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Musical Courier 1928-12-20: Vol 97 Iss 25, 1928
80 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Bruno Walter Heads Berlin's Tributes to Franz Schubert
3Dusolina Giannini in Impressive Schubert Concert—American Pianist Wins Honors in Six-Day Festival—Sensational New Baritone—A New Verdi Success—Faculty of New Conservatory Announced
5BERLIN.—By far the most impressive Schubert celebration held in Berlin was Bruno Walter's memorial concert which took place on the centenary day, Nov. 19. There are few musicians who can equal Walter's sympathetic understanding of Schubert's genius and, I think it is safe to say, none who can surpass his recent performance of the Unfinished and the C major symphonies. This concert, this act of homage to the modest Viennese musician who, a hundred years after his death, is holding the musical world enthralled, will remain as a memorable event to the crowd of listeners that was present. It was, in the strictest sense of the words, an extraordinary, solemn and profoundly touching occasion.
7The honor of acting as soloist at this concert was conferred upon Dusolina Giannini, prime favorite of the Berlin public. Her group of Schubert songs was accompanied partly by the orchestra (Die Allmacht) and partly by Bruno Walter at the piano (Gretchen am Spinnrad, An die Musik, etc.). This part of the concert, too, became almost devotional in character, thanks to the artistic purity of the singer and the magnificent quality of her voice. Two other fine tributes to Schubert's memory were the Singakademie's splendid performance of the beautiful mass in E-flat major (under Georg Schumann) and the performance of the hardly less beautiful mass in A-flat major, by the Physicians' Chorus which, for years, has been ably conducted by Dr. Kurt Singer. Dr. Singer has recently left the medical profession to devote himself altogether to his new duties as second director of the Municipal Opera.
9HIGH SCHOOL HAS SCHUBERT WEEK
11An extraordinary undertaking was the Schubert week given by the High School for Music. In a series of six consecutive evenings, which started on Nov. 19, these music students performed the opera, Der Häusliche Krieg (first time in Berlin), the seventh symphony (C major), numerous songs, the so-called German Mass and the E flat mass, a string quintet and numerous piano pieces. This Schubert week gave renewed proof of the thorough, artistically sound and altogether remarkable manner in which the directors, Franz Schreker and Georg Schunemann, conduct the school confided to their care. One of the outstanding successes was won by a young pianist, Leonard Shure, from Chicago, who distinguished himself in the C minor sonata. He is one of the most gifted and advanced pupils of Artur Schnabel and has already drawn the attention of the public a number of times.
13Of the many other Schubert celebrations only one need be mentioned here, namely the concert of the Deman Quartet, which consists of the most prominent players of the State Orchestra, with the concert master, Prof. Deman, as leader. They gave a most impressive performance of Schubert's D minor quartet and of the octet, in which they had the assistance of the best wind instrument soloists of the orchestra.
15HINDEMITH'S LATEST
17Paul Hindemith's latest concerto for viola d'amore, played by himself, was the chief point of interest at Michael Taube's last chamber music concert. It proved to be one of the composer's less successful works and cannot be compared with his extraordinarily fine viola concerto of last year. It shows little inspiration; the slow movement is rather tedious and the other two abound in that "motoric" music which Hindemith, Prokofieff and a few others have made fashionable. The work is plentifully supplied with jazz effects and those grotesque sounds which have been used so repeatedly of late that they are already threadbare and ineffective.
19The rest of the concert was most enjoyable. Taube has made a specialty of the chamber orchestra, and within a comparatively short time has succeeded in making his concerts an important factor in the musical life of Berlin. His programs are always interesting for he avoids the beaten paths and turns his attention primarily to the masters of the 18th century and to the efforts of the young, contemporary composers. His last program contained, besides the Hindemith work, a Handel concerto grosso, given in the proper style with a harpsichord (well played by Gertrud Wertheim) and Mozart's Coronation Mass, also given in the smaller proportions appropriate to it, with very happy effect.
21Two newcomers among the conductors are Wilhelm Sieben and Paul Kletzki. Sieben, who is the new general musical director of the Dortmund Opera, made his first appearance in Berlin at one of the concerts for the Bechstein scholarship fund. In Berlioz's Fantastic Symphony and works by Bach and Beethoven he revealed musically qualities of a high order, as well as considerable authority and technical skill in his handling of the orchestra. Georg Bertram, as soloist, played Beethoven's E-flat piano concerto in that intellectually, musically and technically mature style which distinguishes his work.
23AN UNCOMFORTABLE CONCERTO
25Paul Kletzki, on the other hand, has been known to us chiefly as a composer and as such has acquired a considerable reputation. His recent concert of his own works, with the Philharmonic Orchestra, proved him, however, to have even greater gifts as a conductor. Indeed, his violin concerto, heard for the first time on this occasion, was a greater triumph for that excellent violinist, Georg Kulenkampff, than for Kletzki. It is perhaps the most difficult and uncomfortable violin concerto in existence, bristling, as it does, with unusual technical demands. From a purely musical point of view, it sounds harsh and boisterous; it exaggerates the symphonic complications and has little that is agreeable to the ear. Its positive qualities are great earnestness of purpose, a passionate temperament and a few really beautiful episodes in the slow intermezzo.
27HEINRICH GRUNFELD CELEBRATES one of two readings
28HEINRICH GRÜNFIELD CELEBRATES one of two readings
30Heinrich Grünfeld, the veteran cellist, is undoubtedly the most popular personality in Berlin society, thanks to his inexhaustible wit, his predilection for Skat and abilities as a musician. So it was small wonder that when he recently celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his Berlin subscription concerts, society turned out in full force. In 1879, Grünfeld started his first season together with Xaver Scharwenka and Gustav Hollander; for five decades these concerts continued without interruption until now, November, 1928, when Sigrid Onegin, Karl Flesch, Leonid Kreutzer one of two readings
31Heinrich Grünfield, the veteran cellist, is undoubtedly the most popular personality in Berlin society, thanks to his inexhaustible wit, his predilection for Skat and abilities as a musician. So it was small wonder that when he recently celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his Berlin subscription concerts, society turned out in full force. In 1879, Grünfield started his first season together with Xaver Scharwenka and Gustav Hollander; for five decades these concerts continued without interruption until now, November, 1928, when Sigrid Onegin, Karl Flesch, Leonid Kreutzer one of two readings
33(Continued on page 9)
35San Francisco Saengerfest for 1930
37The largest Saengerfest ever given in the West will be held in San Francisco in the summer of 1930, sponsored by the Greater Pacific Saengerbund, the organization of German choral societies of the states of California, Oregon and Washington.
39It will assemble a chorus of 1,000 trained voices in three concerts featuring standard works of choral literature. A large symphonic orchestra and well known soloists will participate. Frederick G. Schiller has been appointed musical director in general. Highlights of the festival will be the first performance on the Pacific Coast of Liszt's great choral work, Prometheus, and a huge presentation of the Finale of the first act of Wagner's Lohengrin. The orchestral part of the program will introduce works of the newer school of German composers.
41German Opera Singers to Arrive Soon
43The German Grand Opera Company, which will give Wagner's Ring des Nibelungen at the Manhattan Opera House beginning January 14, announces that all the members of that organization will leave Hamburg on the S.S. Deutschland on December 28, arriving here on January 7.
45Owing to numerous requests, the hour of the performances has been changed to one-thirty for the matinee cycle, except Rheingold which starts at two, and will be given without any intermission. The evening cycle will start on the time announced previously. There will be no cuts in any of the operas and Ernest Knoch, well known conductor, will alternate with Dr. Walter Rabl, who will arrive soon from Germany.
47Sir Thomas Beecham Cancels American Tour
49Because of illness Sir Thomas Beecham has been forced to cancel his American tour this year. The Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York and the Philadelphia Orchestra Association are not yet prepared to state who will replace Sir Thomas. The Detroit Symphony Orchestra has engaged E. F. Arbos to conduct the concerts announced for the British conductor.
51Cleveland Orchestra to Have Permanent Hall
53Generous Donations of Land and Cash Will Enable Organization to Have Beautiful Building in the Heart of City
55CLEVELAND, OHIO.—One million dollars, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Severance, will build a permanent hall for the Cleveland Orchestra. This great and good news was announced by Dudley S. Blossom, vice-president of the Musical Arts Association, at the tenth birthday jubilee concert at the New Music Hall on Tuesday night, December 11. Exactly ten years ago that night the Cleveland Orchestra, then, as now, under the direction of Nikolai Sokoloff, played virtually the same program at its maiden concert.
57The new symphony hall will be built on land given for that purpose by Western Reserve University, at Euclid Avenue and East Boulevard. Across from it will be the Wade Park lagoon, and, beyond, the University buildings. The hall will be part of the Art Museum group of buildings, a sort of present day Acropolis, which will one day be one of the wonder spots of America.
59Mr. Severance, whose generous gifts in every direction have made him: beloved by all classes of people, announced through his spokesman, Mr. Blossom, that the only condition of his gift was that the public of Cleveland should subscribe a $2,500,000 endowment fund in a popular campaign. With an endowment of this size, the annual deficit could be met without resorting to individual gifts, and the Cleveland Orchestra would be perpetuated.
61The announcement, made during the intermission at the concert, was greeted by wild applause and impulsive cheering by the large audience. It was a beautiful climax to the day-long celebration of the orchestra's birthday, which had begun with a luncheon given in the ballroom of Hotel Cleveland at noon by the Women's Committee of the orchestra, with Deems Taylor as guest of honor and chief speaker.
63Mr. Taylor praised the work of the Cleveland Orchestra and commended the practice of keeping one conductor as long as possible.
65"I deplore the custom of passing conductors around from orchestra to orchestra," he said. "An orchestra should be as sacred as—a toothbrush! This rushing from one man to another is like companionate marriage. About the time you find out one man's faults, he's ready to leave, and you have to learn some one else's faults."
67Mr. Taylor stressed the fact that native composers were given every opportunity for a hearing in this country, and added, "In most cases where their works haven't been played, it's because they aren't worth playing."
69Seated at the speaker's table were: Mr. Severance; Mr. Sokoloff, Mr. Blossom; Mrs. Chester C. Bolton, honorary vice-president of the Women's Committee; Alice Bradley, past president of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs; Mrs. Alfred A. Brewster (chairman of the meeting, who introduced Mr. Taylor); Mrs. Richard Cobb, president of the Women's Committee; Mrs. Frank H. Ginn, honorary vice-president of the Women's Committee; Donna M. Goodbread, president of the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs; Mrs. C. H. Hickox, honorary vice-president of the Women's Committee; William G. Mather, vice-president of the Musical Arts Association; Lawrence Hitchcock, a trustee of the Musical Arts Association; Adella Prentiss Hughes, manager of the orchestra; Lamson Jennings, another trustee; James O. Mills, trustee; Frances Fleury Prentiss, honorary vice-president of the Women's Committee; Mrs. Franklyn B. Sanders, director of the Cleveland Institute of Music; Dr. Frank Shaw, director of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music; Andrew Squire, trustee; Mrs. William Thaw, Jr., president of the Pittsburgh Orchestra Association.
71Telegrams of congratulation were received from Jessie and Edgar Stillman Kelley and from May Beagle, in behalf of the Pittsburgh Orchestra Association. Mrs. Prentiss presented Mr. Sokoloff with a gold wrist watch as a token of appreciation from the Women's Committee, and Mrs. Hughes was given a diamond and platinum wrist watch from the same organization, presented to her by Mrs. Bolton. A birthday cake with candles was cut by Mr. Severance while the 400 guests applauded.
73Deems Taylor was entertained at dinner at the Union Club the same evening by Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Seymour, after which the twenty guests attended the birthday concert, at which Mr. Sokoloff played Victor Herbert's American Fantasy, Liadoff's Enchanted Lake, a suite from Carmen and Richard Strauss' formidable Heldenleben. During the intermission there were, in addition to Mr. Blossom's surprise announcement, addresses by City Manager William R. Hopkins and the Rev. Joel B. Hayden. The concert was followed by a supper dance in the ballroom of Hotel Statler, given to orchestra men and their ladies by Mr. Severance.
75E. C.
77Photo by Mishkin
78CARMELA PONSELLE,
79who, Haensel & Jones announce, will be under their exclusive management beginning June 1, 1928.
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