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. I 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 I 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 I I