Scan 52
Musical Courier 1906-12-19: Vol 53 Iss 1395, 1906
85 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 43. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1CLEVELAND.
3719 THE ARCADE.
4CLEVELAND, December 8, 1906.
6The splendid artistic triumphs of Hartmann and Lhevinne, won here very recently, have already been recorded in THE MUSICAL COURIER by telegrams sent and my Cleveland Press critiques, so there is scant reason to allude to them in this letter. Suffice it to say, both artists were in magnificent form, and interpreted their art with the touch of masterful genius. I have heard no such piano playing as Lhevinne gave us since Rubinstein. His technic is impeccable and his artistry supreme. As for Hartmann, read the foregoing sentence again and interpolate Hartmann's name. Their concerts were veritable oases in our musical desert. But I forget—we are having a goodly number of oases this season. The air is balmy and fragrant with the odor of melody and song furnished us by artistic birds of passage. And for this warbling we are largely indebted to the Lyceum League—Driggs & Wands. Also comes in Adella Prentiss Hughes, in her management of the symphony course. And what is well worth recording is the fact that the public is giving consistent support to both enterprises. Verily, peregrinating art is here finding a snug port and unloading valuable cargoes.
8The second symphony concert by Paur and his Pittsburghers gave us a Wagner program. While some of the numbers were given with splendid dynamic and interpretative effect, the average of the program failed to realize to the fullest extent the high water mark of Paur's artistic achievements. Burgstaller, who made a sensation upon his first appearance last season, did not realize expectations. Whether due to indisposition or not, his voice failed to reach the dramatic necessities of the Wagnerian selections he essayed. Like all artists, he probably has his days off and on, and his day here was decidedly offish. As usual, the social fringe was in attendance and applauded indiscriminately, and I presume was much shocked to read the following day's criticism. So mote it be!
10William M. Roberts gave two interesting and successful organ recitals the past week. He had the vocal assistance of Francis Sadlier, baritone, who is exhibiting marked artistic progress of late.
12Dr. Otto Neitzel, celebrated pianist and critic from Berlin, gave a lecture on Strauss' "Salome" before the Fortnightly Club, at the Chamber of Commerce Hall one afternoon the past week. I attended, and sat a full hour under the learned doctor's eloquence, but must confess that during that time I did not succeed in understanding a single idea he expressed in his Germanized English. No doubt his analysis of the Strauss up to the minute musical realism was both erudite and interesting—but I heard it not. If he had instead given us an historical recital, for which he is famed, he could have spoken to us in the universal language of his art, and my hour of tense effort would have been better rewarded, and he would have received a more eulogistic notice from your correspondent. The local aesthetes, who revel in Browning, Strauss and other ultra non-understandables, like the Nile, overflowed their banks, and cast exquisite rhapsodies of appreciation and gush upon the shore. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing betimes.
14The present week we are to have Emma Eames in a song recital, and the first concert of the Singers' Club, assisted by Janet Spencer, vocalist. A. R. Davis will wield for the first time in public the controlling baton for the club. As Davis was assistant conductor last year, he will have had sufficient acquaintance with his singers to command their co-operation in his batonic efforts. I am anticipating some improvement in the club's work in several important essentials, and hope that I may not be disappointed.
16The super-imposing presence of so many artists of quality has put something of a shadow upon purely local fairs. In fact, I find but little to record at this time. After the breeze of high artistry has blown over, and the ruffled surface of our pond restored to its usual placidity, we will again begin to throw in our musical pebble, and I will then make a note of our little surface ripples.
18J. H. Hall, one of our busy and esteemed piano teachers, gave a series of pupils' recitals at his residence-studio the past week. The programs were well selected, and I presume their performance reflected credit upon the pedagogic ability of Brother Hall.
20The Sunday "Pops" will be resumed for the season after the holidays. The present plan as outlined comprehends some ten concerts. I presume Messrs. Ring and Beck will direct them, as of yore.
22The Canton Symphony Orchestra, under direction of Charles G. Sommer, of this city, gave its first concert last week. From Canton papers I learn that it was highly successful, all of which reflects credit upon my clever local colleague.
24By the way, Sommer was recently married to a decidedly bright and clever little lady upon the reportorial staff of the Cleveland Press. So I embrace this opportunity to extend to the allied arts my congratulations.
26The first concert of the Rubinstein Club occurred this week, and was quite the most interesting and successful of its history. Rogers handles his baton with more authority and confidence, and his singers seem to understand his modus operandi better. Some fine dynamic effects were exploited, and the chorus seemed better balanced in its parts, due to the elimination of a few obtrusive voices that refused to blend with the tonal qualities of the ensemble. There is still an opportunity for much improvement in the matter of tone coloring as differentiated from mere dynamic shading. After all, a conductor, to get the best results from a body of singers, must be en rapport with methods in tone production. The art of vocal repression and intensity of tone is not comprehended in forte and piano shadings. Cecil Fanning, a young baritone from Dayton, proved himself a vocalist of artistic inclinations and conceptions. He gave some of his songs, notably two ballads of Loewe, with much commendable dramatic feeling and tone coloring. He is certainly a young singer of artistic promise. Harry Turpin was his accompanist, and I am informed is his teacher. So Turpin is also to be congratulated.
28Mrs. Ford was heard to advantage in a group of French songs, which she rendered in her usual intelligent and sincerely expressional style. Mrs. Ford is a singer of refinement and artistic finish, and is particularly felicitous in her interpretation of French songs.
30WILSON G. SMITH.
32Plans of the San Carlo Opera Company.
34Lillian Nordica sailed last Saturday from Europe to join Henry Russell's San Carlo Opera Company, now playing at New Orleans in the French Opera House. Madame Nordica will make a concert tour, winding up at Mobile, Ala., prior to appearing with the company. With the addition of Nordica, Mr. Russell considers that he has this season an organization better even than that which won such favor at Covent Garden, and he believes it will prove itself one of the strongest opera companies that ever toured the United States. He has as his principal artists Florencio Constantino, of the Royal Opera House, Madrid, and Covent Garden, London; Alice Nielsen, of the San Carlo Opera House, Naples, and Covent Garden; Giuseppe Campanini, of the Metropolitan Opera House; Rodolfo Angelini, of La Scala, Milan; Luisa Milesa, of the Pergola, Florence; Fély Dereyne, of the Opera at Nice and Marseilles; Virginia Colombati, of the Metropolitan, and others of similar note.
36Second Haarlem Philharmonic Musicale.
38The Haarlem Philharmonic Society gave the second musicale of the winter at the Waldorf-Astoria Thursday morning of last week. The members and guests listened to an unusual program presented by Mme. von Niessen Stone, contralto; Frank Ormsby, tenor; Albert G. Janpolski, baritone, and Alexander Saslavsky, violinist. The program follows:
40Es hat die Rose sich beklagt …………………………………………..Frau
41Die Nacht ………………………………………………………..Strauss
42Frank Ormsby ……………………………………………………Gluck
43Divinites du Styx ……………………………………………………Gluck one of two readings
44Divinites du Styx …………………………………………………Tchaikowsky one of two readings
45Mme. Niessen-Stone.
46Serenade Melancholique ………………………………………Tchaikowsky one of two readings
47Serenado Melancholique ………………………………………Tchaikowsky one of two readings
48Alexander Saslavsky.
49Approach of Spring ……………………………………………..Rachmaninoff
50On a Hoary Burial Mound ………………………………………Kalinikoff
51Ariosa, from Opera Solante ………………………………………Tchaikowsky
52A. G. Janpolski. one of two readings
53(no line here) one of two readings
54Der Erlkönig …………………………………………………….Locw
55Gesang aus, Fest Auf Solhang ………………………………….H. Wolf
56Mausfallensprichlein ……………………………………………..H. Wolf
57Mme. Niessen-Stone.
58Romance ………………………………………………………..Wieniawski
59Mazurka ………………………………………………………..Wieniawski
60Alexander Saslavsky.
61Nooning ………………………………………………………..Ronald
62Gifts ………………………………………………………..Roy L. Smith
63Like the Rosebud ……………………………………………..Frank La Forge
64Jean ………………………………………………………..Spross
65Frank Ormsby.
66Hearts That in Longing Pine, Violin Obligato ………….Tchaikowsky
67Vanka, Folksong …………………………………………………Lalo
68Barge Song of the Volga ………………………………………V. Harris
69Kalinka ………………………………………………………..Mrs. Beach one of two readings
70A. G. Janpolski. one of two readings
71Kalinka ………………………………………………………..A. G. Janpolski. one of two readings
72L'esclave ………………………………………………………..Lalo
73The Hills o' Skye ……………………………………………..Mrs. Beach
74The Year's At the Spring ………………………………………Mme. Niessen-Stone.
76The singers all added encores to their numbers. The musicales of the Haarlem Philharmonic Society are social events and, therefore, criticism may seem impertinent. A word of commendation must, however, be given for the beautiful interpretations of the three vocalists. Mr. Ormsby, an American tenor, possesses a voice of rare sweetness and purity, and his German diction is most excellent. Mme. von Niessen-Stone sang songs heard at her recent song recital in Mendelssohn Hall, in addition to the Gluck aria. She is a splendid interpreter, and has a rich and sympathetic voice. Mr. Janpolski has a most noble voice, and his Russian songs were received with overwhelming applause. Mr. Saslavsky, the violinist, played his numbers in the best style. Edward Munger was the piano accompanist.
78Circulars have been distributed to the members of the Haarlem Philharmonic Society, calling their attention to the MacDowell fund. A special announcement was made from the platform regarding this important matter.
80Disfiguring Skin Humor
82Impossible to Get Employment, as Face and Body Were Covered With Sores—Cured by Cuticura.
84"Since the year 1894 I have been troubled with a very bad case of eczema which I have spent hundreds of dollars trying to cure, and I went to the hospital, but they failed to cure me, and it was getting worse all the time. Five weeks ago my wife bought a box of Cuticura Ointment and one cake of Cuticura Soap, and I am pleased to say that I am now completely cured and well. It was impossible for me to get employment, as my face, head and body were covered with it. The eczema first appeared on the top of my head, and it had worked all the way around down the back of my neck and around to my throat, down my body and around the hips. It itched so I would be obliged to scratch it, and the flesh was raw. I am now all well, and I will be pleased to recommend the Cuticura Remedies to all persons who wish a speedy and permanent cure of skin diseases. Thomas M. Rossiter, 200 Prospect Street, East Orange, N. J., Mar. 30, 1905."
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