Books › Musical Courier 1927-11-10: Vol 95 Iss 19, 1927 › scan 37
Scan 37
Musical Courier 1927-11-10: Vol 95 Iss 19, 1927
85 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 38. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1CHICAGO
3NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
4CHICAGO.—It is said that competition is a great stimulant. What with the invasion of the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestras this week there was plenty for the Chicago Symphony in one week.
6For the New York Philharmonic's concert at Orchestra Hall on November 1 there gathered a large and enthusiastic audience, made up of those prominent socially and musically. The concert was especially interesting in that it gave Chicago its first opportunity to hear an orchestra conducted by Willem Mengelberg and brought the New York Philharmonic back after a lapse of several years. Both orchestra and conductor were heartily welcomed and applause was loud and long at the close of each number. Such fine playing as the Philharmonic under Mengelberg achieved proved that here is a superb orchestra under a masterful conductor. Mengelberg wields a tremendous power over his orchestral instrument; and this, together with the strength of his forceful personality makes for an inspiring concert. The virtuosity of the various departments of the orchestra was revealed in the Vivaldi Concerto Grosso, Rieti Concerto for wind instruments and Liszt's Les Preludes, the first half of the program, during which the strings, the woodwinds and the brasses shone particularly. The first symphony of Brahms is broad, vital music and received a broad vital performance. A fine concert by a fine organization.
8GEORGIA KOBER IN JOINT RETICAL
9Georgia Kober, pianist, shared a program at the Playhouse, the same afternoon, October 30 with Irene Pavloska. These columns have often contained words of praise for this fine Chicago pianist, whose admirable pianistic gifts and accomplishments are known quantities in these surroundings and need not be dwelt on here. Spirited, imaginative, artistic, finished, were Miss Kober's renditions of the Ornstein Prelude Tragique, Two Scriabine preludes and two Debussy preludes—all of her program which could be heard. It was piano playing of a high order, and was recognized as such by an enthusiastic audience.
11FREDERICK GUNSTER'S ANNUAL RECITAL
12An artist in the best sense of the word is Frederick Gunster, tenor, whose recitals here are always anticipated with pleasure by the many he has delighted on former occasions. It is truly a joy to listen to a singer who understands thoroughly the difficult art of beautiful singing; whose art is many-sided; who believes more in getting the most out of a song and getting the message to his listeners than in merely displaying a beautiful voice to advantage; and above all, who sings English or any other language so that every word is distinguishable. Such an artist is Frederick Gunster, and his singing throughout a well chosen program at the Goodman Theatre, October 30, evoked the enthusiastic approval of a large audience.
14GALLI-CURCI'S RECITAL
15When Galli-Curci sings, she holds her listeners enthralled and lifts them to a high pitch of enthusiasm. As many of her admirers as could possibly squeeze into Orchestra Hall came on Sunday, October 30; they packed the stage as well, applauded vociferously all she sang, and went home enthused.
17RECKZEH PUPILS IN TWO-PIANO RECITAL
18A two-piano recital at Kimball Hall, October 30, with Alvena Knoblauch and Kathryn Anderson participating, was a means of displaying ripe talent. Both pianists have received the expert training of Karl Reckzeh, one of the busiest of Chicago's piano teachers, who has every reason to feel proud of these artist-pupils. They gave renditions that were both effective and artistic, with fine technic and finish.
20MUSICIANS' CLUB OF WOMEN
21The Musicians' Club of Women presented its five hundred and sixty-fourth concert at Fine Arts Recital Hall, October 31.
23MARIO CARBONI PRESENTS PUPIL
24Another artist-pupil emanating from the Mario Carboni vocal studios presented in debut recital was Gertrude Voreck, soprano, who greatly pleased a large audience at Lyon & Healy Hall on November 1. Possessed of a lovely soprano voice, which has been carefully trained, musical understanding and a charming personality, Miss Voreck should do herself as well as her popular mentor proud in the professional field. An audience which filled the hall to he last seat applauded her rendition of numbers by Huertier, Bishop, Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann, Debussy, Besly, Spross and the Caro Nome from Rigoletto.
26BOSTON SYMPHONY AND KOUSSEVITZKY SCORE HEAVILY
27When the 1927-28 musical season has gone into history and a summary is made of the high lights, the concert of the Boston Symphony Orchestra with Serge Koussevitzky conducting, at Orchestra Hall, November 3, will unquestionably stand out as one of its most outstanding and memorable events. Chicago music-lovers doubtless regarded the coming of this famous organization and its equally famous conductor as a rare event in their musical life, for Orchestra Hall was packed to the last seat, despite the fact that on this same evening the Chicago Civic Opera opened its new season at the Auditorium.
29Enthusiastic applause greeted Koussevitzky upon his entrance and it swelled into an ovation after every number played. Acclaimed by two continents as one of the great orchestral conductors of the day, Koussevitzky proved a masterful interpreter of both the classic and modern schools. He is a forceful director with a faculty of inspiring his men to give the best that is in them. Thus, the concert under review was a stirring performance which, quickened the pulse and thrilled the listeners. The orchestra played with precision, incisiveness and sonority throughout a program well designed to demonstrate the high standard to which this gifted Russian conductor has brought his orchestra. The reading of the Bach Concerto for Orchestra was distinguished by beautiful phrasing; and the flexibility and tonal purity of the woodwinds were exceptional. To Classic Symphony of Prokofieff, Koussevitzky, through his natural sympathy for the score, gave a truly vivid performance. The performance of the Ravel excerpts from Daphnis et Chloe was a revelation; at its close the audience burst into tumultuous applause which brought the conductor out innumerable times and the orchestra to its feet in acknowledgment.
31In the Tschaikowsky Fourth Symphony Koussevitzky proved a dynamic leader who has under complete control a body of high-class players. Such gorgeous coloring, stupendous climaxes, exquisite pianissimos as characterized the rendition of this work are possible only to a truly virtuose organization.
33CHICAGO MUSICAL COLLEGE NOTES
34Artist students of the piano, violin, and voice departments furnished the Chicago Musical College program at Central Theater on October 30.
36Arlene Durkee, mezzo soprano, artist pupil of Herbert Witherspoon, gave a very successful concert at Faith, S. D., on September 30. Miss Durkee was winner of the state contest in the Atwater Kent competition, and was sent to Chicago, where she will compete in the district contest to be broadcast from WGN on November 19.
38Linda Sool, violinist, artist pupil of Leon Sametini, with Margaret Sweeney, harpist, were featured in Lyon & Healy's Artist Recital the week of October 31. Miss Sool also assisted at a recital at Kewanee, Ill., November 7. Gertrude Towbin, artist pupil of David Guion of the piano faculty, was accompanist.
40Doris D. Dudgeon, soprano, pupil in the voice department, has accepted a position as soloist at the Woodlawn Presbyterian Church.
42Virginia Smitank, another voice pupil, was soloist for the Government Club at the Chicago Yacht Club.
44Eunice Steen, pupil of Herbert Witherspoon, appeared in joint recital with Ruth Miller, pupil of Edward Collins, at Crown Point, Ind., on November 7.
46Katheryn Slote, organ pupil of Charles H. Demorest, has accepted a position at the Jefferson Theater, Goshen, Ind.
48CHICAGO SYMPHONY'S FOURTH PROGRAM
49Add to the week's brilliant orchestral performances the Chicago Symphony's fourth program at Orchestra Hall, November 4 and 5. Not to be outdone by the famous visiting orchestras which invaded the home of classical music this week, Conductor Stock and the Chicago Symphony were on their mettle, and gave the program a really virtuoso performance. From the opening number, Wagner's Rienzi Overture, to the last; Ravel's choreographic poem, The Waltz, our orchestra covered itself with glory. Brahms' Fourth Symphony and Debussy's Iberia were included in the evening's program. In the Ravel poem, the orchestra surpassed any of its previous efforts, reaching a high level of excellence. The weekly habitues showed keen appreciation by vociferous applause.
51AMERICAN CONSERVATORY NOTES
52The first public performance by the American Conservatory Opera School will take place on November 14 at Kimball Hall. The program will include the first act of Traviata, the second act of Aida, with ballet and chorus, and the third act of Carmen, with chorus.
54Annette Meyers of Sherman, Tex., a pupil of the conservatory, won the second prize in composition, in a contest held under the auspices of the state musical association.
56J. Allen Ware, artist student of John T. Read, has been engaged as second bass for the quartet of the South Congregational Church, Chicago.
58Marie Zendt, soprano, will appear in a series of recitals in Kansas during the latter part of the month. Mme. Zendt has a Kansas City engagement on November 26.
60Louise Winter, soprano, gave a song recital at the La Grange Country Club, October 26. Hilda Brown, of the vocal faculty, again will direct the pageant to be given on the occasion of the annual banquet of the Indiana Society at the Palmer House, early in December. Fifty young women students of the Conservatory are being rehearsed by Miss Brown for the musical numbers.
62Gladys Parsons, pianist; Elizabeth Wilkin, contralto, and Ruth Haroldson, violinist, artist-pupils of the Conservatory, appeared in solo and ensemble numbers in the program given at Gads Hill Center, October 26. Henry Jackson and Mortimer Scheff, artist-students in the piano department, presented a joint program for the Chamber of Commerce Society of Geneva, (Ill.), October 21; each played a group of solo numbers and a concerto with great success, and they have been engaged for a joint recital at the beautiful Fargo Theater this month.
64Ethel Fentye, artist-pupil of Heniot Levy, has been awarded a fellowship in competition at the Juilliard Graduate School, New York City.
66The first two public recitals given under the auspices of the American Conservatory, October 8 and 15, were of a high order and were greatly appreciated by select audiences. Mae Doelling-Schmidt, pianist, played an exacting program on October 8. At the second recital, Scott A. Willits distinguished himself by his artistic performance of groups of violin selections. George Smith, possessor of a superb baritone, gave three groups of songs with exceptional verve and artistic understanding. JEANETTE COX.
68Mme. Ella SPRAVKA
69PIANIST—ENSEMBLE
70BUSH CONSERVATORY
71Personal Address: 940 Galt Ave. CHICAGO
73HENIOT LEVY
74Pianist
75Kimball Hall – – – Chicago
77MARION McAFFEE
78Soprano
79In Europe 1927-28 Season
81Maurice Goldblatt
82VIOLINIST-INSTRUCTOR
83COMPOSER-CONDUCTOR
84Chicago Musical College
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.