it, and he chose songs which were excellent vehicles to portray his versatility and art. He was ably assisted by Nicolas Levinne, cellist, and Max Rabinowitch, pianist, both of whom played with fine technic and finish. At the close of the program the audience recalled the artist numerous times.
New York Philharmonic and Mengelberg Welcomed.
Mengelberg was greeted with rounds of applause upon his second appearance in Woolsey Hall on March 13, under the auspices of the Yale School of Music, the last concert of the Steinert series. The orchestra played superbly and produced unusual organ effects in the Eroica symphony of Beethoven, as well as in the overture-fantasia, Romeo and Juliet, by Tschaikowsky. In the Damnation of Faust, by Berlioz, they excelled themselves, also in the Minuet of Will o’ the Wisps and Dance of Sylphs, finishing with a splendid rendition of the Rakoczy March. Mengelberg was recalled several times and was obliged to share the applause with the orchestra more than once. After the concert an informal reception was given him at the Yale School of Music by Prof, and Mrs. Isadore Troostwyk. For several years Mr. Mengelberg conducted the celebrated Concert-gebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam, Holland, in which Prof. Troostwyk was concertmaster.
Mischa Elman’s Concert Enjoyed.
The Business and Professional Woman’s Club of New Haven was the means of bringing Mischa Elman to the Palace Theater, March 18, when he played before an enthusiastic and appreciative audience. He was recalled several times and generously responded with encores.
Noted Pianist Plays.
The Shubert Theater was packed with the admirers of Rachmaninoff when he appeared upon the evening of March 26.
New Haven Symphony Orchestra Closes Its Twenty-ninth Season.
Woolsey Hall was well filled on March 20, when the New Haven Symphony Orchestra gave its third and last concert, which was essentially local in color, as the assisting pianist was Rosalind Brown Simonds, who played the Schumann A minor concerto with fine technic and artistry. Mrs. Simonds has always lived in this city and won the Samuel Sanford Fellowship at the Yale School of Music in 1916, which entitled her to two years’ study of music abroad. She studied with D’lndy and with the noted French teacher, Blanche Selva, whose assistant Mrs. Simonds had the honor to be for some time. After playing the concerto Mrs. Simonds was given such an ovation that she responded by playing Schumann’s Romanze. Under the baton of David Stanley Smith the orchestra gave finished readings of the overture to the Magic Flute, by Mozart; symphony No. 3, by Brahms, and Suite Algérienne by Saint-Saëns.
The Horatio Parker Choir Gives Fine Concert.
The Horatio Parker Choir gave its fifth annual concert in Sprague Memorial Hall on March 21, before a large and enthusiastic audience. This choir, consisting of some sixty picked vocalists, was formed in 1919 by David Stanley Smith, who has always been the conductor. The program ranged from compositions of the fifteenth century to those of modern composers. A unique feature was the singing of two folk songs written by Arthur Whiting for male voices with a four-hand piano accompaniment. Both of them were excellently sung and the latter had to be repeated. The choir sang with precision, fine expression and excellent finish. The a capella work was remarkably fine.
Last of the Whiting Expositions Given.
Mr. Whiting gave the last two expositions, on March 12 and 26. At the former date he was assisted by John Barclay, baritone, who gave a program with classics closing with a group of Old Irish songs which he sings inimitably. He was recalled several times. The Lenox String Quartet gave the second program, playing Beethoven’s A major string quartet and the quintet in F minor, by César Franck, with Mr. Whiting at the piano. The work was of the highest
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