Scan 6
Musical Courier 1909-05-05: Vol 58 Iss 18, 1909
59 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 7. See the scan on archive.org.
1of its great compass and strength it is soft and flexible. Tilly Koenen is an artist of the very first rank, capable of all grades of characterization. With the opening bars of the "Erl King" an icy chill ran down our backs. Beethoven's "Ah! Perfido" could hardly be rendered by any other singer with such perfection. When she sings Brahms her manner of expression is one of noble resignation, and again there breathes forth from her singing the sweetest longings of love.—Neues Wiener Tageblatt, Vienna.
3An apparition like Tilly Koenen disarms criticism and calls forth in its place unreserved admiration. With her second recital Tilly Koenen established herself as the artistic heir of Alice Barbi.—Neues Wiener Journal, Vienna.
5Richard Lowe's Pupils' Success.
7The following is a complete program of the matinee given in Berlin at Bechstein Hall, on April 4, by the advanced pupils of Hofkapellmeister Richard Lowe's private singing class:
9Aria from Carmen…………………………………………..Bizet
10Sonntag………………………………………………………..Brahms
11In Waldesinsamkeit…………………………………………Brahms
12Nachtigall…………………………………………………….Brahms
13Ständchen…………………………………………………….Brahms
14Hans Hoffmann (Cincinnati).
15Aria from Fidelio…………………………………………..Beethoven
16Aria from Rienzi…………………………………………..Wagner
17Aria from Pagliacci………………………………………..Leoncavallo
18Cavatina from Marguerite………………………………..Gounod
19Waltz from Romeo………………………………………..Gounod
20Aria from Oberon………………………………………..Weber
21Prologue from Pagliacci………………………………….Leoncavallo
22Gavotte from Manon…………………………………….Massenet
23Romanze from Cavalleria………………………………..Mascagni
24Variations……………………………………………………Proch
25Toreador Song from Carmen…………………………….Bizet
26Minnelied…………………………………………………..Brahms
27The Honeysuckle…………………………………………..Macy
28The Slumber Boat…………………………………………Gaynor
29Aria from Boheme………………………………………..Puccini
30Nachtigall…………………………………………………..Alabieff
31Canon für vier Stimmen…………………………………..R. Lowe
32Mrs. Lane, Miss Holmes, Herr Hoffmann, Herr Le Hanne.
34Details regarding the work of these young singers were recently given in our Berlin letter.
36The Berlin Philharmonic, under Nikisch, has had a successful series of concerts in Hamburg. At its latest appearance there, the organization performed Noren's "Kaleidoscope," Weber's "Euryanthe" overture, and Liszt's "Les Preludes." Witek was the soloist in the Mendelssohn concerto.
38ANITA RIO'S GREAT LONDON SUCCESS.
40Appended are the press notices received by Anita Rio, the celebrated American prima donna, on the occasion of her first appearance in the British capital, on March 29:
42The lady who gave a vocal recital in Bechstein Hall yesterday afternoon is known as "America's festival soprano," but it was not her intention yesterday to show us exclusively what she can do in the songs that are generally associated with festivals. The voice is a pure soprano of very pleasing quality; she has acquired many of the marked peculiarities of Madame Melba's production, and alights on a high note with rare accuracy and neatness. She pronounces the four usual languages a great deal better than her great model, so that her accomplishment is very considerable. Many a prima donna, in fact, has made a furore with half her skill.—London Times.
44Rarely accomplished is the artist whose repertoire includes all the standard oratorios which she sings from memory and twenty-six operas, nearly all of which she sings in two languages and some in four. These are among the accomplishments of Anita Rio, who made her first London appearance at Bechstein Hall yesterday afternoon. One hour sufficed for Madame Rio's scheme and she was heard in four groups of songs, which ranged from Mozart to Grieg, and included examples in Italian, German, English and French. Nobody will hint that the recital gave laid herself open to the reproach of stinting her audience. But apart from the reason mentioned, Madame Rio may be said to have earned legitimately the good graces of her hearers. She is without doubt an accomplished artist endowed by nature with a voice, pure, bright and sympathetic in quality, while the training she has received, supplemented by experience, enables her to use it with rare skill and effect. From a festival soprano one might reasonably have expected more than a single contribution from oratorio. Certainly she brought a decided sense of style and expressive powers to bear upon her group of German songs, while nothing became the artist better than old examples, such as Arne's "Where the Bee Sucks" and Campa's "Charmant Papillon," the delicacy and charm of which were very happily caught. Two songs of Massenet, included in her French group, were given with rare feeling and refinement, and altogether the newcomer may claim to have made a very favorable impression.—London Daily Telegraph.
46To the list, none too long, of our really great concert singers may now be added the name of Anita Rio, who made, what we believe to be, her first London appearance yesterday afternoon at Bechstein Hall. Madame Rio already enjoys a well-earned reputation in the United States, and she is likely to be as popular in this country as well. Her voice is fine and pure in quality, and she sings like a thoroughly experienced artist. She showed what she can do in oratorio by a finished and expressive performance of Handel's "Rejoice Greatly" and satisfied every requirement of the most fastidious listener in a very well chosen group of German songs ranging from Schubert and Schumann to Richard Strauss. In French music the artist was no less at her ease, and her recital ended with some favorable specimens of modern American song writing.—The London Daily Graphic.
48Much is expected of a singer who is announced as "American festival soprano." Happily, Madame Rio, who made her first appearance in England at Bechstein Hall yesterday afternoon, more than justified the claim to notice that the title would seem to imply. She has a beautiful, flexible voice, a striking presence and an easy fluent method of delivery, all of which qualifications were fully exemplified in the group of airs by Mozart, Handel and Arne. Of these "Rejoice Greatly," from the "Messiah," and the ever welcome "Where the Bee Sucks" showed the singer's flexibility of voice to great advantage. Madame Rio's best notes, and mellow, suave notes they are, are in the higher register, and the old French song, "Charmant Papillon," found the singer at her best. This was delightfully done, as indeed were the other numbers in the same group that followed.—The Standard.
50A first appearance in this country was made at Bechstein Hall yesterday by Anita Rio, a singer described as "America's festival soprano." This statement leaves no doubt as to the position Madame Rio has attained in her adopted country nor as to the exact state of vocal taste across the Atlantic. Madame Rio has a pure soprano voice of pleasingly full quality and great flexibility. Her program covered a wide field and served to indicate the comprehensive nature of her repertory. Only one excerpt from oratorio was comprised in her scheme, so that the opportunity of judging her from the same point of view as our own singers at festivals was small. Among the varied songs of German origin she gave were Brahms' "Die Nachtigall" and Strauss' "Ständchen," in which she showed much expressiveness. In point of expression and vocal control she was at her best in a group of French songs by Campa, Hahn and Massenet, and her real powers seemed to be most completely expressed in the number from the opera Manon of the last named. It was given with beauty of tone and warmth of expression.—Morning Post.
52Described in the program as "America's festival soprano," Anita Rio, who gave a vocal recital in the afternoon at Bechstein Hall, justified the title by the way she sang "Rejoice Greatly," from "The Messiah." The familiar air was indeed sung with a refreshing spirit, animation of style and warmth of expression, while, technically, there was much to praise in the performance. Particularly well expressed were the two songs, "Aufräge" and "Songs My Mother Taught Me," of the German group. It must be added that Madame Rio's voice is very flexible and remarkably sympathetic in quality. Altogether, she made a very favorable impression, not the least attribute of her afternoon's work being the general air of musical culture displayed.—Pall Mall Gazette.
54In the afternoon Anita Rio made a very successful debut at Bechstein Hall. She has a considerable reputation in America, and her musical gifts are undeniably great. The voice is beautiful and well trained, and she sings with excellent taste. The program was varied and she was intensely musical and pleasing in all styles. At the close of the concert the singer responded to several encores, giving with great charm Dr. Arne's "The Lass with the Delicate Air."—The Daily Star.
56The first London appearance of Anita Rio at Bechstein Hall on Tuesday was to the full the success anticipated, and we may congratulate ourselves on the possession of another really accomplished vocalist and concert singer. Her voice is sweet and pure and perfectly trained. Her first appearance was a very exhaustive one. She showed what she can do in oratorio by a finished and expressive performance of Handel's "Rejoice Greatly" and met every requirement of a well-chosen group of German songs. In French music the singer was at her best, and at the end of her recital was compelled to respond to several encores.—Weekly News.
58Anita Rio, an American singer, who possesses a beautiful soprano voice, made her debut in this country at Bechstein Hall yesterday afternoon, and delighted a large audience by her most artistic rendering of a number of selections from her extensive repertoire, including songs by the American composers, George Chadwick and Horatio Parker.—The Daily Chronicle.
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