Books › Musical Courier 1928-09-06: Vol 97 Iss 10, 1928 › scan 21
Scan 21
Musical Courier 1928-09-06: Vol 97 Iss 10, 1928
63 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 22. See the scan on archive.org.
1Ravinia Opera
2(Continued from page 7)
3garden scene from the Jewels of the Madonna were revived after several seasons absence.
5ECKSTEIN THE MAN OF THE HOUR
6To Louis Eckstein in particular must be addressed words of praise for the success of the season just concluded. Mr. Eckstein knows the theatrical business. He has made a study of it ever since he entered the operatic field some seventeen years ago. When he issued his initial prospectus last spring for the present season, there was much in it to stimulate the interest of all those who are devoted to the art of music, and the present season was not only the most brilliant that Ravinia has ever enjoyed, but one of the most brilliant ever given anywhere. Exercising his usual care in selecting artists, Mr. Eckstein brought to Ravinia a galaxy of world stars capable of interpreting the greatest operatic works in superlative manner. In fact, the Ravinia roster this year was more extensive than ever before and the stars whose names adorned it, were utilized in a repertoire of such broad scope that the tastes of all opera patrons were fully satisfied.
8WORKS PRESENTED
9A complete list of works produced, together with the number of times each was presented follows: La Traviata, 1; Don Pasquale, 1; The Jewels of the Madonna, 3; L'Heure Espagnol, 2; Lucia, 2; Rigoletto, 1; The Barber of Seville, 1; Manon Lescaut, 2; Carmen, 1; L'Elisir d'Amore, 2; Marouf, 4; Thais, 1; Fedora, 2; Tosca, 2; Le Chevalier, 2; Manon (Massenet) 3; Lohengrin, 3; Andrea Chenier, 3; The Masked Ball, 2; Madame Butterfly, 3; Aida, 4; Faust, 2; Samson and Delilah, 2; La Boheme, 3; The Love of the Three Kings, 2; Louise, 2; Cavalleria Rusticana, 3; Pagliacci, 4.
11It will be seen from this that Pagliacci, Aida, Martha and Marouf hold first place in the number of performances, each having been given four times. But one of the most remarkable things that comes to light in an analysis of the season is that it was possible to reduce the number of repeat performances to the minimum. With the exception of the operas mentioned above as having been given four times each during the season, there were only nine operas which were given three times, while fourteen were given twice each. Six works were brought to performance only once.
13CHANGE OF CAST A SUCCESS
14It is well to stress the fact that cast changes have been extremely popular at Ravinia. It is well known that when he selects his artists and schedules his repetitions, Mr. Eckstein gives much attention to cast changes. Many of the opera roles are so written as to permit of varied interpretation; therefore, an opera may often be given an entirely different complexion according to the conception different artists may have of the way its roles should be interpreted.
16As an example of the cast changes effected at Ravinia this season, it may be pointed out that Pagliacci had two tenors—Martinelli and Johnson, while both Mme. Rethberg and Miss Mario appeared as Nedda. Radames in Aida was interpreted by both Martinelli and Johnson. Both Rethberg and Easton were heard in the name part of Madame Butterfly while Johnson and Chamlee appeared as Pinkerton. Schipa and Chamlee sang the role of Des Grieux in Massenet's Manon, while Andrea Chenier had Rethberg and Easton as Maddeleine and Martinelli and Johnson in the name part. In Cavalleria Rusticana, Easton and Rethberg appeared as Santuzza, while both Chamlee and Tokatyan were heard as Turiddu. Rodolfo in La Boheme was sung by Chamlee and Tokatyan, while Chamlee and Schipa alternated as Lionel in Martha. The interpretations of both Rethberg and Gall were heard in the name part of Tosca and both Gall and Mario appeared as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. There were likewise several changes in the baritone roles, Danise alternating with Basiola, while the important role of Archibaldo in the Love of Three Kings was sung by both Rothier and Lazzari.
18NEW SCENERY
19Marouf has served to add a new chapter to Ravinia history and it is small wonder that Mr. Eckstein found it necessary to give four performances of this work during the second half of the season. Special scenery was built for this opera; likewise for L'Heure Espagnol and La Chemineau, which for its revival was given entirely new mountings, as was Don Pasquale.
21THE SINGERS
22To single out the singers that appeared in the thirty-three operas given throughout the season would be an injustice to any one omitted. All the singers are therefore congratulated in tutto for the splendid work accomplished during the 1928 season. They all contributed in making the performances pleasurable. Words of praise are also written at this time in behalf of the chorus, which is not the largest in the world, but one of the best bodies of singers ever presented on the lyric stage.
24The orchestra, which is made up of members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was in the pit this year and likewise appeared at all the concerts, thus occupying the same place it has occupied for seventeen summers.
26RAVINIA AN INSTITUTION
27Ravinia is no longer Louis Eckstein's personal pet. It is a civic institution, one of which Highland Park and Chicago with all its North Shore suburbs may be proud. Ravinia is looked upon today as one of the greatest operatic companies ever assembled under one roof, not only in summer, but any time. It is an institution unique in many respects, and though Louis Eckstein was principally responsible for its establishment and for its support, his various aids are also congratulated for having put into action his every desire. Ravinia closed its doors on Labor Day and already Louis Eckstein is making plans for the 1929 season.
29Oscar Seagle Appreciated
30The faithful attendants of the Sunday night concerts at the Brown Swan Club, Schroon Lake, had a delightful surprise recently when it was announced that Oscar Seagle would be the artist of the evening. These concerts are usually given by members of the Seagle Colony, pupils of Oscar Seagle.
32The recital opened with a group of German songs and numbers by Brahms, Schumann and Strauss, and was received with tremendous enthusiasm. Then followed a French group and the program was closed with an English one.
34Mr. Seagle, in excellent voice, a versatile artist, sang with a perfection of technic, style, tone color and diction such as one seldom hears these days. He was recalled again and again by the large audience which crowded the doors and windows and occupied every foot of standing room.
36This year the Seagle Colony boasts of the largest enrollment since its inception.
38Katharine Goodson's Activities
39Katharine Goodson will be heard twice during the coming season of orchestral concerts at the Queen's Hall under Sir Henry Wood. On August 21 she played the Tchaikowsky concerto in B flat minor and on September 12 she will play the D minor concerto of Brahms. On September 29 she will join Adila Fachiri, Lionel Tertis and May Mukle in a chamber music concert at Wigmore Hall, the program comprising the great B flat trio of Schubert, the quintet of César Franck and the clarinet trio of Mozart.
41Miss Goodson will commence her tour in Germany and Austria on November 15. In Vienna she will appear at the Arbeiter orchestral concerts as previously announced, playing the Schubert-Liszt Wanderer fantasia, and in Budapest she will make her first appearance in chamber music, playing the Brahms quintet at one of the concerts of the Hungarian String Quartet.
43Success of Rae Robertson and Ethel Bartlett
44THE HAGUE.—That Bach can be made popular, in the fullest sense of the word, even in Holland, was seen in the enormous success of Rae Robertson and Ethel Bartlett when they played the Concerto No. 2 in C minor for two pianos at a Sunday evening concert at Scheveningen.
46The duettists, as well as Schnéevoigt and his orchestra, got exactly the right spirit, the placid joy of the work, and the listeners reacted with real enthusiasm.
48Under the hands of such artists the most classical works appeal to critic and audience alike.
50H. A.
52Ellen Kinsman Mann in Oregon
53Ellen Kinsman Mann, well known Chicago teacher of singing, left recently for a vacation in Portland, Ore., to be absent a month, returning to her Fine Arts Building studio on September 17. She has had an exceptionally busy summer with a very large class and has made many reservations for the fall season.
55Louise Bowman, artist pupil of Mrs. Mann and head of the music department of Westminster College, Salt Lake City, has been coaching with Mrs. Mann this summer. On August 12 she sang a substitute service at the Christian Science Church in Wilmette.
57OSCAR SEAGLE
58in his studio at the Seagle Colony, Schroon Lake, N. Y.
60Doris Morand, popular soprano of Mrs. Mann's class, is singing a month's services at the River Forest Presbyterian Church.
62Ethel Halterman, also a Mann pupil, is busy teaching a large class.
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