Books › Musical Courier 1911-03-22: Vol 62 Iss 12, 1911 › scan 41
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Musical Courier 1911-03-22: Vol 62 Iss 12, 1911
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1MUSIC IN CLEVELAND.
2Cleveland, Ohio, March 16, 1911.
4William A. Becker, composer-pianist of Cleveland, who played his own piano concerto with the Russian Symphony Orchestra in Keith's Hippodrome last Sunday evening, furnished the real musical sensation of the local season. Becker's concerto was described at length in these columns, while the composer was using it in his European concerts several years ago. It is sufficient to say at this time that it is melodious, classical in outline, well worked out, thoroughly pianistic and richly orchestrated. Mr. Becker's performance of it gives him the right and privilege of being considered not only one of America's best pianists, but one of the best who ever concertized in this country. His technic is big, broad and perfect and is always used as a means to an end. His tone is full, rich, singing and glowing with poetry. In his interpretation he shows poetry, fire, passion and virility, all of which are under the domination of an unusual intellectuality. In short Becker is a genius. It is highly unfortunate both for Mr. Becker and for musical Cleveland that local conditions have been such that he has not been given the opportunity to display to his fellow citizens the richness of his attainments. As for the Russian Symphony Orchestra under Modest Altschuler, it has made great artistic advances since its last appearance here. The soloists, Madame Dimitrieff, Frank Ormsby and Madame Joel-Hulse and Bertram Schwann, were well received.
6The Kneisel Quartet will give a concert Saturday evening in Engineers' Hall. Mrs. Thomas Tapper, pianist, will assist in the Schumann quintet in E flat major. The program includes Grieg, Schumann, Dvorák and Bach numbers.
8Carl Riemenschneider, pianist, played the Grieg concerto in A minor at the symphony concert in the Grays' Armory last Sunday. Harry P. Cole, tenor, gave a group of three songs accompanied by George Emerson. Johann Beck conducted. At the solicitation of patrons the popular symphony management has decided to give an extra concert Sunday, March 19. It will be in the nature of a testimonial to the orchestra members.
10The Metropolitan Opera Company will open its season of four operas in the Hippodrome Thursday evening, April 20, with Puccini's "The Girl of the Golden West." This will be followed by "Tannhäuser" on Friday evening, "Madama Butterfly" Saturday afternoon, and "Aida" Saturday night. The conductors will be Arturo Toscanini, Alfred Hertz and Vittorio Podestì. Among the soloists are Enrico Caruso, Emmy Destinn, Pasquale Amato, Adamo Didur, Glenn Hall, Pini-Corsi, Andrea de Segurola, Herbert Witherspoon, Leo Sleazak, Otto Goritz, William Hinshaw, Olive Fremstad, Alma Gluck, Geraldine Farrar, Rita Fornia, and Riccardo Martin.
12On the afternoon of April 2 a festival concert will be given at popular prices in the Hippodrome by the Singers' Club, the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra and several soloists. Emil Ring, Johann Beck and Albert Reese Davis will conduct.
14The Mendelssohn Club, Ralph Everett Sapp director, will sing Stewart's "The Singers" and the finale to the second act of Gounod's "Queen of Sheba" at its next concert, April 6, in Engineers' Hall. Lighter numbers will complete the program. David Bispham, baritone, will be the soloist.
16Mischa Elman plays a return engagement in the Grays' Armory Friday evening under the local management of Adelle Prentiss Hughes. The Saint-Saëns' B minor concerto is on his program.
18Werrenrath February Tour.
20Reinald Werrenrath's February tour included the following cities:
21Indianapolis (concert), Massillon, Ohio (recital), Kansas City, Mo. (recital), Indianola, Ia. (recital), Minneapolis (Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra), Chicago (recital), Dayton, Ohio (Mozart Club), Washington, D. C. (recital).
23His success was recorded as follows:
24The high quality of yesterday's concert was increased by the presence of one of the most thoroughly satisfactory singers who ever has appeared with the Minneapolis Orchestra. Reinald Werrenrath is a young baritone whose voice, though not big, is mellow, rich, warm and fluent. He uses it with the perfect art that conceals training and method and his enunciation is refreshingly clear and good. There seems to be no thought in his singing of the exploitation of the personality above the art—a fault from which very few singers, even the greatest, are entirely free, and he comes nearer than any singer heard here in a long time to making the solo voice what it should be—an instrument added to the orchestra.—Minneapolis Tribune.
26The soloist, Mr. Werrenrath, proved one of the most thoroughly satisfactory singers that has appeared with the orchestra this season. It is no uncommon thing for a singer to be controlled by his voice; Mr. Werrenrath's voice is his own and he does with it what he pleases. It is a voice of unusual sweetness and flexibility, smooth, restful, velvety and excellently placed, as rich and warm in its low register as it is ringing and free in the upper tones.—Minneapolis Journal.
28Liquid music, rich and smooth, with all the velvety grace of cultured genius—an absolute surety of control on the most difficult syllables of his many technical selections, a sweetness almost unnerving in the high registers, dropping with sure ease to the deepest, most sonorous upper bass.
30One is satisfied to consider this young artist solely in the light of a splendid vocalist till he stands before one finally in the additional glory of an accomplished student of accent values, peerless diction and delicate characterization. He gives each number an individuality, each language a distinct pronunciation delightful to the hearer who ordinarily has to be content with the melody only.—Kansas City, Mo., Journal.
32He has a baritone voice of unusual quality, a polished style and unmistakable qualifications as an interpreter. As a perfect baritone voice should be, his has the tonal variety of a cello, rich and sonorous in its lower register and smooth, yet vibrant, in the higher notes.—Kansas City, Mo., Star.
34"Allerseelen" (Strauss), sung by Mr. Werrenrath at the opening of the program, won a response from the audience which was undiminished during the remainder of the evening. His full rich voice, penetrating even in its pianissimo tones throughout the large hall, and his clear articulation and artistic expression made a deep impression. The pleasing qualities of his powerful baritone voice were shown to good advantage also in his singing of "Invictus" (Bruno Huhn).—Indianapolis Star.
36Mr. Werrenrath has a fine voice of musical quality which he knows well how to use. His enunciation is particularly clear, and his carrying power is unusual. While he sang without apparent effort, not a syllable was lost.
38Mr. Werrenrath was so generously applauded that he returned and sang a ballad, "I Hear You Calling Me" (Marshall), which he gave with feeling and power.—Indianapolis News.
40MUSICAL LAFAYETTE.
41Lafayette, Ind., March 10, 1911.
43The dedication of the new organ in Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church will take place on March 13. For this occasion William F. Jenkins, organist of the Second Presbyterian Church of St. Louis, and Mrs. MacClamrock, soprano, of Frankfort, will give a recital.
45The first recital given by pupils of Mary E. Bruce, in the Y. M. C. A. Auditorium, Friday evening, February 17, was well attended, and a program of interest was enjoyed.
47Through the efforts of Mrs. E. S. Ferry and Lena M. Baer, Clarence Adler, the pianist, gave a concert of unusual interest in the Y. M. C. A. Auditorium, Tuesday evening, February 28. He played in his customary excellent style, and there was much enthusiasm.
49The committee in charge of the Purdue concert course has announced, as an extra number, a song recital by Helen Waldo, contralto, Tuesday evening, March 14. Miss Waldo, in costume, will give a program of children's songs.
51Great interest is being manifested by Lafayette music lovers in the work of the Ladies' Flower Mission in bringing the Russian Symphony Orchestra of New York City, with Modest Altschuler, conductor; Nina Demitrieff, soprano; Frank Ormsby, tenor; Lealia Joel-Hulse, contralto, and Bertram Schwann, baritone. The orchestra will ap
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