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MUSICAL COURIER
ALMA SIMPSON ON TOUR IN PORTO RICO.
(1) Arriving at Mayaguez, Porto Rico, for her recital in that city while on a tour of the West Indies. Miss Simpson, center; at the left Bozha Hejtnanek, her accompanist, and Julio R. Bruno of the firm of Bruno and Vasquez, who contracted for a series of her concerts in Porto Rico. (2) Miss Simpson with her accompanist and Messrs. Bruno and Vasquez. (3) The singer on the verandah of the Condado-Vandei'hilt Hotel at San Juan, Porto Rico.
Alma Simpson Sings to Crowded Houses in San Juan
The following is a translation of an article concerning Alma Simpson’s appearance in San Juan, Porto Rico, which appeared in the La Correspon-dencia:
Alma Simpson, the talented American soprano, who has made a specialty of recitals of international songs, appeared here last week for the first‘ time, having been engaged to appear here by the impresarios of the Rialto Theater and under the auspices of the Governor of Porto Rico and the Children’s Day Nursery Society. The concerts were very much enjoyed by crowded houses which greeted the four recitals given by Miss Simpson on the island. It has been a long tin»? since we have had such an interesting musical evening as that given us by this distinguished artist and we congratulate Messrs. Bruno and Vazquez on the enterprise.
The last concert, on May 15, was broadcasted by the Porto Rico Telephone Company, from the Rialto Theater so many people all over this and other West Indian islands had the pleasure of hearing Miss Simpson. We want to mention specially and congratulate most heartily this artist on her Spanish songs. They are gems of Spanish music and she won many ardent admirers on this island with these songs, which she sang with her gorgeous voice in a manner which few living Spanish artists have ever rendered their own music.
Let us wish bon voyage to this beautiful singer from America and hope that she may soon return again! Bozka Hejtnanek, her young accompanist, also shares our admiration for her splendid playing.
the hit they made that they have already been re-engaged for a recital in the Dutchess County Musicians’ Series on April 11 next. Another re-engagement is in the course of the Matinee Musical Club of Cincinnati, on November IS.
Levitzki to Be Philharmonic Soloist
Mischa Levitzki has been added to the list of soloists who will appear with the Philharmonic Orchestra of New York next season. He will play at one of the concerts of the Sunday afternoon series on March 23, at Carnegie Hall, and on the following Tuesday evening at the Metropolitan Opera House.
Berlin Approves New Operetta
Berlin, June 4 [by Radio]—The operetta, Sweet Susie, by Siegfried Grzyb (?), scored a big and unanimous suc-was their first appearance there, but of such dimensions was historic libretto, with Prince Metternich for the central figure. The music is of a distinctly superior quality though melodious, and the orchestration striking. (Signed) C. S.
Two More Repeats for Maier and Pattison
Guy Maier and Lee Pattison gave one of their two-piano recitals at Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, on April 28. It was their first appearance there, but of such dimensions was
The South African Contralto
AUGUSTA
LENSKA
AFFECTIONATELY REMEMBERED BY THOUSANDS OF ADMIRERS IN THIS COUNTRY FOR HER UNUSUALLY FINE RECITALS IS NOW GATHERING LAURELS IN EUROPE.
SHE HAS PROMISED TO VISIT AMERICA NEXT SPRING FOR THE FESTIVAL SEASON.
We Are Arranging Dates
Concert Direction M. H. HANSON, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York
June 7, 1923
BUFFALO PUBLIC SUPPORTS
UNIQUE ORCHESTRAL PLAN
Many Visitors Augment a Lively Season of Local Activity
Buffalo, N. Y., May 19.—The musical season was brought to a fine climax, May 7 and 9, by a visit of the Wagnerian Opera Festival Singers to the Majestic Theater, under the general direction and management of Melvin H. Daibert. Die Meistersinger, Tannhauser, Hansel and Gretel and Lohengrin, as the closing performance, were admirably given. Excellent conductors (Moericke, Knoch and Schwartz) good orchestra and chorus, adequate staging, much admirable singing and acting were characteristics ot the productions.
Gabrilowitsch Soloist at Last of Detroit Series.^
The last of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra series, with Ossip Gabrilowitsch in dual capacity of conductor and piano soloist, was best of all. The Tschaikowsky Pathetique symphony held the audience in its emotional grip and the bewitching Midsummer Night's Dream music of Mendelssohn was given a delightful reading that called forth demonstrations of approval and a feeling of gratitude to Mai Davis Smith, local manager. Mr. Gabrilowitsch played Mozarts second concerto for piano and orchestra in D minor and the Weber concert piece in F minor (Victor Kolar conduct-in״ the orchestra). Mr. Kolar conducted the afternoon concert for the young people who thoroughly enjoyed the program which was of immense educational value.
French Interpreters Elucidate Modern Music.
An unusual joint recital was that of the two artists Eva Gauthier, mezzo soprano and interpreter, and Robert Schmitz, pianist, were given in the theater of the Buffalo players under the auspices of the Franco-American Musical Society for the benefit of the fellowship fund of the French Universities. The program was devoted mainly to modern music and their interpretations contributed much to its better understanding. Leroy Shields’ sympathetic accompaniments were an outstanding feature of the evening.
Guy Maier Pleases the Children.
Guy Maier gave one of his unique and thoroughly interesting recitals for young people in Twentieth Century Hall, when his musical talent as pianist and narrator won the delight of both younger and older children. Among the numbers most enjoyed were the G minor Gavotte of Bach, Lane’s Crap Shooters’ Dance, Evening in Granada (Debussy) and the Kraz.y Kat ballet pantomine of Carpenter, the latter calling forth much amusement and applause.
Buffalo Symphony Orchestra News.
The last concert of this season’s series by our own symphony orchestra was given May 6 in Elmwood Music Hall and drew the largest audience of the season. Beethoven’s symphony No. 1 was the feature of the program which included Dvorak’s In Der Natur and Liszt’s Hun-garian Rhapsody No. 2. Under Arnold Corleissen s baton the orchestra has made immense strides toward unanimity and balance; it is alive with enthusiasm and for a two season old organization merits great praise. Harugari Frohsinn under the direction of Alvis Stockmann, sang two folk songs. May Gail Clark furnished the program notes.
At the annual meeting on May 16 of the Symphony Orchestra Association, with F. Park Lewis, president, in the chair, a ■brief resumé of the formation of the orchestra and its future plans were outlined, forty directors selected for periods from one to four years, a vote of thanks extended to Lesser Kauffman, chairman of the executive committee, for his untiring efforts in behalf of the organization, and reports read. The Membership Campaign held in March resulted in the adoption of the Buffalo plan. An orchestra of seventy-five musicians including a conductor will give eight concerts during the season. Four of these will constitute a symphony quartet and will give chamber music concerts during the winter. Acknowledgement was made to the Opera Reading Club (Mrs. Howard Hamilton Baker, president), and to Mai Davis Smith for contributions of $75.00 towards the Special Library Fund. The end of the season shows a surplus in the treasury instead of the deficits usual with symphony orchestras.
Rhythmic Work Attracts Wide Attention.
Helen A. Curtin’s classes in rhythmic expression gave three exceptionally artistic performances during the past month in Twentieth Century Hall and Hutchinson high school. All were attended by large, enthusiastic audiences, educators and musicians coming from Boston, Pittsburgh and Toronto. The first performance took the form of a Mother Goose pageant, the participants from four to twenty years of age. The music folk song adaptations were played by Beatrice Turner, piano; Herman Schultz, cellist; John D. Lyons, violinist and Cecil Fattey. flutist. The second program presented classical dancing to music by Gluck, Beethoven, Ditterdorf, Saint-Saëns, Hue, Chaminade, Friedmann, Grieg and Kreisler. The musicians were Beatrice Turner, Cecil Fattey and Milton Ball. Later in the afternoon the Mother Goose pageant was repeated much to the satisfaction of the audience. Miss Curtin’s work is too well known to need further comment and her success is well deserved.	L. H. M.
Programs of the N. F. M. G. Biennial
The programs of the N. F. M. C. Biennial Convention, at Asheville, N. C., which begins on Saturday of this week, June 9, and extends through Saturday, June 16, have a number of items of special musical interest. The Young Artists’ Contest comes early this time and will be disposed of on Monday, June 14. Beginning Tuesday there will be orchestral concerts, with Henry Hadley as conductor. The soloists at the various orchestral concerts will include Marie Tiffany, Francis Macmillen, John Powell and Luella Meluis, who will also give her Patti Program in costume. Other programs that promise to be particularly interesting are those given by the Matinee Musical Club of Philadelphia ; the specially organized Biennial Festival Chorus, under Charles N. Boyd; the special orchestral concert for children, conducted by Mr. Hadley and Edgar Stillman Kelley ; the première and subsequent performances of the Lyric Dance Drama, the prize-winning^ composition of •Carl Ver.th; and the performance of Irinee Berge’s prize composition, Spring in Sicily, as well as of the other prize compositions. There will also be a short recital by the winners of the Young Artists’ Contest.