Books › Musical Courier 1908-04-01: Vol 56 Iss 14, 1908 › scan 29
Scan 29
Musical Courier 1908-04-01: Vol 56 Iss 14, 1908
54 lines. Read by computer on 24 September 2026. Printed page 30. See the scan on archive.org.
1Melva Clemaire at Home and Abroad.
3Melva Clemaire, a talented American soprano, who has just closed a tour of the Middle and Far West, has returned to New York and is preparing for another tour including a number of the spring and early summer music festivals. This singer, who has won her triumphs singing before clubs, at orchestral concerts and at colleges, has enjoyed equal success abroad. Her tour of Sweden during the summer of 1906 is recalled. The Goteborg press was especially complimentary, and the music loving people of Sweden hailed Madame Clemaire as "The American Nightingale." When she sang at Partilled Castle Prince Carl led the applause. Other notable personages heard her, and everywhere the charm of her voice and her undisputed personal attractiveness were matters of universal comment.
5Having won triumphs at home and abroad it will further interest many to read what some of the critics wrote concerning her art and personality. The following paragraphs are taken from a book of press reviews:
7Melva Clemaire's coloratura is especially good—her staccato is perfectly excellent. The Strauss and Verdi numbers were particularly good examples of this, but she is also at home in her legato work, which she renders most beautifully. The Prince led in the applause, which was very voluminous.—Morgan Posten, July 27, 1906.
9A concert will be given to-morrow evening by Melva Clemaire at Partilled Castle.
11At the concert given at Saro, Melva Clemaire proved herself an accomplished and graceful singer—with a deep, warm color pervading her beautiful, flexible soprano voice. Her agreeable manner, charming appearance and intelligent rendering won for her rousing applause, enthusiastically led by Prince Carl.—Goteborgs-Posten, July 28, 1906.
13The concert given by Melva Clemaire last evening attracted a numerous public. The Duke and Duchess of Gotland attended the performance. Melva Clemaire proved herself an exceedingly accomplished singer, possessing a beautifully warm and extremely sympathetic voice and a modest and charming appearance.
15The singer was rewarded by enthusiastic applause after each number.—Goteborgs Handels—Och Sjofarts-Tidning, July 30, 1906.
17Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg relied on their own judgment and attended the concert, at which they led the applause the whole time—and very lively applause it was. The public was enraptured.
19Madame Clemaire's dark appearance of southern warmth is in perfect harmony with the deep timbre and warmth of her voice. There is observed an ardor, a suppressed, restrained ardor, particularly when she interprets Verdi, whom she appears to love passionately.
21Her execution is perfect. Her appearance most charming.—Goteborgs Aftonblad, July 25, 1906.
23Melva Clemaire, prima donna soprano, has a beautifully clear voice, well trained and of unusual sweetness. She was especially well received, and responded generously to enthusiastic encores.—News, Denver, Col.
25Melva Clemaire has a beautifully clear voice, well trained and of unusual sweetness.—Spokane Evening Chronicle.
27Melva Clemaire's magnificent physique and charming presence won favor with the audience immediately and her first appearance, which has been expectantly awaited, was the signal for prolonged applause. Her well modulated voice is shown to strong advantage in the most difficult passages and her enunciation and expression were ideal. Her every rendition was enthusiastically applauded and she fully deserved the ovation accorded her.—Daily Independent, Helena, Mont.
29Melva Clemaire's stage presence is admirable and greatly enhances the effect of her singing, while her voice is a strong, but beautifully shaded soprano, capable of infinite variation.—Review, Spokane, Wash.
31Miss Clemaire was a great favorite with her audience, and made a fine impression with her solos. She possesses a very pleasing, sweet soprano voice, under fine control, and sings with ease and surety.—Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin.
33Melva Clemaire has attained great delicacy in the use of her mezzo voice, and her taste and control are remarkable. * * * It is in every way a beautiful and gracious woman, who will always have many warm admirers in Duluth.—(With Beethoven Club) Press Notice, Duluth, Minn.
35The silvery notes of Melva Clemaire's clear voice appealed to the audience and they applauded many times. She has a marvelous control of her tones, which vibrate with a power so great it can hardly be conceived by her hearers.—Republican, Joliet, Ill.
37Miss Clemaire is a coloratura soprano of rare brilliance and delicacy and she sang the recitative and aria from Verdi's "Ernani" with delightful grace and beauty. Her other numbers were rendered with exquisite tenderness and tonal quality, the interpretation artistic and the technic flawless.—Republican, Cedar Rapids, Ia.
39The star of the evening was easily Melva Clemaire, whose beautiful soprano voice was a delight to the music lovers. It is a coloratura soprano of fine range and power. Her tone is pure, true and full of life. Her arias received tremendous applause. The Gounod number was sung exquisitely. Miss Clemaire is an American girl, and very beautiful. She couples with a fine voice a most charming personality.—The Eagle, Wichita, Kan.
41The singer, Miss Clemaire, pleased both eye and ear. Her appearance and manner were most gracious. Her voice was resonant and firm, and her mastery of vocal technic complete. The audience would gladly have heard and seen more of her.—Tonkawa Chieftain, Oklahoma.
43Flavie van den Hende's Tour and Notices.
45Flavie van den Hende, the cellist, will leave New York for a tour through the South April 15. This admirable artist played with her usual success at recent concerts in Buffalo with the Orpheus Club of that city, and in Newark, N. J., under distinguished auspices. Regarding her appearance in Newark, the Evening News of that city said:
47The fourth in the series of concerts given in the Elliott School this season attracted a large audience last night. By reason of her artistic accomplishments, Flavie Van den Hende easily dominated the concert. The compositions she elected to play were of such a melodious character that they quickened the interest of all present to a lively expression of enjoyment, while her artful interpretation of them gave more than ordinary pleasure to the more discriminating among her hearers. In such selections she exhibited a facile execution and a sympathetic temperament, while her intonation was true and her interpretation musically.
49Carreño at the Philharmonic Concert.
51Carreño's performance of the Tschaikowsky concerto in B flat minor at the extra pair of New York Philharmonic concerts, Friday afternoon and Saturday evening of last week, afforded the admirers of the pianist both instruction and delight. This concerto has long been one of Carreño's "battle horses," and the imagination cannot conceive of a "Valkyrie" more valiant and masterful than Carreño proves herself when she plays this work in the large auditorium of Carnegie Hall, accompanied by the orchestra. There was the grand sweep, the majesty and virility that takes hold of the listeners and transports them out of the narrow channels in their own little worlds. Few pianists can do that in these days.
53A new opera, "I Gogliardi," by Zagari, author of both book and music, was given with fair success at Mantora.
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