65
MUSICAL COURIER
April 26, 192 3
A LETTER CONCERNING THE AUSTRO-GERMAN RELIEF FUND
Hotel Wellington, Seventh Avenue,
New York, April 23, 1923.
Mr. Alvin L. Schmoeger,
Manager Musical Courier,
New York City.
My Dear Mr. Schmoeger:—
Three months have now elapsed since I first spoke to you about a much needed relief fund for Austrian and German Musicians. It is primarily your quick and generous response to my appeal that gave me the opportunity to bring this Relief work to the attention of our fellow musicians in America. The advertising which the Musical Courier donated to the cause and your personal interest in the matter have more than any other circumstance contributed toward its success.
I take this opportunity to express my thanks as well to the colleagues and to the music lovers throughout the country who have contributed to the fund and who have made possible this service of love to our fellow musicians on the other side of the Atlantic.
Although a great deal has been accomplished there is still more to do and I therefore, speaking for our Committee, ask for a continuance of the work begun. With renewed thanks, believe me,
Very sincerely yours,
(Signed) Theodore Spiering.
ciative audience. The affair was a most informl one, dominated as it was by the irrepressible good humor of the young artist,.who adapted himself to his audience with the entire confidence of one who is among old friends. Introducing the Bach-Taussig Organ Toccata and Fugue, played with exquisite feeling, his program included selections of Brahms, Chopin, Debussy, Poldini and other well known composers. Grieg’s Concerto in A minor provided a fitting conclusion to his delightful performance, in the rendition of which he was aided by Mrs. Thomas Carrick Burke at the second piano. Louise Ceballos,'soprano, was the assisting artist. Her voice is one of unusual range and quality and she sang such numbers as Fourdrain’s Le Papillon, Chapi’s Carceleras and Orejon’s La Cascabeleta, with remarkable verve and spirit, accompanied at the piano by Mr. O’Connor himself. Both artists graciously responded to the insistent applause which followed their every offering, Mr. O’Connor in particular being most obliging with encores.
Mrs. D. G. Smith Scores in Fort Smith, Ark.
Fort Smith, Ark., April 13.—Mrs. D. C. Smith, a singer and teacher of this city, recently appeared at the New Theater under the auspices of the Musical Coterie. The Times Record commented as follows upon her work:
One of the most pretentious and enjoyed programs given by Fort Smith artists during the entire season was presented at the New Theater Sunday afternoon under the auspices of the Musical Coterie ... A representative audience filled the theater. Members of that audience showed appreciation of the concert with applause and encores. . . . The aria from L'Oracolo, by Leoni, sung dramatically by Mrs. D. C. Smith, was the most pretentious feature of the whole concert, and in the professional class. Mrs. Smith has spent several seasons in New York studying with Madame Valeri. Sunday afternoon was the first opportunity Fort Smith people have had to hear her in an operatic number. Her singing of the aria was a revelation of the beauty of her voice. Her interpretation of the score showed the wonderful sweetness of her high tones and her beautifully clear enunciation.	S. K. D.
Harp Recital at Marie Miller’s Studio
A student recital in which fifteen pupils of Marie Miller appeared, was given at Miss Miller’s studio, Hotel Ansonia, New York, on April 4. Those participating in the program were Ruth Burnham, Eve Horan, Frances Keeney, Elizabeth Letchford, Adaline Messerschmitt, Anna Russell, Mildred Persons, Helen Franc, Dorothy Miller, Ruth Clark, Emily Pidgeon, Eleanor Collier, Leona Burgess, Marjorie Frank, Bertha De Bevoise and Marie Miller.
Included in Miss Miller’s classes are pupils from Texas, Cuba, Ohio,. Tennessee, Missouri and other far distant States.
especially popular young woman with a wide circle of acquaintances and friends.
Frederick S. Davenport
Frederick S. Davenport, aged eighty-three, for more than sixty years an organist, composer, music teacher and music dealer, died at his home in Bangor, Me., April 10. He was born in Boston, a nephew of E. L. Davenport, the actor, and a cousin of Fanny Davenport. His early musical training was with John W. Tufts, afterwards organist in King’s Chapel, Boston. He published much music, mostly religious, including a hymnal. He was organist at St. John’s Catholic Church for more than twenty-five years.
Oldest German Composer Dies Carl Adolf Lorenz, oldest of the German composers, died in Stettin in his eighty-sixth year. He was general musical director of Stettin and cantor in the Jacobskirche in which positions he was the successor of Carl Loewe, the famous composer of ballades.	A. Q.
Benefit Concert for St. Mary’s Italian Mission
On Monday evening, April 16, a large and representative audience attended the benefit concert for St. Mary’s Italian Mission in the Bronx, which was held at the Plaza Hotel, under the auspices of the Right Rev. William 1. Manning, D.D., Bishop of New York. The box holders included: Mrs. Jonathan Bulkley, Miss Devoe, Mrs. Thomas Ewing, Louise Eustis, Mrs. Ernest Fahnestock, Mabel Gerrj, Mrs. Percy Hamilton Stewart, Mrs. Abraham Hatfield, Mrs. E. M. Peters, Mrs. Joseph Ferris Simmons and Mrs. Frederick Vanderbilt.
The artists who furnished a most enjoyable program were Armand Tokatyan, tenor of the Metropolitan Opera Company, Magdalene Erbland, coloratura soprano, and Constance Veitch, cellist. Miss Veitch opened the program with the Sammartini-Salmon sonata, assisted at the piano, by Rutn Emerson. She made a good impression, later being heard in two shorter pieces, the andante from the concerto in C by Haydn and Elfentanz, Popper. She was cordially received.
Next on the program came Mr. Tokatyan, who sang the Massenet Elegie, Naples Must Sing Forever More, Curci, and E Lucevan le Stelle from Tosca, Puccini. Although suffering from a heavy cold, the singer and his. polished style of singing gave great pleasure to the responsive audience. He revealed a naturally fine voice, of ample power and flexibility, which he uses with taste. His best number on the program, however, was the big aria from Andrea Chenier, Giordano, which he sang admirably. As an encore, he gave the “sob song” from Pagliacci, which aroused the audience to more applause. Mr. Tokatyan should become a popular concert artist. He makes a good appearance and is young and of easy poise. Mr. Curci at the piano lent the singers good support.
Miss Erbland is a young American coloratura soprano whose career bears watching. Charming in appearance and manner, she is the possessor of a voice of appealing quality, which she uses tastefully. Whether it be a short ballad or a taxing operatic aria, she impresses her audience most favorably. Her opening number was Benedict’s. Carnival of Venice, which she sang well, but her best singing was done in a later group which included the Sapphic Ode, Brahms, Romance, Debussy and Una voce pooo fa from Rossini’s Barber of Seville. She was recalled several times and responded with an encore. One of the best features of the program was the duet from the first act of Carmen admirably sung by Miss Erbland and Mr. Tokatyan.
The second half of the program included Italian folk dances by girls from St. Mary’s Italian Mission,, honors going to the solo dancers, Evelina Marcucci, Adelina Colombo and Florence De Ronja. For the Tarentella, a group of fine singers from the Southland Singers’ Chorus rendered the vocal accompaniment, adding a unique touch. And there were well sung incidental solos by Marion Ross and Joseph Rotonda. Lucile Blabe was at the piano. Miss Jack Wilbur deserves special mention for her staging of the number.
It is estimated that after all expenses were paid the proceeds were in the neighborhood of $1,300, which will go toward building the new church.
Robert O’Connor Gives Successful Recital
At the Seventy-fifth street residence of Clarence H. Mackay, Saturday afternoon, April 21, Robert O’Connor appeared in a piano recital before a large sized and appre-
Obituary
Evelyn Starr
Evelyn Starr, the young Canadian violinist, who will be remembered by many music lovers throughout the country, particularly in New York, died very suddenly on Sunday, April 15, at Woodstock, N. Y. She leaves a husband, George A. Boggs, to whom she had been married only a few years, since when she had not been heard very frequently in public.
Miss Starr was born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, the daughter of C. R. H. Starr of that town. When she was very young, she showed remarkable talent and began her study of the violin at Wolfville, later going to Halifax. Subsequently, Miss Starr found her way to Europe, where she worked under several masters of the violin, the most prominent being Professor Leopold Auer, who predicted a brilliant future for “the young Canadian violinist” as she was called in foreign countries. Following her studies, she appeared with success in England, Germany, . Austria, Bohemia, Russia, Finland and the United States, with frequent appearances in Canada.
The news of Miss Starr’s untimely death will be read with genuine sorrow by readers of the Musical Courier
EVELYN STARR
for she was not only a talented artist, but a wholesome, charming young woman who had a host of friends and admirers.
Thera Belle Heath and William Willis Clark
The death of two well known musicians, one prominent years ago in the musical life of ׳ Fitchburg, Mass., and the other well known among the younger generation, greatly saddened the musical circles of this city. William Willis Clark, a resident and prominent musician in Fitchburg for many years, one of the founders of the original Fitchburg Choral Society in 1869, a leader of choral societies, composer and a well known vocal teacher in Boston for many years, died at his home in Randolph. The funeral was in that town and burial was in this city.
Thera Belle Heath, wife of Ralph A. Gilchrest, who was one of the younger singers of Fitchburg and soprano soloist in the First Methodist Church for several years, died at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elgin J¡ Heath, North Leominster. Mrs. Gilchrest had been heard in many local programs and was a singer of promise as well as being an
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VOCAL TEACHER AND COACH Voice Development and Correction
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OPPORTUNITIES
WELL KNOWN COLLEGE in the South desires a teacher of piano and organ. Opportunity for concert engagements. Good salary. Give full details in reply. Address “D. C. K.,” care of Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York.
A Phonograph Recording Laboratory has added a new department to their activities and can offer to musical artists a personal phonograph recorff of their own work for a nominal charge. $35.00 will cover recording and one dozen records. For particulars address Personal Phonograph Record Dept., care of Electric Recording Laboratories, Inc., 210 Fifth Avenue, New York.
vacancies. Leases from $900 up. Studios for short time reservation having Steinway grand pianos at 125 East Thirty-seventh Street, telephone Murray Hill 0991.
VIOLIN TEACHER, who has had best European and American instructors, is available on the summer course of well-established educational institution; willing to continue on faculty throughout year; within commuting distance of New York City. Address “F. J. S.,” care Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York.
MUSICIANS placed this season at $2,500, $3,000, $4,000 salaries. Needed for coming year, teachers of Piano, Organ, Voice, Violin, Theoretical Branches. Address The Interstate Teachers’ Agency, Macheca Bldg., New Orleans, La.
Vast Repertoire, Opera Songs. Will accept a few serious students. For interview ’phone Endicott 4569, or address 104 West 70th Street, Studio 28.
FOR RENT—Sunny room in home of private family. Practice use of Steinway Grand Piano if desired. For particulars address “E. B.,” care of Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York.
VANDERBILT STUDIOS of New York.
Proprietor, Mrs. Mabel Duble-Scheele; office, 41 West Ninth Street; telephone, Stuyvesant 1321. Houses in best central locations. Distinctive features of reliable service. Residence studios with private baths, steam heat, electric light, and fireplaces. Suitable for professional and business people of refinement. Club-like, busj-ness-like. Several large single studio
WELL KNOWN ITALIAN CONDUCTOR, coach and accompanist contemplates the direction of Operatic classes in connection with a prominent school or studio during the summer months. Might consider individual connection with a prominent artist. Write “P. A. P.”, care of Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York.
FOR RENT—Unusual opportunity, large front room, furnished, Riverside section, piano permitted, unrestricted practice, day and evening, delightful locality, excellent beds, attractive; $10.00 weekly. Beckley, 160 Claremont ave. (122nd st.) Apt. 4-F, evenings, Morningside 6280.
SINGERS, ATTENTION.—Language Expert, perfect accent and diction, Italian, French, German, English, Russian, Polish.