Books › Musical Courier 1913-12-10: Vol 67 Iss 24, 1913 › scan 10
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Musical Courier 1913-12-10: Vol 67 Iss 24, 1913
62 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 11. See the scan on archive.org.
1"stable" this winter and promised me an opportunity to hear them later. And by the way, a pretty good record for any teacher—is it not?—to have six prominent singers in one prominent opera company. Think of Mmes. Minnie Saltzman-Stevens, Lucille Marcel (Weingartner), Maggie Teyte, Freeze Green, Edvina and Androwa, all of whom are singing at Boston this year and all of whom are former pupils of one master—Jean de Reszke!
3Last Saturday evening Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hartmann invited a few friends to their home and Mr. Hartmann played for them the Brahms E minor sonata and the Grieg sonata. It was the first time I have ever heard him play and I was much impressed with the splendid and complete technical mastery of the violin which he possesses, and none the less with the fine musical taste and feeling evident in his interpretation of the two works. There is not an oversupply of masters of the violin in Paris—in fact, I know of only two who may be ranked with Mr. Hartmann—and it will be a pleasure to hear him in public later in the season. In the meantime he is devoting himself to teaching and to composition. Povla Frisch, the Danish soprano, sang French and German songs. She is that rather rare thing nowadays, a lieder singer with a fine voice and a strong individuality of style which gives interest to everything she does.
5Last week witnessed the 1,450th representation of Gounod's "Faust" on the stage of the Opera, being at the same time the 200th appearance of M. Gresse, who has been at the Opera since 1901, in the role of Mephistopheles. All honor to M. Gounod and to M. Gresse as well. Of the latter I can only say that if all the artists of the Opera were up to his standard we should have a very different class of opera here than that which now exists.
7Saturday evening L. d'Aubigné entertained at least a hundred guests at his villa in Sevres in honor of his birthday. From 5 to 7 o'clock there was an informal program of music in the big studio, some of the many pupils of Mr. d'Aubigné appearing in solos and duets, the culminating number being the famous "Rigoletto" quartet, with the master himself taking the tenor part. Afterward there was a fine supper, with several cold turkeys as the leading soloists, a program that evoked the same hearty applause which had greeted the preceding musicale, and to end up with the studio was cleared out to make room for a dance. Hearty congratulations to Mr. d'Aubigné on his birthday, and may it return often if it brings with it as good a time for his friends as the last one.
9I had the pleasure last Sunday of visiting for the first time the studio of Enrico Bertran, the specialist in voice production, to hear one of his pupils, Magdo Leymo, sing. She has, I understand, studied only with M. Bertran, which speaks well for his ability as a vocal teacher, for her voice, a very agreeable soprano, is capital and placed and her vocalization is in every respect thoroughly satisfactory. She sang two numbers of Handel and the "Caro Nome" from "Rigoletto" and showed that her teacher knew how to give her the musical as well as the vocal side of singing. Mme. Leymo has been engaged for the grand concerts of the winter season at Monte Carlo. It was a great pleasure, too, to hear M. Bertran sing. He retired from the stage several years ago to devote himself exclusively to teaching, which is a great pity for the stage, for he is a splendid artist, whose voice and singing ability have not deteriorated one whit, notwithstanding his long years of service in leading roles in such theaters as La Scala at Milan, the famous Theatre Réal at Madrid and Covent Garden.
11Among the revivals at the municipal opera house, the Gaité-Lyrique, is Xavier Leroux's opera, "Le Chemineau." This week Edmond Clément will appear for the first time on the stage of this theater, singing in the "Barber of Seville." I understand that M. Clément's many engagements here and business in connection with the recent death of his father-in-law will prevent him from carrying out his contemplated American tour this season.
13Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Alexander were at home to a large number of their friends on Sunday afternoon. There was an impromptu musical program, in which Mr. Alexander, Katherine Lawler, the soprano, and Mme. Laghos, the Greek violinist, took part. It was the first time I had had an opportunity to hear Mme. Laghos' excellent work. She is a very capable artist. Sigismund Erdtmann, editor of the Swedish newspaper of Duluth, Minn., and the possessor of what promises to develop into an exceptionally good tenor voice, has just come over to study with Mr. Alexander.
15The soloists at the Students' Atelier Reunion last Sunday evening were Hilda Wierum, singer, and Jean Verd, pianist. Both artists were very heartily applauded for their excellent work. M. Verd, who played Liszt's "Legende de St. François marchant sur-les flots," Debussy's "Clair de Lune" and Dubois' "La Source enchantée," was compelled to give no less than four encores as a sequel to three scheduled program numbers, which is sufficient testimony to his splendid artistry without the need of any additional praise from me.
17Among those sailing last Sunday on the Kaiserin Auguste Victoria was Esta Reed, of Chicago, who is returning for the winter to resume her place as teacher in the Cosmopolitan School of Music in that city to fulfill various concert engagements. As soon as the American season is over Mrs. Reed will return here, and she will also take advantage of the presence of Charles W. Clark in Chicago during December and January to continue her lessons with that master.
19Enrico Bertran, Voice Specialist.
21Among those Parisian teachers who make a specialty of correctly placing the voice, the name of Enrico Bertran well deserves to be mentioned. The best proof of the correctness and excellence of his work is in the fact that, though he sang for fourteen years as tenor on the operatic stage and after that had an honorable career as baritone, the voice is to the present day absolutely intact, showing that the method of producing it must have been absolutely correct. The French Government has recognized the excellence of Mr. Bertran's work as an artist and teacher in awarding to him the rank of an Officier d'Académie. M. Bertran, a Spaniard by birth, is a master of four languages, French, Italian, English and his native Spanish, and enjoys the happy position of being able to prepare his pupils for opera, concert or oratorio in all four of those languages.
23Alda in Mississippi.
25On the evening of November 17, Frances Alda (soprano), assisted by Frank la Forge and Giutia Casini, gave a concert for the young ladies of Whitworth College, Brookhaven, Miss., which proved a brilliant opening of the artists course of the college.
27Other artists who will appear in this course are Jacques Thibaud and Cecil Fanning.
29One Mind—and Another.
31"The screeching of that soprano makes me weary."
32"I thought you liked high bawls."—Boston Transcript.
34PIANOS IN PARIS
35Weber & Steck Pianos. Pianolas. Pianola-Pianos
36We invite comparison with any and all French makes both as regards quality and price.
37Renting for Music Students a Specialty
38THE AEOLIAN CO., 32, AVENUE DE L'OPERA
40SAN ANTONIO VISITED BY DISTINGUISHED ARTISTS.
41Frances Alda, Frank la Forge and Maud Powell Among Those Who Have Delighted Texans of Late—Tuesday Musical Club Activity.
43San Antonio, Tex., November 27, 1913.
45On November 15, Frances Alda, with Gutia Casini, cellist, and Frank la Forge, pianist and accompanist, appeared in the Gunter Hotel ballroom. This was the first of the three attractions to be brought to San Antonio by the Tuesday Musical Club. Mme. Alda's concert was surely a success. From her very first song, "Lungi dal caro bene," by Secchi, to her last, "An Open Secret," by Woodman, the audience was charmed by the beautiful quality of her voice. She sang the "Prayer" from "Tosca," with cello obbligato by Casini, which was beautiful. After insistent applause they gave the barcarolle from "Tales of Hoffman." Casini proved himself an artist. Frank la Forge was a delight, as always, to the audience. His playing of all accompaniments from memory was wonderful. Mme. Alda sang two of his compositions, "Like a Rosebud" and "Expectancy." She was forced to repeat the last song twice.
47November 21, Maud Powell appeared in concert. It really seemed that her marvelous playing was even more wonderful than ever. Her opening number—a concerto, by Coleridge-Taylor—was played superbly. Those who heard her for the first time were impressed with her mastery of her instrument. She was presented with a large bouquet of chrysanthemums, sent to her by the Tuesday Musical Club, by whose members she is greatly loved and admired. Mme. Powell has as her accompanist a most efficient musician, Mr. Moore, who gave two piano solos and showed himself to be a thorough technician. Mme. Powell was most generous with her encores, and after the program was over the people refused to be satisfied with what they had already heard but insisted upon more, so Mme. Powell gave an encore.
49On November 18, the Tuesday Musical Club members gave an excellent program at the close of the business meeting. The subject of the program was "Ancient Hebrew Music," Cara Franklin in charge. The program was given by the Temple Beth-El Quartet, comprising Mrs. G. E. Gwinn, soprano; Mrs. E. Sciven, alto; Charles Lee, tenor; Gilbert Schramm, bass. The women are active members of the club, the men honorary. An orchestra formed of club members also gave several numbers. This orchestra consists of Mrs. H. Schramm, Marguerite Quinn, first violins; Mrs. A. A. Dean, L. Smith, second violins; C. Lee, clarinet; Mrs. W. S. Seng, flute; Bessie Guinn, cello; Florentine Heilig, piano.
51MRS. STANLEY WINTERS.
53Carl Friedberg's Phenomenal Success.
55Carl Friedberg, the eminent German pianist, who will visit this country next fall for the first time, appeared recently at the Leipzig Gewandhaus under Nikisch, where he played the Brahms concerto. This was Friedberg's second successful appearance in these concerts, and his phenomenal success brought him a third re-engagement for next year. Professor Julius Klengel himself played the cello solo of the Brahms concerto, this being the first time, it is said, that the professor has done this for any artist.
57Mr. Friedberg, who has been recently concertizing in Vienna and has been playing this season already at over thirty concerts, will appear with the prominent orchestras in Europe. He is also engaged for an appearance in Paris in April with the Société des Nouveaux concerts at the Elysée Théâtre.
59Musicolony Dinner.
61Tuesday evening, December 16, the Fifth Musicolony Dinner will be served at the Restaurant Roma, New York. This is the first of the dinners for the winter.
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