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. #.