Books › Musical Courier 1928-06-21: Vol 96 Iss 25, 1928 › scan 12
Scan 12
Musical Courier 1928-06-21: Vol 96 Iss 25, 1928
53 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1June 21, 1928
2MUSICAL COURIER
4"The American Nightingale" Returns From Intensive Concert and Opera Tour Abroad
6Josephine Lucchese Lauded by European Critics for Her Art, Histrionic Ability and Beauty—One Tour Necessitated Giving Twenty-six Concerts in Thirty-five Days and Another Appearing in Thirty-six Performances of Opera in Different Cities in Seventy-two Days—Now Booked for Cincinnati and Zoo Opera Season
8"THE American Nightingale"—the appellation by which Josephine Lucchese is known on both sides of the Atlantic—passed through New York a week or so ago on her way to Cincinnati after spending more than a year abroad fulfilling an amazing series of concert and opera engagements. "In January of last year," said Miss Lucchese, "I began a long concert tour in Los Angeles, which was concluded on the Atlantic Coast with an engagement in Philadelphia on February 28. That very evening I left for New York in order to sail for Germany the next day. Upon my arrival in Europe, opera and concert appearances followed in the important cities of Germany, Denmark, Czecho-Slovakia and Italy. After fulfilling these engagements, which took place in April, May and June, I made a concert tour of Holland in August and part of September, which necessitated the giving of twenty-six concerts in thirty-five days. Then, in October, I went to Italy for appearances, after which I returned to Holland for November, December and January, and had thirty-six appearances in opera in different cities in seventy-two days. Lucia, Rigoletto, Don Pasquale, Traviata, Barber of Seville and Mignon were the operas in which I appeared. During February, March, April and part of May I was busy with an opera tour in Southern Europe, and in the latter part of May I toured Switzerland. The early part of June Mr. Caruso and I sailed for America and, needless to state, both of us are now glad to be back after this long period of travel from country to country. We shall stay in New York for a few days and then go to Cincinnati for the four weeks' opera season there. I shall sing in Rigoletto, Lucia, Mignon, Martha and other operas." one of two readings
9"The American Nightingale"—the appellation by which Josephine Lucchese is known on both sides of the Atlantic—passed through New York a week or so ago on her way to Cincinnati after spending more than a year abroad fulfilling an amazing series of concert and opera engagements. "In January of last year," said Miss Lucchese, "I began a long concert tour in Los Angeles, which was concluded on the Atlantic Coast with an engagement in Philadelphia on February 28. That very evening I left for New York in order to sail for Germany the next day. Upon my arrival in Europe, opera and concert appearances followed in the important cities of Germany, Denmark, Czecho-Slovakia and Italy. After fulfilling these engagements, which took place in April, May and June, I made a concert tour of Holland in August and part of September, which necessitated the giving of twenty-six concerts in thirty-five days. Then, in October, I went to Italy for appearances, after which I returned to Holland for November, December and January, and had thirty-six appearances in opera in different cities in seventy-two days. Lucia, Rigoletto, Don Pasquale, Traviata, Barber of Seville and Mignon were the operas in which I appeared. During February, March, April and part of May I was busy with an opera tour in Southern Europe, and in the latter part of May I toured Switzerland. The early part of June Mr. Caruso and I sailed for America and, needless to state, both of us are now glad to be back after this long period of travel from country to country. We shall stay in New York for a few days and then go to Cincinnati for the four weeks' opera season there. I shall sing in Rigoletto, Lucia, Mignon, Martha and other operas." one of two readings
11It will be remembered that three years ago Miss Lucchese sang with the Cincinnati Zoo Opera Company, and not only aroused the enthusiasm of her audiences but the lions in the menagerie also frequently roared their approval.
13After completing her Cincinnati engagement, Miss Lucchese will go to San Antonio, Texas, her birthplace, for a vacation of a month or two. It is interesting to note in this connection that the soprano not only received her entire musical education in this country but that she also was a successful concert and opera artist before going abroad for the first time. She pays fine tribute to Virginia Colombati for the splendid development of her voice and to Mme. Pilar-Morin for the valuable criticism received from her regarding the acting of her roles. "It is unfortunate," said Miss Lucchese, "that so many American artists pay for their European appearances. This seems inadvisable to me, as I believe in the good old saying that 'the laborer is worthy of his hire.'"
15And in Miss Lucchese's particular case that the Europeans found her so is evident from the fact that in the six or seven countries in which she appeared the critics devoted columns and columns of space in extolling her art, her histrionic ability and her beauty. The following salient statements, taken at random from a large batch of press notices, are representative of those she received everywhere she appeared in opera: "Her Violetta will live long in our minds and hearts." "She was an extraordinarily beautiful Rosina, for personal beauty and magnetism and for vocal and dramatic interpretation." "Lucchese proved herself a star of the first magnitude in Rigoletto." "Her well-nigh masterly technic gloriously overcame all the great difficulties with which the role of Lucia abounds."
17It is not only as an artist that Miss Lucchese has won fame, but her beauty also has aroused great admiration. Many painters have desired to perpetuate her likeness on canvas, and among those who have done so are Prof. A. Molinel, Prof. Angelo Ternavasio and Dorothea Fischer. Despite all the praise and honors which have been bestowed upon this artist, it is gratifying to observe that she still retains a charm and modesty which are highly commendable.
19When Miss Lucchese was asked regarding her plans for next season, she stated that they are not yet definite, but that she has had many offers, including tours in Europe, South America and Central America. Wherever she does appear, however, her fine art will win for her many new laurels to add to her already notable successes. G. N.
21Stadium Concerts Announcement
23Mrs. Charles S. Guggenheim, chairman of the Stadium Concerts Committee, states that plans for the eleventh season of the Stadium Concerts in New York are more ambitious than they have ever been. To satisfy the public demand for novelties there will be five dance programs, including performances by Ruth St. Denis and her dancers and Anna Duncan with her group of pupils, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with soloists, an act from Faust in concert form with singers and the Hall-Johnson Negro Choir.
25Willem Van Hoogstraten, who for the past seven years has been conducting the Stadium Concerts, will conduct the Philharmonic Symphonic Society for the first three weeks of the season after which Albert Coates and Bernardino Molinari will visit as guest conductors, the former for one week, the latter for two.
27Mr. Coates, the English conductor, is well known through his association with the orchestra of the London Symphony Society, the New York Symphony, of which he was guest conductor in 1920, 1921 and 1922, and the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, which he organized at the invitation of George Eastman.
29Mr. Molinari, leader of the Augusto Orchestra in Rome, made his American debut this past winter with the New York Philharmonic and St. Louis Orchestra.
31Mr. Van Hoogstraten will return to the conductor's stand for the final two weeks of the season.
33In the preparation of the programs there will be no attempt to conform with the supposedly popular taste of the summer audience, for it has been found that the preferences of summer listeners are no less exacting than those of the winter concertgoers. The works of the masters, as well as the compositions of deserving contemporaries, will receive a hearing. There will be at least one symphony or work of symphonic proportions on every evening's program.
35Lillian F. Van Tine Pupils Concert
37About forty piano pupils of Lillian F. Van Tine were presented in an interesting and well arranged program at the Garden City School Auditorium on May 26. The program was given in two sections, the junior pupils starting and the senior students following after a brief intermission.
39All played with good tone and expression, showing careful preparation and much poise for such young performers as there were in the junior division. One little girl was about 3 1/2 years of age and had been trained in a special kindergarten course taught by Miss Van Tine. There were some fifteen two-piano numbers, which are a special feature of Miss Tine's method of teaching. These ensemble numbers were very interesting and much enjoyed by the audience, which was large and most enthusiastic. The stage was decorated with quantities of floral tributes.
41The senior pupils, who appeared in duos and solos by Mozart, Grieg, Chaminate, Arensky, Schütt and others, were: Claudine Tillotson, Jessie Pinnell, John Pons, Frances Marshall, Virginia Latham, Sarah Boardman, Bobbie Luberg and Mrs. Frederick Muller.
43OBITUARY
45MRS. JOSEPH ZOELLNER, SR.
47Mrs. Joseph Zoellner, Sr., passed away, after an illness of several months. She was the wife of Joseph Zoellner, of the internationally known Zoellner Quartet, and was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1867. The family lived in New York for some years, after returning from Europe, where the quartet has concertized for over eight years.
49In all the work this artist family has done and now does, the personality of the mother and wife has been an aid in the accomplishment of their work in the field of musical art. In her passing the family has sustained a great loss. The Zoellner Quartet was unique, inasmuch as it was composed of father, two sons and daughter. The members being Joseph Zoellner, Amandus Zoellner, Joseph Zoellner, Jr., and Antoinette Zoellner.
51Photo by Vanity Fair
52JOSEPHINE LUCCHESE
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.