Books › Musical Courier 1913-12-10: Vol 67 Iss 24, 1913 › scan 43
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Musical Courier 1913-12-10: Vol 67 Iss 24, 1913
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1BOSTON PREMIERE OF FLORENT SCHMITT SUITE.
3"The Tragedy of Salome" Played by Boston Symphony Orchestra at Seventh Pair of Concerts—Fritz Kreisler, Soloist—Mme. Gadski's Song Recital—Flonzaley Quartet Gives First Concert in Its Boston Season.
5Boston, Mass., December 7, 1913.
7The seventh pair of Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts, November 28 and 29, were notable for a first performance in Boston of Florent Schmitt's orchestral suite based on the poem of Robert d'Humiere, "The Tragedy of Salome," and for the marvelous playing of that peerless violinist and artist, Fritz Kreisler, who was heard in Mozart's concerto in D major and Viotti's concerto in A minor. The remaining orchestral numbers were the Cherubini's overture to "Anacreon" and Lalo's overture to "Le Roi d'Ys." Schmitt's music, originally written for a "mute drama" based on the above mentioned poem of D'Humiere and performed in Paris by Loie Fuller and her associates, was later elaborated and made into the suite heard at these concerts. In this work Schmitt has written music of true oriental atmosphere and color, which is never commonplace or banal. His themes have unmistakable originality and character, and his development of them is more than interesting—it is amazingly convincing.
9Mme. Gadski, in a program of for the most part familiar masterpieces of song, revealed novel and unexpected pleasure at the Sunday afternoon concert of last week. Her singing on this occasion was distinguished by vocal beauty as well as the more subtle qualities of imaginative and sensitive song interpretation. Edwin Schneider beside playing excellent accompaniments for the singer, figured also on the program as composer of the charming song, "Your Eyes," which was received with marked favor by the audience, and had to be repeated.
11Josef Hofmann gave an all Chopin program at Symphony Hall on the afternoon of December 2. It was not a performance for the sentimental or romantic adorers of Chopin, though Mr. Hofmann's playing was by no means emotionless. The predominating qualities in his interpretations were, however, dignity, restraint and normality. There was no attempt to make Chopin saccharine and soulful, a fact which doubtless accounted for the small audience present.
13Some weeks ago there occurred in this city a musical event, which though decidedly worthy of mention, was not recorded in these columns on account of its being out of regular musical channels. It was the appearance of David Bispham at B. F. Keith's Theater and was significant not only because Mr. Bispham is a great artist, but because this fact was immediately recognized and appreciated by the patrons of vaudeville, people whom it has been generally supposed would not respond to the high type of art represented by Mr. Bispham. That this is but another of those popular fallacies which need but the courage and conviction of a man like Mr. Bispham to disprove, was unquestionably proven by the universal response he met with in this, as in the other cities of his tour.
15A song recital was given by Edward Lankow, bass, assisted by Robert Pollak, violinist, and Jessie Davis, pianist, at Jordan Hall, on Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Lankow's voice, as all who have heard him at the Boston Opera House know, is an unusually beautiful one, and showed, I am told, at this concert, marked development in technical resource. On the artistic side, too, Mr. Lankow's talents show new maturity of expression. Mr. Pollak, a Hungarian violinist, heard here for the first time, created a highly favorable impression and was particularly applauded at the close of the Grieg sonata, in which Miss Davis gave an excellent performance of the piano part.
17The Flonzaley Quartet gave its first concert of the season at Jordan Hall on Thursday evening. It is needless to reiterate panegyrical paens on the playing of these artists, since the name Flonzaley the world over stands for supreme artistry among string quartets. The program given here was the same as that presented in New York the week previous, which was reviewed in the columns of the MUSICAL COURIER.
19Recent concert engagements of Jessie Davis, who was heard in the capacity of accompanist and assisting artist at Mr. Lankow's recital, December 3, have been: November 5, Copley-Plaza, with Francis Rogers; November 19, concert in Salem, Mass.; November 30, private musical in Boston. On December 12 Miss Davis will assist at a concert given by Francis Rogers in the New Lecture Hall, Harvard University, and during the month of January she will fill engagements in Concord, Mass., Boston and New York.
21The concert of Kathleen Parlow and Wilhelm Bachaus, which took place at Jordan Hall on Saturday afternoon, December 6, will be reviewed in next week's letter.
23BLANCHE FREEDMAN.
25Klibansky Artist-Pupils Sing.
27December 5, at the Three Arts Club, 340 West Eighty-fifth street, New York, artist-pupils of Sergei Klibansky collaborated in a program of nine numbers, before an audience which was most responsive, and would have filled a much larger hall. The opening and closing numbers of the program were duets sung by Miss Cannon and Mrs. Cooper; their voices blended happily together. Miss Cannon possesses a clear and pure soprano voice, showing much technic and careful training, admirably displayed in "Un bel di Vedremo," from "Madama Butterfly." Mrs. Cooper's full, deep contralto was a delight to all, her numbers being enthusiastically received. "Allah," by Kramer, she entered into with her whole soul, and an encore was insisted on. Amelia Millier most artistically sang two songs by Brahms and one by Hildach. All were well received by the admiring audience.
29Perhaps the real ovation of the evening was given Marie Louise Ficker Wagner, whose sympathetic, resonant voice was heard to splendid advantage in "Elsa's Traum" and the aria from "Der Freischutz." The latter received so much applause that she was obliged to repeat the latter portion. All these students are fortunate in being under the guidance of Sergei Klibansky, whose artistic personality cannot fail to carry its message. He was induced to add two songs himself, much to the delight of the large audience. Three qualities noted in his singing, and in that of the students were excellent resonance, clear enunciation and repose of manner. Two songs by Alice M. Shaw were sung, she playing all the accompaniments with admirable sympathy. The songs are whimsical creations full of charm.
31Von Ende School of Music Recital.
33Another of the educational concerts so frequent at the Von Ende School of Music, New York, took place December 8, the collaborators being Anton Witek, concertmaster of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Vita Witek, pianist. They played solos and ensemble music by Schuman, Mendelssohn, Alkan, Raff, Haydn, Spohr, Ries and Grieg before an audience filling the recital salons, all being deeply interested and appreciative.
35Southerners Enjoyed Spooner's Singing.
37Southerners appreciate good music, this fact having been proven on countless occasions in the past to the satisfaction of artists. To be successful in a Southern town or city almost always means a reengagement, and, more than that, it means a welcome on the second appearance seldom witnessed in a Northern city.
39It was but recently that Philip Spooner, the well known tenor and son of former United State Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin, visited two Southern cities on a brief trip into Dixieland. The welcome accorded this talented artist was remarkable, both on the part of the audiences and the critics.
41At the Academy in Durham, N. C., on November 26, and at the Grand Opera House, Greensboro, N. C., on November 28, Mr. Spooner met with flattering success, as will be noted in the few of the numerous press criticisms appended below and all of which speaks in praiseworthy terms of the tenor's singing:
43The joint recital of Philip Spooner, the young tenor, and Cordelia Lee, violinist, the attraction at the Grand last night, was highly enjoyed by Greensboro music lovers who attended the concert.
45The tenor, a son of former Senator Spooner, of Wisconsin, possesses a voice of rare quality and sweetness, and last night he completely won the audience. His singing of "I Hear You Calling Me," was a decided hit.—Greensboro, N. C., Record.
47Philip Spooner, the tenor, was just simply grand in song. His voice is wonderful, remarkably sweet, rich and melodious in tone; clear as a flute, astonishing flexibility and under perfect control.—Durham Daily Sun.
49Mr. Spooner immediately sang himself into favor. He possesses a voice of rare quality and sweetness, and it showed perfect training. His upper and middle registers were wonderfully pure and sweet. His singing of "I Hear You Calling Me" was one of the delights of the evening. Perhaps he was best enjoyed in the arioso from Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci."—Greensboro News.
51The recital was one of the most artistic from many standpoints that has been heard in Durham this season.
53Mr. Spooner has a rich tenor voice, . . . He sang a number of selections from the old English songs and these pleased the audience. Possibly one of his Italian selections received the greatest applause, but he was called back to the stage on encores after every number. Mr. Spooner has a natural tenor voice, and it shows the results of careful training. He knows how to handle it.
55Mr. Spooner will make a return date at the Conservatory of Music some time during the spring.—Durham Morning Herald.
57Mr. Spooner has been reengaged for return concerts in the spring and he is looking forward to another trip South with great pleasure. (Advertisement.)
59Second People's Symphony Concert December 14.
61Franz X. Arens, conductor of the People's Symphony Orchestra, has prepared a program consisting of Schumann's symphony No. 1, a new "Negro Rhapsody" by Henry F. Gilbert, Guilmant's "March Fantasia" for organ and orchestra (the organ played by Dr. Carl), and arias and songs by Verdi and Handel to be sung by Horatio Connell, bass, for next Sunday, December 14, in Carnegie Hall, New York, at 3:15 p. m. Dr. William C. Carl is one of the best known organists in America and there is always special interest in his work. Horatio Connell is one of the leading concert and oratorio singers of the country and sings with beauty of voice and clearness of enunciation.
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