Books › Musical Courier 1908-04-01: Vol 56 Iss 14, 1908 › scan 30
Scan 30
Musical Courier 1908-04-01: Vol 56 Iss 14, 1908
18 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. Printed page 31. 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.
1BOSTON
2HOTEL NOTTINGHAM,
3BOSTON, MASS., March 28, 1908.
5The proposed opera house in Boston, which has already been discussed by THE MUSICAL COURIER, is interesting everybody directly concerned or otherwise. Whether this interest will extend to the pocketbooks of each person concerned remains yet to be ascertained. However, it is officially stated that to date something over $40,200 has been subscribed to the stock of the Boston Opera Company. The directors are optimistic over what seems a most feasible plan, and feel that the enthusiasm now manifest is not of the "bubble" type. The amount subscribed shows at this time nearly 402 people to be purchasers of the best seats. The remainder of the required sum, $150,000, it is believed will be readily secured, as only the first week of the stock sale has passed. The names of the subscribers have not as yet been given out to the public.
7Wednesday evening, March 25, the Mount Vernon street residence of E. Cutter, Jr., with its spacious music room, was thrown open for another of those delightful informal evenings of song. There were many gathered to hear Josephine Fletcher, the young contralto, who began her vocal career with Mr. Cutter only last year, and those who heard her then recall that her voice presented a number of problems to be mastered by both herself and Mr. Cutter. Her recital, then, was awaited with real pleasure by those interested in a voice which had shown such possibilities as had Miss Fletcher's. The real progress shown by her singing was so apparent as to preclude any and all criticism, for this young girl showed that she had worked zealously and intelligently, and it seems indisputable in all ways that she will yet find a place for herself. There was delightful freedom in her singing, and the smooth, even tones, were truly a pleasure to listen to. Mr. Cutter's guidance had had marked effect, and she sang Schubert, Tosti, Sturm, Foote, Von Slutzman and German songs with the ease of a more mature artist. The excellent judgment in the quality of songs given showed with what care Mr. Cutter arranges the programs from season to season given by his pupils. Miss Pierson, a pupil of Loeffler, gave valued aid with solos by Grieg and Sarasate. One prominent guest present on the evening in question exclaimed on hearing Miss Fletcher sing: "Such ease and freedom of tone making are seldom heard even in professionals. I call it natural singing, and Mr. Cutter is teaching it most effectively."
9The Chromatic Club's MacDowell memorial program, given at the Tuileries last Tuesday morning at 11 o'clock, was of interest to a very large audience. Mrs. Richard Hamlin Jones, the president of the club, gave a short talk on the origin and growth of the organization, and introduced H. H. Huniston, who was a pupil of MacDowell, and who contributed to the morning's program, which was given up wholly to MacDowell pieces and songs, the former being played by Grace Wethern, who opened with the "Tragica" sonata. This was followed by songs well sung by Harold Tripp, tenor; a "Romanze" played by Carl Webster, cellist, and a concerto by Grace Wethern with orchestral accompaniment played on a second piano by Mr. Huniston, who first gave some interesting facts connected with its writing, and its being played by MacDowell before his master. The morning was of interest to many members of the MacDowell Club who were present, and those who had studied with MacDowell, besides a large number of visitors.
11Lucia Gale Barber has been engaged by "Sorosis," of New York, for the date of April 6, when the distinguished woman's club will convene in the Astor Gallery of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, with its membership of 300 guests present to witness Mrs. Barber in her artistic line of work. Rhythmic interpretation of the "Spring Song" from Gounod, and J. Balf's "A Fairy Tale" will be given by Mrs. Barber in a robe of golden mesh with rare trimmings imported directly from the Orient. The bodily expression portrayed by Mrs. Barber in these numbers fascinates the beholder, and wins the invariable verdict from art connoisseurs—"her body speaks." Mrs. Barber has been asked to supervise the groupings and dancing in the great pageant the coming summer, which will be given in the Fenway for the dedication of the Boston Normal School. There will be several committees of arrangement, but Mrs. Barber will act as the general supervisor of the entire fete, which promises to be most resplendent, and thus calculated to prove a real test of her artistic judgment.
13The Flonzaley Quartet gave its final concert of the season last Tuesday evening at Chickering Hall, with this program: Quartet, op. 76, No. 5, Haydn; sonata in G, Bach (for two violins and piano); quartet (in memoriam), op. 30, Tchaikowsky. There is no doubt but that the Quartet established itself in Boston's favor, for the fine technical and mental handling of the Haydn number alone. Its reading had never been equaled here, bearing a quality of emotional warmth and fine shading which shows these players to possess the genuine artistic fire. Louis Bachner gave assistance in the second number. Boston has not been reticent in assuring these artists that it has been charmed with their fine work, and another season here will fully establish the Flonzaley Quartet as a part of the Boston musical fiber.
15The Philharmonic Society, Benjamin Guckenberger, conductor, gave its second concert of the season by its orchestral section on Wednesday evening. The soloists were Mrs. Robert N. Lister, soprano, and Hildegard Berthold, a pupil of Rudolph Nagel. The orchestra did exceptional work, considering its age and quality, but its excellent conductor brought out fine shading, good tempi and color effects worth hearing. Mozart's overture to "The Marriage of Figaro" opened the program. Solos from Goltermann and Klengel followed, and Grieg's "Elegiac Melodies," op. 34, and Jensen's "Bridal Song" and "Reigen," and the "Festival Procession" from op. 45 were also played. Mr. Guckenberger showed himself to be more than a beater of time. He showed that he felt and perceived with the composer, and at the same time sympathized with his orchestra—calling out not more than was consistent with the ability of the players. There was a surety quite unusual in all of the orchestral work. Mrs. Lister's aria, "More Regal in His Low Estate" (Gounod), was most beautifully sung. The hall was crowded with a most applause audience.
17April 2 the Faeltten Pianoforte School's usual pupils recital will be given by some of the most advanced members of the school, and therefore promises to be interesting to friends in general. The ensemble for five pianos will open with the Svendsen "Coronation March," B flat major, op. 13, followed with playing by Katherine Merry and Virginia Wainwright, who will give Chopin's "Funeral March," B flat minor, and the Gounod-Jaell waltz from "Faust," D flat major, op. 129, and other pieces will be played by Laura L. Martin, Myrtle L. Jordan and Mabel C. Stone, the latter giving the concerto, F minor, op. 21, Chopin, with her teacher, Carl Faeltten, at the second piano. The most interesting event in the annals of this school is the well remembered program of Louella Withcress Dewing, of the class of '04, who gave such distinguishing merit to her work as to attract the attention of the best musical people. Her coming program, booked for
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