24
May 10, 1923
Haywood Studio Activities
Mrs. Florence Basler Palmer, soprano, was one of the soloists at a musicale given by the Omaha College Club at the First Congregational Church, Omaha, Neb., on March 20. Mrs. Katherine Murdoch, coloratura soprano, gave a group of songs for the Matinee Musicale on March 27 at Indianapolis, Ind. Mrs. Jose Holden, soprano, sang The Great Awakening, by Kramer, at the Universalist Church. Barre, Vt., on Easter Sunday. Frank Slater, tenor, is the soloist for the Chester Hill Methodist Episcopal Church. Mount Vernon, N. Y., and has also been singing at speciai Lenten services at St. John’s Methodist Episcopal Church Brooklyn.
Presentations to Daniel Mayer
On the eve of his departure for Europe, Daniel Mayer was the recipient of some very handsome presents from several of his artists who took this means of showing their appreciation of his efforts in their behalf. From Ruth St. Denis and Ted. .Shawn he received a set of platinum and enamel studs and cuff links set with diamonds. Ernest Schelling, who will be under the direction of Arthur Judson hereafter,^ was at the Berengaria dock to wish his former manager “au revoir” and incidentally to present him with a gold fountain pen and pencil.
MUSICAL COURIER
bilities. Caroline Lowe, at the piano, played skilful accompaniments.
Augusta Cottlow, as Mme. Lowe remarked, needed no introduction, for she is already beloved by American audiences. Her charming personality is reflected in her playing. Her group of piano numbers included Griffes’ Vale of Dreams, op. 5, and The Night Wind, op. S, and MacDowell’s Eroica sonata, first movement. In the latter the artist alternated with her own recording on the Duo-Art piano. Miss Cottlow seems especially sympathetic in her interpretation of Griffes and MacDowell numbers. It is surprising that such beautiful music as Griffes׳ is not better known. Miss Cottlow possesses an excellent technic, but it is her understanding and artistic intelligence, her beautiful tones and wide range of expression that make her playing especially satisfying.
Paule Le Perrier, soprano, sang two groups of songs by R. Huntington Terry, with the composer at the piano. She gave beautiful and intelligent interpretations of them, particularly of a new one, The Morning is Calling, written in this popular composer’s happiest vein. Other numbers were The Answer, which is frequently used by well known singers ; Reveries, The Sky is Always Blue, A Southern Lullaby and A Japanese Fantasy. A capacity audience recalled all the artists many times.
Helen Teschner Tas Under Her Own Management
Helen Teschner Tas, American violinist, announces the organization of her own management, to be known as Management Helen Teschner Tas, with offices at 535 Pearl street, New York City. Mme. Tas appears in London this month and in Paris several times in June. •She will return to America for the season 1923-24
Judson House Now Master of Music
Judson House, tenor, had the degree of Master of Music conferred on him by Valparaiso University recently. He has just returned from a coast to coast tour as leading tenor with the Cosi Fan Tutte Company (Hinshaw, manager) ™״ng which he never missed a performance, travelled nearly 50 U00 miles, was nearly sunk in Arizona sands, and met with other adventures.
La Forge-Berumen Pupils in Glass Recital
Ernesto Berumen presented four pianists in a class recital at the La Forge-Berumen Studios on April 14, with the assistance of Betty Burr, soprano, artist-pupil of Frank La Forge.
Erin Ballard gave a fine rendition of the Symphonic Etudes by Schumann. Elinor Warren played charmingly numbers by Ole Olsen, Ponce and Friedman. The Friedman waltz was one of her best numbers. Mary Wood, who made an excellent impression in a recent musicale at the studios, once more displayed unusual pianistic talent in the rondo in E flat and impromptu by Chopin.
Esther Dickie, another talented Berumen pupil, played Song Without Words by Tschaikowsky and the B flat polonaise by Chopin with lovely singing tone and brilliant technic.'
Betty Burr sang three groups of songs, with Elinor Warren at the piano. Miss Burr possesses a voice of lovely quality, which was displayed to advantage in songs by Brahms, Wolf, Strauss and Debussy. Miss Warren played the accompaniments from memory.
Fitzhugh W. Haensel Sail^ for Europe
, F*zhué f^aensel, Haensel & Jones, accompanied by Mrs. Haensel, sailed for Europe on the S. S. La Savoie on May 5 to be gone for several months on business and a vacation. In his absence the office will be in charge of Horace J. Parmalee, the vice-president of the company.
Another Oratorio Performance for Squires
Marjorie Squires will be heard in Pittsburgh next season as solotst in an oratorio performance under the auspices of the well known Mendelssohn Choir of that city. Although the data of December 28 has been chosen, the work to be performed will be announced later.
Daniel Mayer and Ted Shawn Reach Europe
A cable to his New York office announces the safe arrival m Europe of Daniel Mayer and Ted Shawn. Mr. Shawn disembarked at Cherbourg to proceed to Spain, while Mr Mayer went on to Southampton as his visit will be spent principally in England.
Cora Chase Married
Cora M. Chase, soprano of the Metropolitan Opera Company was married in her home city, Haverhill, Mass., on May 5, to Samuel Thurs.ton Williamson, of the Washington Bureau of the New York Times. Mr. Williamson is also a native of Haverhill.
Sumelska Pupil Gives Fine Program
Estelle Robinson Suslak, a pupil of Maria Sumelska, rendered a delightful program at the home of Mrs. Bernard I. Gorman, of Arverne, L. I., recently, when she was most cordially received. According to one of the local papers: “She rendered, in her rich, soprano voice, the very charming German song entitled Der Lament, by Schubert, accompanied by Claire Shapiro. After much applause, Mrs. Suslak gave an encore which was very well received, and was compelled to accompany herself in a little Hebrew melodv, which was given by request.”
Mrs. Suslak has been studying with Mme. Sumelska since last October, after a lapse of four years’ retirement from public singing.
Werrenrath University Glee Club Soloist
For the first time in several seasons, Reinald Werrenrath was freed from the arduous exigencies of out of town tours, and was able to be the soloist at the semi-annual concert of the University Glee Club, under the direction of Arthur Woodruff, Thursday night, April 26, at the Metropolitan Opera House.
. Not only was this concert one of the finest that body of singers has presented, but it served to bring Mr. Werrenrath back on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House. It was good to hear him there again, even though he was not in costume.
Mr. Werrenrath’s first number was Brahms’ Von Ewige Liebe, and following which came Schumann’s Widmung. How splendid is this song as Mr. Werrenrath sings it. He dignifies it as few interpreters, for his tempo is so alert and it breathes a rapture in rapturous accents, instead of in a drawling sentimental way. One often wonders why more artists do not stop to analyze the text as well as the music of the great master songs and get their interpretation from the word—the letter and spirit of the song!
Following the German songs were two folksongs, the first the lively Irish Over the Hills and Far Away by William Arms Fischer, and the second Roy’s Wife of Aldi-valloch, which Gounod arranged for the baritone’s father many years ago. By the way, this song is not obtainable anywhere, as it is in manuscript form and the only two copies extant are in Mr. Werrenrath’s possession.
In the second group, which brought forth the typical much discussed Deems Taylorish claque applause from every person present, was made up of old familiar unwearied Werrenrath favorites: The Last Song, James Rogers• The Wreck of the Julie Plante, Geoffrey O’Hara; Duna Josephine McGill, and On the Road to Mandalay, Oley Speaks. Mandalay 'the audience wanted repeated, but the baritone stuck to his not repeat rule and substituted as an encore The Kashmiri Love Song. Whether his exceptional singing of this, or the fact that the record fans present had already purchased his newest red sealer, made the hit, one cannot tell, but he had to give another encore, which this time was Maude Valerie White’s King Charles. To the first group he sang as encore Deems Taylor’s charming-arrangement of the old Essex folksong, A May Day Carol
Needless to say, the New York University college song programmed was enhanced by the fact that Mr. Werrenrath, who is a degreed New York University graduate san״ the solo.	°
William Reddick played the club’s accompaniments excellently, and Harry Spier played equally fine ones for Mr Werrenrath.
Richmond Proud of John Powell
Local pride is strong in Richmond, Va., when it comes to claiming John Powell, one of America’s foremost pianist-composers, as its own. Generations of Powells have con-tributed to the historic glory of Virginia—one ancestor, Col. Leven Powell, was on the staff of General Washington —but it has remained for John Powell in this generation to reflect particular artistic glory on Virginia’s State capital.
Mr. Powell is naturally a yearly event in Richmond. Last year the John B. Tells Memorial Association brought him to the city for a recital, and this year he will appear again under the same auspices, May 18.
American Composers’ Concert
The fourth in the series of American Composers’ Concerts being presented by Caroline Lowe, chairman of the American music committee of the N. Y. F. M. C., was given at Aeolian Hall, Thursday noon, May 3, as one of the Music Week events. This series is growing in popularity and attendance and this program particularly reflected credit on those who were responsible for it, and gave those who are supporting the movement reason to be proud. Music by American composers, performed by American musicians made up an excellent program. Augusta Cottlow, Paule Le Perrier, Edwin Grasse and R. Huntington Terry appeared in works of Griffes, MacDowell, Grasse and Terry. The program opened with John Powell’s Pioneer Dance, from his suite, In the South, played by the composer in a Duo-Art recording.
Caroline Lowe spoke briefly about American composers and told of the aims of this series of concerts. She also introduced each artist. Edwin Grasse’s versatility as violinist, organist and composer is well known. He played three violin compositions of his own, which were melodious and effective. Later he was heard in three of his compositions for organ, one of which, an intermezzo in D major, is still in manuscript. These, too, were skillfully written. Mr. Grasse plays the violin with a sympathetic tone and good technic, and the organ with appreciation of its varied possi-
MAY SCHEIDER
(MAY STONE)
JOINS WAGNERIAN FESTIVAL OPERA COMPANY AT MOMENT’S NOTICE AND SCORES SUCCESS IN RHEINGOLD, WALKÜRE SIEGFRIED AND GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG
voices. (Das Rheingold)— Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, April 21, 1923.
The Rhine Daughters music was beautifully sung by May Scheider Meta Seinemeyer and Ottilie Metzger. —Baltimore Evening Sun, April 17.
The Rhine Daughters were beautiful to see and Meta Seinemeyer and May Scheider used their fresh voices with fine skill.—Baltimore American April 17.	’
The other characters were splendidly represented—the Rhine Daughter by May Scheider.—Baltimore News April 20.
voice and dramatic ability which has been shown by this one. . . The three Rhine Maidens were comely in appearance and sang beautifully in tune. (Das Rheingold)—Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger, April 25, 1923.
The Wagalaweia, as sung by May Scheider, Meta Seinemeyer and Ottilie Metzger sounded in wonderful freshness, balance and clearness. It was a true joy to listen to these beautiful voices. (Translation)—Baltimore Correspondent, April 17.
The Rhine Maidens were May Scheider, Meta Seinemeyer and Ottilie Metzger, all with full, melodious
The singing of the Rhine Maidens was remarkably fine.—Baltimore Sun April 17, 1923.
The familiar trio of the third act was a particularly exquisite piece of work. (Götterdämmerung) —Baltimore Sun, April 20.
The Bird, whose high, clear warbling was deftly done by May Scheider. (Siegfried)—Philadelphia Evenin g Bulletin.
... The most distinguished rendition of at least the last quarter of a century in Philadelphia. . . . Few opera_ companies have come to Philadelphia which have had the wealth of
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in every branch of
As TSEP¿ CarE״uhe\nd£MannheimhlCh Miss Stone’s Studio is at 9 East 59th Street, New York, where she specializes
vocal instruction. Consultation by Appointment.