Books › Musical Courier 1928-03-01: Vol 96 Iss 9, 1928 › scan 15
Scan 15
Musical Courier 1928-03-01: Vol 96 Iss 9, 1928
163 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 16. See the scan on archive.org.
1"MARTA WITTKOWSKA
2As Carmen Wins Plaudits of 8000—Sings Part Superbly"
3(Headline, St. Louis Globe-Democrat.)
5"…met in physical appearance the popular notion of a blackhaired flirtatious daughter of old Seville and in voice was as gorgeous as any that has ever essayed the role in these parts."
7"RARELY HAVE I HEARD A CONTRALTO VOICE OF GREATER BEAUTY."
8—London Standard.
10"MARTA WITTKOWSKA
11One of the Best Singers in the Title Role for Years"
12(Headline, Philadelphia Enquirer, 1927)
14"…A vivid and subtle interpretation." "…Witkkowska's Carmen stands well up among the best. She has a magnificent contralto voice and the music was never better sung."
16Now Booking Season 1928-29
17Hurok Attractions, Inc., 55 W. 42nd St., N. Y.
19Personal Representative:
20A. H. Mallery, 5 Beekman St., N. Y.
22MUSICAL COURIER
23March 1, 1928
25Rethberg Chosen by Strauss for World Premiere of New Opera
27Negotiation for the world premiere of Richard Strauss' new opera, The Egyptian Helen, which have progressed under the most difficult circumstances since last summer, are finally settled. The premiere will take place at Dresden on June 6, 1928 and Elisabeth Rethberg will be the prima donna.
29Strauss, being director of the Vienna Opera, and his home being in that city which has done so much for him, the composer felt constrained to allow the world premiere of his latest opera there. Strongly expressed desire on the part of Strauss, however, that Mme. Rethberg sing the title role in The Egyptian Helen gave the world premiere to Dresden.
31Strauss had asked Mme. Rethberg to create the prima donna role in his preceding opera, Intermezzo, but at that time she was obliged to refuse the honor, a contract requiring her at the Metropolitan.
33This definite decision on Dresden as the scene of the world premiere of The Egyptian Helen, however, was made by Strauss on condition that Mme. Rethberg sing the title role. One copy of the manuscript of the work was sent by its composer to the Dresden Opera, the other being forwarded to the singer in this country, with strict instructions that its contents be seen by none but the singer herself. The management of the Dresden Opera set its schedule of the world premiere forward from June 23 to June 6, in order to comply with Mme. Rethberg's American contracts.
35Sailing for Europe in May, on closing her concert engagements here, the singer will be obliged to return at once, following The Egyptian Helen performances, to sing during the Ravinia Park Opera season. Directly it ends, she appears with the San Francisco Opera Company in that city and Los Angeles, only reaching New York in time to begin her season of twelve weeks at the Metropolitan Opera House.
37The Egyptian Helen is the ninth work of Richard Strauss. As most of the famous composers did not bring out more than nine symphonies or operas, the forthcoming work is looked forward to with special interest. The music is said to be wonderfully melodious, demanding pure bel canto singing, and the libretto providing vivid action and colorful scenes.
39On her arrival in Dresden in May, Mme. Rethberg begins rehearsals at the opera house where she began her career and was the leading star. A series of performances will follow the world premiere of The Egyptian Helen, arrangements having been made for a Festival Week, during which musical celebrities from all sections will be in attendance at the most important musical event of the year.
41New York Concerts
43Thursday, March 1
44AFTERNOON
45New York Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
46EVENING
47Philharmonic Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
48Frances Sebel, song, Town Hall.
50Friday, March 2
51AFTERNOON
52Philharmonic Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
53EVENING
54Compinsky Trio, Carnegie Chamber Music Hall.
55New York Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
57Saturday, March 3
58MORNING
59Seymour School of Musical Education, Hampden Theater.
60Philharmonic Orchestra Children's Concert, Carnegie Hall.
61AFTERNOON
62Maria Tubau, song, Town Hall.
63EVENING
64Philip Morrell, violin, Town Hall.
65Leff Sibiriaikoff, song, Carnegie Hall.
66David Mannes' Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
68Sunday, March 4
69AFTERNOON
70New York Symphony Orchestra, Mecca Auditorium.
71Philharmonic Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
72Society of Friends of Music, Town Hall.
73EVENING
74Ingeborg Torrup, dance, Bijou Theater.
75Rita Benneche, song, Gallo Theater.
76Anna Robenne, dance, 48th Street Theater.
77Workmen's Circle Chorus Concert, Carnegie Hall.
78Ella Ney, piano, John Golden Theater.
79Phyllida Ashley and Aileen Fealy, two-piano recital, Guild Theater.
80Eva Gauthier, Civic Repertory Theater.
82Monday, March 5
83EVENING
84Ada Sari, song, Carnegie Hall.
86Tuesday, March 6
87EVENING
88Philadelphia Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
89Taylor Gordon and J. Rosamund Johnson, The Barbizon.
90Myra Hess, piano, Town Hall.
92Wednesday, March 7
93AFTERNOON
94Fedor Chaliapin, song, Carnegie Hall.
95EVENING
96Bach Cantata Club, St. Thomas Episcopal Church.
98Margaret Hamilton, piano, Town Hall.
100Thursday, March 8
101MORNING
102Eddy Brown String Quartet, Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
103AFTERNOON
104New York Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
105EVENING
106Boston Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
107Charlotte Lund, miscellaneous operatic program, Hotel Astor.
108Curtis Quartet, Town Hall.
110Friday, March 9
111EVENING
112Beethoven Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
113Concert of Modern Music, New School for Social Research.
115Saturday, March 10
116AFTERNOON
117Boston Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall.
118Fanny Hughes, piano, Town Hall.
119EVENING
120David Mannes' Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
121Intercollegiate Musical Corporation, Carnegie Hall.
123Sunday, March 11
124AFTERNOON
125Mary Lewis, song, Carnegie Hall.
126New York Symphony Orchestra, Mecca Auditorium.
127Philharmonic Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera House.
128Vertchamp String Quartet, John Golden Theater.
129Felix Salmond and Dr. S. Rumshisky, sonata recital, Town Hall.
130EVENING
131Elizabeth Gutman, song, Edyth Totten Theater.
132Walter Gieseking, piano, Carnegie Hall.
133Oscar Seagle, song, Guild Theater.
134Alba Nardone, violin, John Golden Theater.
136Tuesday, March 13
137EVENING
138Marianne Kossuth String Quartet, Town Hall.
139Gitta Gradova and Ruth Breton, The Barbizon.
140New York Symphony Orchestra, with Prins Joost van Albrecht, Metropolitan Opera House.
141Dimitri Tiomkin, piano, Carnegie Hall.
142Vladimir Horowitz, piano, Hotel Biltmore.
144Wednesday, March 14
145EVENING
146Schola Cantorum, Carnegie Hall.
147Lois zu Putlitz, violin, Town Hall.
149Photo by Fernand de Gueldre
150ELISABETH RETHBERG
151who will sing the world premiere of Strauss' The Egyptian Helen
153Photo by Talbot
154VERA CURTIS
155Dramatic Soprano
156OPERA — ORATORIO — RECITAL
157Exclusive Management, Central States,
158Kendall Concert Management,
159Monadnock Block, Chicago, Ill.
161OPERATIC LECTURE RECITALS
162Address: CHAS. I. REID, Fisk Bldg., New York
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