Scan 4
Musical Courier 1927-06-16: Vol 94 Iss 24, 1927
53 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 5. See the scan on archive.org.
1FOURTH NORDIC FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE IN STOCKHOLM
2Four Nations Present One Opera, Orchestral and Chamber Concert Each
3STOCKHOLM.—The fourth of the Nordic Music Festivals has just taken place in Stockholm, where they were inaugurated thirty years ago. Owing to political dissensions and the war the second festival was not given until 1919, twenty-two years after the first. It was given in Copenhagen, to be followed two years later, 1921, by the third in Helsingfors.
4This year it fell once more to Stockholm to do the honors and from May 1-8 we heard four operatic performances, four orchestral and four chamber music concerts, organized by the four Scandinavian countries. It was a gay, crowded week, what with the unwonted musical activity and the lavish entertainments given for the composers, artists and other foreign visitors.
5Each nation arranged its own programs and it was interesting to note the different principles on which they were constructed. The most enjoyable and least tiring were the Danish concerts. Louis Glass' Symphony Svastica and Carl Nielsen's fourth symphony, Das Unauslöschliche, both of which are well known, formed the climax of the orchestral concert which also included some vocal music by Adolf Riis-Magnussen and Emilius Bangert. It was conducted by the capable orchestral director of the Danish Royal Opera, Georg Höeberg. one of two readings
6Each nation arranged its own programs and it was interesting to note the different principles on which they were constructed. The most enjoyable and least tiring were the Danish concerts. Louis Glass' Symphony Svastica and Carl Nielsen's fourth symphony, Das Unauslöschliche, both of which are well known, formed the climax of the orchestral concert which also included some vocal music by Adolf Riis-Magnussen and Emilus Bangert. It was conducted by the capable orchestral director of the Danish Royal Opera, Georg Höeberg. one of two readings
7Birgit Engel, the popular Danish singer, gave charming interpretations of some delightful songs by the late Lange-Müller, and a novelty was introduced in the form of a new string quartet by Knudager Ritsager. The outstanding feature of this work is its lively, pulsing rhythm, which the Breuning-Bache Quartet made the most of, in a brilliant and beautifully finished performance.
9THOSE HEAVY FINNS
10The other nations took their responsibilities more heavily than the Danes. This was particularly true of the Finns, whose varied and over-long orchestral program consisted entirely of novelties. The most interesting of these was a symphony, in A major, by Leevi Nadetoja, the most important symphonic writer Finland has produced since Sibelius. It impresses with its seriousness and honesty, its finely woven counterpoint, and national color. Sibelius himself was represented by a cantata, The Song of the Earth, written for the opening of the Abo University. Several short mood pictures, by Selma Palmgren, originally written for piano, were given, as well as a new symphonic poem, Pan, by Aarre Neivikanto. This novelty, however, proved to be nothing but a thoroughly watered down version of Debussy's Afternoon of a Faun, with extremely unpleasant dissonances thrown in to make it "modern."
11Three other composers who figured on the program and whose works are not without interest were Vaino Raitio, Erik Furuhjelm and Robert Kajanos, the last named also acting as conductor. one of two readings
12Three other composers who figured on the program and whose works are not without interest were Vainio Raitio, Erik Furuhjelm and Robert Kajanos, the last named also acting as conductor. one of two readings
13As for the Finnish Chamber music concert special mention must be made of several songs by Yrjö Kilpinen, a composer of considerable weight, and who caught the spirit of the Swedish poems on which they were based to perfection. They were excellently sung by the Finnish baritone, Oiva Soimi. Other interesting songs were by Lauri Ikonen, a newcomer in the musical field, and Melartin, who is well known to an ever widening circle. A string quartet by Toivo Kuula recalled once more to our minN leshrdtaishrdtaishrdtaishrdtaishrdtaishrdlum through this composer's early death.
15NORWEGIANS HONOR GRIEG one of two readings
16NORwegians Honor Grieg one of two readings
17The Norwegians honored not only one of their musicians but their great dramatist as well by giving a performance of Ibsen's Peer Gynt with Grieg's incidental music. It is curious that with such a heritage Grieg, Sinding and Svendsen, present-day Norwegians should have so little new music of value. At any rate there is very little that we know. It is interesting, however, that the deepest impression of the entire orchestral music heard at this festival was made by Aif Hurum with his Fandango, a song with orchestra. Oriental in color, it has a spiritual expressiveness that is moving.
18Another Norwegian composer worthy of note is Johan Halvorsen, who conducted his own first symphony, a virile, well constructed work with effective orchestration. A piano concerto by Eyvind Alnas, symphonic works by Torolf Voss, Arvid Kleven, and Gerhard Schieldrup and songs by Sverre Jordan and Trygve Törjussen concluded the orchestral program. A new symphony by Sinding had been promised for the occasion, but was not finished. As soloists the Swedish opera singer, Gertrud Palsen-Wettergren, and the youthful Norwegian pianist, Ingebjörg Gresvik, scored notable successes.
20NORWEGIAN SONGS
21The best of the Norwegian chamber music heard here were songs in old Norwegian style, written by David Nourad-
22Johansen and Moaritz Allfrotad. They were sung by Cally Mourad, a singer we have long appreciated. A piano quintet by Halfdan Cleve and a violin sonata by Ludwig Irgens-Jensen unfortunately had more negative than positive qualities.
23At the Swedish concerts, which were given last as a be-
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27Rosing Announces Opera Season
28The American Opera Company announces, through its director, Vladimir Rosing, a season of at least ten weeks' opera in New York next season. This is the company, as will be remembered, which came down from the Eastman School this spring and gave some performances at the Guild Theater under the musical direction of Mr. Goossens.
30LISA ROMA,
31formerly guest prima donna of the Berlin Staatsoper, who has been engaged by the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company to sing several leading roles next season. Her bookings for 1927-28 also include two New York recitals and appearances in Chicago, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia, Cleveland and other cities.
33The performances made an excellent impression and Mr. Rosing remained here to formulate his plans for a more extended season for the coming year. The singers so far engaged are as follows: Ethel Codd, Cecile Sherman, Margaret Williamson, Helen Oelheim, Janet Mabon, Brownie Peebles, Charles Hedley, Clifford Newdall, Allan Burt, Mark Daniels, George Fleming Houston, Howard Laramy, and John Moncrieff. The conductors will be Eugene Goossens and Frank St. Leger. Mr. Rosing is the general director. The following operas will be among those to be given during the New York season: The Marriage of Figaro and The Abduction from the Seraglio, by Mozart; Martha, by Flotow; Faust, by Gounod; Carmen, by Bizet; Pagliacci, by Leoncavallo; Cavalleria Rusticana, by Mascagni; Madame Butterfly, by Puccini; and an American opera, The Sunset Trail, by Charles Wakefield Cadman. Several light operas are in the American Opera Company's repertory. Among them are Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance, by Gilbert and Sullivan, and Die Fledermaus and Southern Roses, by Johann Strauss. The last named opera is a new version of The Queen's Lace Handkerchief.
34The advisory council of the American Opera Company includes Charles Wakefield Cadman, John Alden Carpenter, George W. Chadwick, Walter Damrosch, Wallace Goodrich, Howard Hanson, Frederick Huber, John Powell, Harold Randolph, Francis Rogers, Kurt Schindler and Deems Taylor. Arthur Judson will be the manager of the American Opera Company.
36OFFICIAL GERMAN BEETHOVEN FESTIVAL IS HELD IN BONN
37Concerts Prove So Successful That They Have to Be Repeated
38BONN.—The Beethoven festival which was held in Bonn during the last week of May was of unusual interest. As the composer's birthplace the picturesque little Rhenish city had a particular significance this centenary year, and the festival, chosen as the official German celebration, was under the immediate patronage of President Hindenburg.
39Renowned exponents of music, art and literature were attracted from all over the world, while numerous political personages, such as Dr. Marx, the German chancellor, and Eduard Herriot, the French Minister of Education, were to be seen among the throng that gathered to do Beethoven honor.
40As opening ceremonies services were held in the Protestant Church and in the Cathedral, at which latter the C major Mass was sung. These were preceded by an impressive demonstration on the Cathedral Square, in which twelve hundred singers and a wind orchestra, under the direction of the municipal music director, Heinrich Sauer, took part. Then followed speeches of welcome in the Beethoven Hall, where the Gürzenich Orchestra was conducted by Hermann Abendroth, Cologne's musical director, in the Fidelio and third Leonore overtures.
41That evening the first concert proper was given; a performance of the Missa Solemnis, with Amalia Merz-Tunner, Maria Philippi, Karl Erb and Albert Fischer as the soloists, all four of whom were excellent. The municipal orchestra and chorus, heavily augmented, were under Max Anton's tense and energetic leadership, and the altogether admirable performance was greeted by the large audience with stormy applause.
42ELLY NEY SCORES IN "EMPEROR" CONCERTO
43On the second day Siegmund von Hausegger conducted the first and third symphonies. He is a genuine Beethoven conductor, free from all outward exhibitions of temperament. He recreates the works with an objectivity that is positively severe. The outstanding feature of the evening, however, was the playing of the E-flat major concerto by Elly Ney.
44The climax of the festival was undoubtedly the third and last orchestral concert, which comprised the violin concerto and the ninth symphony. The concerto was ideally interpreted by the two brothers, Adolf and Fritz Busch, and the latter also gave the symphony an unusually fine performance. The soloists were the same as before with the exception of the soprano, who this time was the popular Viennese, Gertrud Foerstel. The enthusiasm after the concert knew no bounds and the applause, in true Rhenish fashion, lasted many minutes.
45Thanks to carefully selected programs and first class soloists the two chamber music concerts compared favorably with the orchestral evenings. The popular Wendling Quartet from Stuttgart played two quartets, the E-minor (op. 59, No. 2) and the A-minor (op. 132) with its moving "Dankgesang." Between the two quartets the B-major trio (op. 11) for piano, clarinette and cello was likewise given a beautiful performance, in perfect style, by Elly Ney, Philipp Dreisbach, the famous German clarinettist, and the cellist of the quartet, Alfred Saal.
46FESTIVE SPIRITS
47The unusually strong and genuine spirit of festivity which distinguished this festival from the many similar celebrations which are taking place this year, also gave the last concert its special stamp. In accordance with an old tradition it took place on the morning of Ascension Day. It opened with the piano sonata, opus 111, which, played by Edwin Fischer in his usual, highly sensitive and sympathetic manner, made a very strong impression. Karl Erb also won a particularly fine success with his singing of the cycle, An die ferne Geliebte.
48The delightful septet (E-flat major, op. 20) closed the concert. It was given a beautiful performance by the violinist, cellist and viola player of the Wendling Quartet (Wendling, Saal and Natterer, respectively), together with Fischer-Zeit (double bass), Dreisbach (clarinette), Nauber (hornist) and Hühnerfurst (bassoon). The septet, as well as all the foregoing performances, were so successful that, in order to satisfy those who were turned away disappointed, all the programs had to be repeated.
49E. T.
51MacDowell Festival at Willow Grove Park
52The National Federation of Music Clubs, Mrs. Edgar Stillman Kelley, president, will sponsor a great MacDowell Festival at Willow Grove Park, Philadelphia, on Wednesday, June 29. The MacDowell Festival at Willow Grove will be the triumphant result of the Children's Crusade to preserve the log cabin studio and last resting place of Edward MacDowell and to maintain the MacDowell Colony at Peterborough. Delegates from every state will attend the festival at Willow Grove.
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