THE MICHIGAN DAILY
FiXr E
Martinelli, Cabinet-Maker's Son,
Led By Fate To Metropolitan
PAC-~ *i~m~
Agnes Dvis,
Note S oprano,
Is Ex- Teache r
Popular Singer Won Fame'
And $5,000 In Contest;
Sings Role In Carmen
From teacher in Denver public
schools to star in Philadelphia grand
operas has been the swift rise to
fame of Agnes Davis, young Amer-
ican soprano, who will appear here
in the May Festival.
The daughter of an army colonel,
she first began developing her voice
while teaching physical culture in
public school. In 1927 she achieved
national prominence by winning a
$5,000 first prize in an Atwater Kent
Radio contest.
Wins Scholarship
Miss Davis then won a scholarship
at the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia
where she studied under Emilio de
Gogorza. She studied for five years.
De Gogorza took several of his pupils
to Paris where they went to the
opera and the Comedie Francaise
regularly to acquire the classic
French diction. Towards the end
of this period Miss Davis began to
supplement her studies by singing.
small parts with the Philadelphia
Grand Opera company.
The soprano's first important con-
cert engagement was with Leopold
Stokowski, singing the Immolation
scene from Wagner's "Goetterdam-
merung." Miss Davis has since ap-
peared frequepltly with Stokowski apd
his orchestra.
Soloist With Ormandy
Miss Davis' sphere of activity wid-
ened when Eugene Ormandy, con-
ductor of the Minneapolis Symphony
Orchestra, heard a recording of the
Immolation scene and was so im-
pressed that he arranged to have her
as his soloist with the Philharmonic
in New York and with the Phila-
delphia Orchestra at the Robin Hood
Dell. That was in the summer of
1934. The following year Ormandy
had her sing in a Wagner program
and in Handel's "Messiah."
This, year Miss Davis' singing is in
great demand. She is dividing her
time between personal recitals and
appearance with the Metropolitan
tenor Charles Hackett in "Love
Scenes from Famous Operas."
Miss Davis will sing the part of
Mercedes in "Carmen" in the sixth
concert of the May Festival, Satur-
day, May 14.. In the second concert
Thursday she will present a solo,
"The Golden Bells."
Linton Martin, of the. Philadelphia
Inquirer, has said of Miss Davis that
she "sings with great beauty," and
John K. Sherman, of the Minneapolis
Star, has said that "Agnes Davis'
} singing was a thrilling discovery for
all who heard her."
Miss Davis has made recordings
under 6opold Stokowski of his con-
cert version of Wagner's "Goetter-
daemmerung."
She has also appeared with the
Philadelphia Orchestra under Con-
ductors Fritz Reiner and Alexander
Smallens in a number of operas.
Was Not Yet 30 Years Old
When He Made Debut
In The United States
Giovanni Martinelli's vigorous and
capable tenor has been synonymous
with S.R.O. signs at New York's Met-
ropolitan Opera House for the past
25 years. Continental and American
audiences have paid tribute to that
voice as to few others since the era of
Scotti and Caruso. Add to these his
recognized histrionic abilities and a
vital personality, and you have the
familiar Martinelli of today.
Rose Rapidly To Fame
But behind these facts are his pre-
opera days and the events of his life
before the progressive years with the
Metropolitan. The story of his rapid
rise to nearly first-night fame is full
of much that is inspiring and is of
further interest in that it seems to be
dominated by two factors, outside
voice and personality, that have taken
Martinelli to the top-fate and his
fellows.
The senior Martinelli, cabinet mak-
r of Montagna in Padua and father
>f 14, always looked foreward to the
Jay when his choir-singing, clarinet-
)laying eldest should settle down to
;he family craft to which he had
rained him. This was in the early
[900's ard Martinelli was 20. But
ust when his plans seemed about to
Succeed his son became eligible for
.taly's three-year compulsory mii-
ary duty and the guild lost A good
,raftsman. It was subsequently to
rove a permanent loss to the trade,
although Pappa Martinelli died hard
n the matter.
Gets Milan Audition
At the end of his period of service
viartinelliawas preparedrto return
Tme to saw and hammer when hl
vas called before the Captain Gau-
lino who had first drawn his atten-
.ion to his vocal talents. Martinelli
earned that an audition before a
vealthy family of Milan might be ar-
anged and, if his voice satisfied them,
here was the prospect of training
n Milan under Professor Mandolini.
Sie accepted and the audition was a
success. The only remaining obstacle
vas Pappa Martinelli, whose letters
Nere reminders that chairs needed
rungs and cabinets doors, and the
sooner his son came home, the soon-
sr they would get them.
When the good signor heard of his
son's plans, all of Montagna knew
how he felt about it. But Giovanni
had grown serious about his voice
and a. career andthe former at last
gave his consent. Martinelli began
his two years of training.
Joined Met In 1913
This was in 1908. By the end of
1913 he was working under contract
at the Metropolitan. Within those
five years he had made his debut in
Rossini's "Stabat Mater" and his
operatic debut in "Ernani." He had
gained the backing of Ricordi, the
music publishing house, and in Italy
heaven helps the singer who is helped
by the publishers. Toscanini and
Puccini had heard him in 1911 and
the latter assigned to him the lead
in the world premier of his "The Girl
of the Golden West" in Rome. In 1912
London acclaimed him at Covent
Garden, and the next year Gatti-
Casazza tendered a contract for New
York.
Ann Arbor Artists Participate
Ann Arbor To Greet
Pianist At Festival
(Continued from Page 9)
four parts. The first portion entitled
'The Silver Bells" and sung in Allegro
ma non tanto, will introduce the
Choral Union with Arthur Hackett as
tenor soloist.
Following this, the second move-
ment, Lento, will introduce "The Gol-
den Bells," when the Chorus will
again be heard with Agnes Davis, so-
prano, as soloist. "The Brazen Bells"
will then follow in Presto movement
sung by the Chorus; and finally, "The
Mournful Bells" in Leonto lugubre.
This last movement will bring to the;
fore the Choral Union with Chase
Baromeo as soloist.
Tschaikowsky's monumental con-
certo will be played after the inter-
mission. Rubinstein's offerings will
be provided under the baton of Eu-
gene Ormandy, who will also con-
duct the Moussorgsky number; while
Earl V. Moore will conduct "The
Bells."
Former Student To Sing
At '38 Salzburg Festival
A former participant in May Festi-
vals, Marjorie McClung, '31SM, will
represent the University at the Music
Festival next summer at Salzburg,
Austria.
The festival's program this year,
consisting of operas, concerts and a
complete program will last from July
23 to August 31. Miss McClung, :l
soprano, took part in musical activi-
ties on campus.
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PROGRAM
ALL- RUSSIAN
EARL V. MOORE JUVA HIGBEE
Juva Higbee, director of music in Ann Arbor high schools, will present
her Young People's Festival Chorus of 400 voices in the world premiere
of Dorothy James' "Paul Bunyan." Earl V. Moore has won distinction
as a choral conductor of first rank, and a program builder of rare
understanding. His leadership during the past decade and a half
has not only maintained the high standards of preceding years, but
also progressively expanded the presentaion of the chorus in keeping
with the best contemporary traditions.
v
featuring
FOUR SOLOISTS
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Magnetic
The fascination and
magnetic charm of the
voice of Nino Martini have
won for him within a few
short years international
fame and popularity. -Mu-
sic lovers who demand the
utmost of an artist - that
F of enabling them to rise to
the sublime heights of in-
spiration through being
truly moved -find in Mar-
tini their ideal.
Nino Martini
Friday Evening, May 13
1938 MAY JEESTLVAL
AGNES DAVIS - soprano, chosen to represent this country at
the Coronation Jubilee, has continued with her musical tri-
umphs, both here and abroad. ARTHUR HACKETT - tenor.
had the distinction of appearing in the premiere of "The Bells"
with the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra under Leopold
Stokowski and was specially chosen to present it at the May
Festival. CHASE BAROlVIEO - bass, alumnus of Michigan,
has proved himself a singer of aristocratic taste, widely ac-
claimed for his interpretations and versatility of style. ARTUR
RUBINSTEIN - prince of pianists, has distingushed himself
on all continents, and is acknowledged to be one of the chosen
few. He will be the soloist in the second half of the program.
UNIVERSITY CHORAL UION-
THE UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION has existed continuously
since 1879. It has presented practically all of the larger ora-
torios and operas adaptable. Earl V. Moore, director of the
Choral Union has won distinction as choral conductor of first
rank and -a program builder of rare understanding.
PHILADELPHIA SYMPHONY'
i- - --- - , NWANOMPOWANOWS
Its successes at previous engagements have been so pronounced
that its re-engagement has become an outstanding feature.
Eugene Ormandy, "a dynamo of music," as conductor, has more
than surpassed the expectations of a highly critical public.
THURSDAY EVENING, MAY12,
8:30
m
Ip __ ____ II
Eu II
All -Wag ner
WITH THE
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra,
Program
I r777 _ __
A voice like yours is
heard only once in a
hundred years."
-Arturo Toscanini.
die e -d'ar. bh 'ze &tlw"!
MARIAN
ANDEhRS"'ON
Arn4caivfleY t Uat
Wednesday Evening, May 11, 8:30
ALLELUIA. ................................ Mozart
i
AND FEATURING
MARJORIE LAWRENCE, Soprano
Eugene Ormandy, Conductor
PHILADELPHIA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
MARJORIE LAWRENCE, Metropolitan Opera Soprano, will be
heard in an All-Wagner Program Saturday afternoon, singing
selections from "Walkua'e" and "Gotterd'ammerung," while the
Philadelphia Symphony will play exerpts from "Rheingold" and
"Siegfried."
Miss Lawrence, distinguished Wagneriap soprano, was hailed
at once as "one of the latest finds," after her debut at the Met
three years ago where she sang Brunnhilde in "Die Walkure."
Outstanding among the symphony orchestras of this country
and even of the world has been the Philadelphia Symphony Orches-
tra. Every artist is a master yet the whole stands out as a closely
wielded unit truly magnificent!
I.1
Eugene Ormandy, Conductor
"Like a tongue of flame his
Marjorie Lawrence
"She has , temperament and
brains. She has a beautiful
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