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Musical Courier 1926-07-08: Vol 93 Iss 2, 1926
73 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 7. See the scan on archive.org.
1WEBER'S BIRTHPLACE TURNS OUT IN HIS HONOR
3Hams, Cakes and Lottery Named After the Composer
5EUTIN.—It is pure accident that the stork dropped Carl Maria von Weber, over No. 48, Lübeckerstr., Eutin, on the eighteenth of December, 1786. He might just as well have fallen into any one of the other fifteen or twenty towns through which his vagrant, musician father constantly traveled.
7But Eutin is as proud of being his birthplace as if generations of his ancestors had deliberately chosen it for their abode. And indeed, they could have done worse—and probably did—for it is quite as much like a garden as a town. The little red-roofed brick houses are all covered with climbing roses and the narrow winding streets lead into the hills that give the country the name of Holsteinian Switzerland.
9Eutin even boasts a castle whose prince bishop at that time, Duke Friederich August of Lübeck and Eutin, made Weber's father a pensioner, giving him the title of Stadt Musiker. Later the duke's widow and Prince Karl of Hesse, Regent of Schleswig and Holstein, were god-parents to little Carl Maria, and during this present festival an exhibition, which included the manuscripts of Freischutz, Invitation to the Dance and the cantata, Kampf und Sieg, was held in the castle.
11The fact that a great musician was born in Eutin was not sufficient in itself to make the place a musical metropolis and it was impossible to give festival productions of his operas or, in fact, do anything on a grandiose scale. But the inhabitants had been waiting half a century to pay homage to this, their greatest son, and the entire town turned out to celebrate as best it could. A man of the people, who wrote for his "folk," he was honored by every one of them. Windows displayed his pictures, lovingly decorated with garlands of ivy; bakeries had Weber Torten in the show cases; butchers sold hams entitled Karl Maria von Weber; young girls in the streets sold Weber post-cards and "Freischutz Bullets" for a lottery in which one could win anything from one to a thousand marks.
13Nor was military display lacking, for Eutin is in the center of a strongly monarchical region. But on the whole the people smiled at the Schill-Husaren who rode at the head of the festival parade trying to give it a martial aspect, and at the guards in steel helmets who stood at the entrance to the festival hall (formerly the drill house) and looked as though they were honoring one of their colleagues.
15A memorial celebration on Weber's death day (June 5), when Prof. Hofmeier of Eutin made a moving speech, served as a prelude for the festival proper which began on June 10 with a chamber music concert. The program comprised the duo concertante in E flat for clarinet and piano, which was given a finished performance by Ernst Beetz and Andreas Hofmeier; several songs, sung by Else Olimart-Hofmeier in a small but cultivated voice, and the beautiful trio in G for piano, for flute and cello.
17A performance of Preciosa by the singers and orchestra from the Kiel opera, led by the versatile and busy Hofmeier, occupied the third day. It is a charming little work, as rich melodically as it is dramatically poor, and it had an enthusiastic reception. On what was really the chief day of the festival an impressive concert took place in the little town church where Weber was christened. The andante from the C minor symphony preceded an address by Pastor Harms, and the little known Missa sancta in G, op. 76, closed the proceedings. This delightful work with its joyously swelling themes seems like an innocent frolicsome child beside the impressive somberness of Beethoven's Missa solemnis.
19The festival weather was bad on the whole, rain pouring almost constantly, but on this day brilliant sunshine greeted the procession of citizens, visitors and male choruses that passed Weber's birthplace on its way to the Weber Grove outside the town and where wreaths were laid on the composer's monument. On the same evening the five-day festival ended with the cantata, Kampf und Sieg, an imposing work which, with an irresistible sweep and dramatic delineation of a heroic fight for victory, shows Weber's strong sympathy with the wars of liberation. Chorus, orchestra and soloists gave their best, and the whole celebration which had held so warm and personal reverence for Weber found a fitting close in this imposing work of the master, who though dead a hundred years is still so strong a force today.
21D. L.
23DRESDEN PAYS HOMAGE TO WEBER
25DRESDEN.—The opera crises so bitterly complained of in Munich and elsewhere have a flourishing counterpart in the capital of Saxony. The last serious conflict in the opera house took place just before the finishing touch was put on the revival of Weber's Freischutz. To enter into details is hopeless, but the result, the "departure" of stage manager Mora was sincerely regretted by all outsiders, at least, for his abilities are universally acknowledged by the public.
27Freischutz, in its new garb, took place before a delighted audience, the popularity of this opera never failing to arouse renewed enthusiasm. The music was carefully prepared by Busch, whose slow tempi, however, did not add to the merits of his conducting. His reading of the overture was particularly good. Fritz Vogelstrom, an ideal Max, and Eliza Stünzner, an equally fine Agatha, were well supported by the rest of the cast.
29The opera was preceded by an impressive Weber celebration which took place the evening before at the foot of Weber's statue in front of the opera house. The orator, Walter Kottenkamp, read the speech made by Richard Wagner at Weber's grave in 1844, the state orchestra played Wagner's Trauermusik and the Liedertafel under Pember's lead sang the Weber choruses, Hör Allmächtiger and Lützow's Jagd. Various speeches followed, and wreaths were placed on the monument. The celebration closed with the Hunting Chorus from Euryanthe. Among numerous other Weber celebrations which have taken place was a matinee in the opera house in which the State orchestra, under Fritz Busch's lead, played the overture to the Beher- scher der Geister, Maria Kuschnitz sang the Rezia aria from Oberon, and Frieda Kwast-Hodapp gave a splendid reading of Weber's seldom heard C major concerto op. 11. Otherwise, musical life outside the opera house is waning, summer having come at last to relax strained nerves and allow us to enjoy the delights of Dresden's surrounding country.
31A. I.
33Berlin State Opera Plans
35BERLIN.—Dr. Becker, minister of education, has stated that the present temporary triumvirate of Hoerth, Kleiber, and Winter, will not be made permanent at the State Opera. A new intendant will not be chosen, however, until the house on Unter den Linden has been remodelled. Becker is now on the search for an ideal intendant, a man with a famous reputation as artist, a representative personality, one who knows the technical side of the theater and is at the same time a financial genius. Just that—and nothing more.
37Before settling this little problem the chorus of the two State owned theaters must be enlarged. The 120 singers now engaged have proved to be insufficient when big operas are being given in both houses at the same time. At least fifty more will have to be engaged with the opening of the house Unter den Linden.
39Also the former custom of giving leading singers contracts with long vacation periods (sometimes running as high as six months) will be discontinued. From now on singers must give all their time to the Berlin institute. Outstanding engagements for the next season include Michael Bohnen, from June first to the end of December; Jacque Urlis, from the first of January to the end of the season; Trajan Grosavescu, the promising young lyric Hungarian tenor; Marie Gerhard, from the Vienna opera; Frl. Ljungberg, from the Stockholm Opera, and Tino Pattiera, formerly of the Chicago Civic Opera.
41C. H. T.
43A New French Pianist
45Paul Doguereau, young French pianist, who recently awoke the critics of Paris to the happy realization that a new and brilliant musical star had risen from their corner of the heavens, will be heard in America next season. He will begin his tour of this country early in the fall. Doguereau is eighteen years old, a native of Anger. France first heard of him some months ago, when he won the highest honors for piano playing at the Paris Conservatoire. Then followed many public appearances at Anger and Paris. Wherever he has played in the few brief months of his career, he has received the unqualified praise of press and public. They have found him a "living witness to the value of French teaching." His technic was pronounced magnificent and astonishing; his touch and tone exquisite, his power extraordinary. In musicianship and in interpretative insight he displays a maturity and decision that many artists of years lack. But the magnificent verve of youth, the passion with which he loves his art, is ever-present to captivate his listeners.
47Muriella Bellini Boxton Scores at San Carlo of Naples
49Muriella Bellini Boxton, young California soprano, sang the role of Leonora in Trovatore at the San Carlo of Naples, April 21, making an excellent impression. She has a real dramatic soprano voice of beautiful rich quality and wide range; her interpretation was perfection, her method of singing excellent. She is a pupil of the well known Milan maestro, Renato Bellini. Her success was sincere and she received an enthusiastic reception from the public and numerous curtain calls. She will be welcome again for the coming season.
51WEBER'S MONUMENT
52In the Weber Wood Just Outside of Eutin
54MU PHI EPSILON HOLDS NATIONAL CONVENTION
56ITHACA, N. Y.—The nineteenth national convention of Mu Phi Epsilon closed on June 25 to convene again in June, 1928, at Denver, Colo., as the guest of Mu Rho Chapter located in the Denver College of Music. The following members were elected to act on the National Council until June 1928: president, Mrs. August Brettschneider, Jr., of Cincinnati; vice-president, Rose Warnica, Chicago; secretary, Bertha M. King, Minneapolis; treasurer, Mary Whitson, Gainesville, Ga.; musical adviser, Marjorie Eastwood Dudley, Vermillion, S. D.; alumnae officer, Mrs. George Lamke, St. Louis; editor, Mrs. R. Carl Hicks, Detroit. Mrs. E. M. Fuqua, of Greeley, Colo., one of the founders, was in regular attendance at all business and social affairs. Adoption of life subscription to the official magazine, The Triangle, as a requirement from all initiates, received the affirmative vote of the convention legislative body. Report of the National Endowment Fund chairman showed a collection of approximately $20,000 since June, 1924. Petitions for charter grants in the University of Colorado at Boulder and The Atlanta Conservatory of Music, to be called Mu Omega and Phi Alpha chapters, respectively, received the sanction of convention voters.
58Acceptance of the report and presentation of definite plans by the national chairman of the New York Club-House committee, along with the gifts and pledges from various members, chapters and clubs, make it possible to provide a club house for members studying in New York City. It is expected that this will be opened in the early fall. Investigation is now being made as to the proper location and will be announced later.
60Upon recommendation of the judges, Edgar Stillman Kelly, Howard Hanson and Arne Oldberg, the prizes for this year's original composition contest were awarded to the following: first, Dorothy James (Mu Xi, Chicago); second, Phylis Fergus (Iota Alpha, Chicago); third, May Strong (Sigma, Evanston, Ill.); honorable mention, B. MacGowan Scott (Mu Xi); Delphine Desio (Omicron), Dorothy James (Mu Xi).
62This convention also sanctioned a new class of membership which will provide for the establishment of active chapters by petitioning alumnae members in cities in which no active chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon already exists—to be confined among other conditions to highly professional musicians. The first petition to receive affirmative vote will result in Tau Alpha chapter in New York City and Tau Beta chapter in Cleveland, Ohio.
64Significant of the interest and feeling of co-operation between the various Greek letter organizations in the musical and literary fields was the receipt and reading of greeting from Delta Delta Delta, Phi Beta, Sigma Alpha Iota, Delta Omicron sororities and Prof. W. S. Sterling of Phi Mu Alpha and others.
66The routine of business was pleasantly relieved by several social affairs.
68The formal concert was held June 23, in the auditorium of the Ithaca Conservatory and Affiliated Schools. This was followed by a reception given in honor of the convention by the local chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, musical sorority. A twilight musicale was held June 24 in the Glenwood Hotel. These were given entirely by the musical delegates who represented their chapters.
70Patterson Artists at Capitol Theater
72Claraeb Nordholm, soprano, and Eugene Frey, baritone, both artist-pupils of A. Russ Patterson, have joined the Capitol Theater family and will broadcast every Sunday night over WEAF as well as appearing at the theater.
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