S'UNDAY, MAY -3. 1929
THE MICHICAN
DAILY
_.
PAGE
NOTED,
ARTISTS
FEATU.RE
MA.Y FOES'TIV AL
unr T tl .tT:n _ Ai iTkififiii r __" - I IIl
. '
University Musical
Society
Will Present Brilliant Program Of Talent In The Thirty-Sixth Annual May Festival;"
Scheduled To Take Place En Hill Auditorium For Four Days Beginning May
Many Soloists And Musical Organizations To Appear
22;
Josef Hofmann Jeannette Vreeland
Sophie Braslan Frederick Stock
By Pierce Rosenberg
Offering an array of talented artists from
many parts of the country, including 12 brilliant
soloists, four conductors of prominence, the Uni-
versity Choral Union, -the Chicago Symphony
orchestra, and the Children's Festival chorus, the
36th annual May Festival will take place May
22, 23, 24, and 25 in Hill auditorium.
The Ann Arbor May Festival has for many
years boasted a reputation as one of the out-
standing convocations of musical talent, eminent
celebrities, well known critics, and music lovers
from all over. Charles A. Sink is president of
the University Musical Society and arranges the
financial affairs of the yearly event. The various
numbers and presentations of the Festival will
be worked out under the direction of Prof. Earl
V. Moore of the Schoolof Music with the assis-
tance of Frederick Stock, orchestra conductor,
and leader of the Chicago Symphony orchestra,
Eric Delamarter, associate orchestra conductor,
and Juva Higbee, Children's conductor.
Moore Is Well Known
Professor Moore, the general musical director,
is known throughout the country as one of the
outstanding young composers, conductors and mu-
sical authorities of various kinds and has served as
an officer ofseveral musical societies. As con-
ductor of the University Choral Union, he has
led that group in the performance of many
works with recognized distinction. Through his
endeavors, many prominent compositions have
received their premiere public renditions here.
To him falls the responsibility of welding togeth-
er the various units of talent into a well rounded
four day May Festival which must continue the
big reputation of its predecessors.
The Chicago Symphony orchestra will par-
ticipate in all six concerts, while the University
Choral Union, under the direction of Professor
Moore will offer several important choral works,
enumerated below. A special chorus of more
than 500 children, under Juva Higbee's leader-
ship, will contribute numbers at one of the
programs.
Stock Called "Dean Of Conductors"
Frederick Stock, who has often been termed
"dean of conductors" is the leader of the Chicago
Symphony orchestra. He came to Chicago in
the '90's as a member of the Chicago Symphony
orchestra, then under the direction of Theodore
Thomas. He had been educated abroad and had
been led in musical directions under the tutelage
of some of the most able men of the day. From
an ordinary player in the ranks, he rose quickly
to the assistant directorship and after the death
of the distinguished founder of the group in
1904, he became conductor. For twenty-five
years, his orchestra has been famed for its
excellent work in concerts throughout the coun-
try and as participants in the Ann Arbor May
Festival and other festivals of the same nature.
The orchestra itself is without question
paramount among American musical bodies.
It has exercised an immeasureably great in-
fluence in the cultural and artistic spirit of the
city of Chicago. The, associate conductor, Eric
Delamarter, has won distinction as a conductor,
composer, 'and performer. His services are val-
uable to the organization and have won for him
wide recognition among the musical leaders of
today.,
Choral Union Fifty Years Old
Fifty years of remarkable achievements con-
stitute the history of t he University Choral
Union. That group has performed for many au-
diences nearly all of the world's largest and most
important choral works. In this case, too, the
group have many works of later fame and re-
Center picture shows a
typical setting at one of
the recent May Festivals.
In the fore-ground can be
seen Frederick Stock and
the Chicago
Symphony
Orchestra. The back part
of the stage is occupied by
the members of the Choral
Union. In the center of
the stage is the ,group of
artists on that program,
In the two pictures
at the left are seen
reading from left to right
Prof. Earl V. Moore of
the School of Music and
Charles A. Sink, president
of the School of Music.
Professor Moore is musi-
cal director of the Festi-
val and Mr. Sink has
charge of the numerous fi-
nancial arrangements nec-
essary for the undertaking.
ness of youth. Splendid results have ben obtained
in past year's and the offerings by the Children's
chorus are without exception well received by
enthusiastic audiences.
Among the great musical stars who will par-
ticipate will be Lawrence Tibbett. the b ritone
sensation of the Metropolitan Op ra Company,
Richard Crooks, one of America's outstanding
tenors; Sophie Braslau, Marion Telva, both con-
traltos of the Metropolitan Opera Company;
Edith Mason, leading, soprano of the Chicago
Civic Opera; Jeanette Vreeland, distinguished
American oratorio singer; Paul Althouse, Metro-
politan Opera tenor; Richard Bonnelli and Barre
Hill, baritones of the Chicgo Civic Opera Com-
pany; William Gustafson, basso of the Metro-
politan Opera Company; and two outstanding
instrumentalists, Efrem Zimbalist, Hungarian
master violinist, and Josef Hofmann, world
renowned pianist.
Tibbet Is Popular Baritone
Though the numbers in the programs by the
above artists will be treated later, it is interest-
ing to note at this time the personalities of
those who will combine in the 1929 May Festival.
Lawrence Tibbett had his greatest triumph when
he made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera
house. He took the vast audience by storm and
since then the baritone has had little difficulty
in maintaining the great reputation which he
established at that time.
Richard Crooks, the tenor, is a much sought
after artist. He has a record of many reengage-
ments and seldom fails to win over his hearers
with his splendid voice and outstanding dramatic
ability. One of the artists who returns to Ann
Arbor after several previous engagements here
is Sophie Braslau. Her contralto voice which
has been 'called a "velvety contralto was said by
a noted critic of a New York newspaper to be
'one of the few really great vocal instruments
of our time. She is indeed, a unique figure in
contemporary musical life.
Marion Telva Has Remarkable Record
Marion Telva, another contralto, earned the
renowned conductor of the Chicago Civic Opera
company. She was lifted into fame through the
illness of a prima donna, an occasion which gave
her the chance to demonstrate. her fitness for
the role which she was destined to fill on the
operatic stage. Since that date she has been
looked upon as one of the world's most brilliant
singers, an artist of unusual personality, stage
presence, and general attractiveness.
Oratorio Singer On Program.
Jeanette Vreeland is another American artist
of wide distinction. As an oratorio singer she
stands in the forefront of concert artists. More-
over, Miss Vreeland will be given several num-
bers particularly appropriate to her special
talent, as her part in the Festival.
"His beautiful voice and sympathetic, skill-
ful manner, place him among the truly elect" is
but one of many enthusiastic comments on the
work of Paul Althouse, tenor of the Metropoli-
tan Opera Company. Althouse has triumphed not
only in this country but in many of the leading
music capitols of the world. Deep, resonant
tones characterize the artistry of Richard Bon-
elli, the leading baritone of the Chicago Civic
Opera Company. Bonelli was inspired as a
youth by the voice of Titta Ruffo, the celebrated
Italian baritone of the Metropolitan Opera Com-
pany. Bonelli has been acclaimed from time to
time for his rather thoughtful differentiation
between the styles of different songs. Another
. baritone, Barre Hill, is regularly associated with
the same organization as Bonelli. Hill first com-
manded attention in Ann Arbor as a leading
singer in one of the Michigan Union operas. His
ability was recognized by critics and he was
given an opportunity in grand opera. Since that
time, he has steadily increased his body of
admirers and is gradually attaining distinction
through very acceptable performances.
Gustafson Is Powerful Bass
William Gustafson, basso, of the Metropolitan
Opera Company augments the list of noted sing-
ers scheduled to appear here in the program.
His first appearance here will reveal the voice
for the attainment of an earnest desire to play
well as a violinist. It has been an insatiable
desire to master music in its broadest forms,
orchestration, composition, theory, and all that,
has made Zimbalist the artist that he is. There
is hardly a city in the world in which Zimbalist
has not played, nor is there a symphony orches-
tra of importance with which he has not ap-
peared frequently as soloist. He is one of the
great artists of the present age, and his appear-
ance is always a source of joy to music lovers.
For years, Josef Hofmann has been the most
popular pianist in New York. He was first
brought out as a child prodigy and took the
musical world by storm. He re-appeared at the
age of nineteen as a mature artist and since that
time has been at the pinnacle of pianistic fame
throughout the civilized world. Of him it has been
said by a critic, "Let us thank God for Josef
Hofmann and may he play to us early next
season and often."
First Concert Has Two Soloists
The First May Festival Program, Wednesday,
May 22, at 8:15 p. m., will present as soloists,
Sophie Braslau, Contralto; Richard Crooks, Ten-
or; and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under
Frederick Stock, Conductor. For this occasion
Miss Braslau has selected four songs by the Rus-
sian composer, Moussorgsky, as follows: "Au Bord
du Don," "Pain," "These Classicists," "Ond
Dneikr"; and, for her second appearance, "The
Gyphy Songs," by Brahms. Crooks will sing two
arias from the Mozart opera "The Elopement
from the Seraglio" for his first appearance, and
later in the program he will present "The Flow-
er Song," from "Carmen," and the aria "Mi tar
D'udir Ancora," from Bizet's opera, "Pearl Fish
ers." The orchestral portion of this program will
include the overture from the D Major Suite,
by Bach; Debussy's Suite for Orchestra, "Iberia,"
which is having its first hearing in Ann Arbor
on this occasion; the Symphonic Poem, "Don
Juan," by Strauss; and, in. conclusion, the Con-
cert Waltz in F, by Glazounow.
Choral Works Are Scheduled
Musical Director of the Festival, will conduct
these performances. "The German Requiem,"
by Brahms, is being presented as the firsthalf
of the program, and the popular favorite, "The
New Life," by Wolf-Ferrari, forms the second
half of the program. These works contrast well
with one another and engage the services of
soprano and baritone soloists, chorus, orchestra,
and organ. On this occasion, Mr. Palmer Chris-
tian, University organist, will be at the console
of the Frieze Memorial Organ, which was dedi-
cated at the Festival last year.
Children's Chprus Will Sing
The Friday afternoon Concert, the third iri
the series, is always attractive through the offer-
ing of the Children's Festival Chorus. This
year that group will present a new cantata- by
Miss Jeanne Boyd, a Chicago composer, entitled
"The Hunting of the Snark," and a group of
songs with the orchestra. Miss Juva Higbee,
Supervisor of Music in the Ann Arbor Public
Schools, will conduct the numbers. The soloist
for this concert includes the popular young bari-
tone, Barre Hill, who will present two arias from
Verdi's operas: "Eri tu," from "The Masked Ball,"
and "Ford's Song," from Falstaff. Mr. Hill also
sings the solo in the children's cantata. Efrem
Zimbalist, the eminent Hungarian violinist, con-
cludes the afternoon's program with a perfor-
mance of the Concerto in D, for Violin and
Orchestra, a work which has not been heard in
Ann Arbor for many years.
Edith Mason Is Attraction
Edith Mason, the prima donna soprano of
the Chicago Civic Opera Company, is the stellar
attraction for the Fourth Festival Concert on the
evening of May 24. For her three appearances,
Miss Mason has selected two arias from two
Mozart operas, an aria from Charpentier's
opera "Louise," and two selections from "Ma-
dame Butterfly" by Puccini. The orchestra por-
tion of the program, again under the direction
of Frederick Stock, brings forward the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra in the overture, "Sakun-
tala," by Goldmark; and a rendition of two new
works: the rhapsody, "America," by Bloch, which
has achieved signal distinction through being
the highest composition in the orchestral field
in the competition fostered by "Musical Ame-
ca," and several symphonic dances from a new
opera by the German-American composer, Wets-
ler. The program will be concluded by the
Slavonic Dances by Dvorak.
Josef Hofmann, who needs no introduction
to American concert audiences, has been en-
gaged as the soloist of the Fifth Concert in
the Festival Series, Saturday afternoon, May 25.
He will be heard in the brilliant Concerto in D
Minor, by Rubinstein. The Mozart Symphony in
E flat, and several other shorter orchestral pieces
will comprise the balance of 'the program.
Will Play "Samson and Delilah"
For the final Concert of the Festival, the
opera "Samson and Delilah," by Saint-Saens, will
be given in concert form, with the following solo-
ists in the cast: Miss Marion Telva will sing the
role of Delilah; Mr. Paul Althouse, that of Sam-
son; Mr. Richard Bonelli will interpret the music
allotted to the High Priest; while William Gus-
tafson will appear as Abimelech and the Aged
Hebrew. The Choral Union; under the direction
of Professor Moore, will take the part of the
Hebrew men and women, and the orchestral
accompaniment will be played by the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
The entire program for the Festival contains
selections from both new and familiar works.
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