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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, MARCH 9, 1941
New Faces
May 1941...
Music Festival To Be Held May
10
'-N
Suzanne Sten
Is A Refugee
Of Nazi Rule
Young Singer Came Here
From Germany; Made
N.Y. Debut In March
Program for the 1941 May Festival
FIRST MAY FESTIVAL CONCERT
Wednesday Evening, May 7
Soloist:
LAWRENCE TIBBETT, Baritone
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy, Conductor
PROGRAM
Concerto for Orchestra ......... Handel-Ormandy
Recitative and Aria, "Bring Me Cross and
Cup" from "St. Matthew's Passion" B ach
"Arm, Arm, Ye Brave" from "Judas
Maccabaeus" Handel
Lawrence Tibbett
I
PROGRAM
Suite from "The Water Music" ... Handel -Orandy
Allegro-Andante-Allegro
irr
Ben irree
'American
Break'
SUZANNE STEN
German-born mezzo-soprano .. .
called European version of, Scarlett
O'Hara . . . reigning favorite of
Prague opera ... has remarkable
repertoire of 43 roles in 36 operas,
including works of all periods from
the early classics to. the ultra-mod-
ern ... will sing with Youth Chor-
us and in concertized "Eugene One-
gin" .
MACK HARRELL,
. . . Texas baritone . . . high-
school violinist , . . winner of Met-
ropolitan Opera air auditions .. .
acclaimed by European and Ameri-
can press as "accomplished lieder
singer" . . at home easily in. all
fields: opera, oratorio, recital ...
Gave Start At 16
Suzanne Sten, sensational young
mezzo-soprano, comes to May Festi-
val audiences this year as an ideologi-
cal and political refugee of the Nazi
regime.
Born in Germany of Viennese and
Hungarian ancestry, Miss Sten left
that country for America in 1938
when she found herself completely
out of sympathy with the Hitlerian
ideals.
Receiving the most unanimously
enthusiastic reviews given any singer
last year at her New York debut,
Miss Sten was described as having
"genuine dramatic temperament and
a splendid voice, unsurpassed in rich-
ness among present day mezzo-so-
pranos."
Her 'American Break'
Following her New York debut at
Town Hall last March, Miss Sten
has sung with the San Francisco and
Chicago Opera companies.
It was what Suzanne Sten calls "an
American break" which brought her
from obscurity to a place of promin-
ence in music circles on the Contin-
ent and in America. When she was
only 16 years old a distinguished mu-
sic critic heard her sing, encourage1
her to study for three years, at th
end of which time she was ready
for professional engagements.
The opportunity came at Munic i
thusiastically successful audition wit
the Saarbruecken Opera, she mad,
her debut in "Il Trovatore."
Young But Experienced
Young, but experienced, Miss Sten
has played 43 roles in 36 operas and
can sing in French, Italian, German
and English. She is most famous for
her roles as Carmen, Delilah and
Silla, and has been widely acclaimed
in recital, concert and oratorio.
Here in the United States Miss Sten
has been soloist with the New York
Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra,
the Boston Symphony, the Denver
Symphony Society and the famed
Ravinia Festival in Chicago. She
has sung five major broadcasts in
the last six months over CBS and
NBC networks.
Mezzo - soprano Suzanne Sten
comes to the University of Michigan's
May Festival for the first time with
a record of brilliant European
achievement in opera, recital and
concert and the acclaim of America's
music critics.
Harrell Starting
On American Soil
Mack Harrell, Metropolitan bari-
tone who will come here for the May
Festival, is just beginning his career
on American soil.
Since 1935, when he filled his first
important public engagement as a
soloist in a performance of "Snegour-
otochka" with the New York Philhar-;
monic Symphony Orchestra at a
Children's Concert, he has spent most
of his time abroad.
In 1937 he went to Europe for a
tour of Amsterdam, The Hague, Vi-
enna, Munich, Milan and Budapest.
When he returned to the United
States, he appeared twice as soloist
with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
under Serge Koussevitzky, and with
the - Philadelphia Orchestra under
Rachmaninoff.
Last year he participated in the
"Metropolitan Opera Auditions of the
Air" and won first place among the
(Continued on Page 3)
Eugene Ormandy
Has Fine Record
Eugene Ormandy, who will conduct
the Philadelphia Orchestra at the
Festival, returns to Ann Arbor audi-
ences with an enviable record .of ac-
complishments.
A child prodigy of the violin, he
was accepted as a student at the Roy-
al Academy of Music at the age of
Symphony No. 7 in A major.
Poco sostenuto; Vivace
Allegretto
Presto; Assai ma non presto; Pr
Allegro con brio
Cassio's Dream, from "Otello"
Credo, from "Otello"........
Mr. Tibbett
Four Excerpts from "Die Meistersinger".
Prelude to Act III
Dance of the Apprentices
Awake! The Day Draws Near
Entrance of the Guilds and Masters
.Beet hov.en.
resto
T Hornpipe
Allegro deciso
Pamina's Aria from "The Magic Flute"
"Non mi dir" from "Don Giovanni".
Dorothy Maynor
Symphony "Mathis der Maler"
"San Juan Capistrano" Nocturnes Ha
The Mission
Fiesta
Michaela's Aria from "Carmen"
Adieu de lhotesse arabe .. . ..
Miss Maynor
Reflets dans l'eau
La Valse
Debussy-Ormandy
Ravel
. Hindemith
rl McDonald
Bizet
Bizet
Verdi
Verdi
Wagner
SECOND MAY FESTIVAL CONCERT
Thursday Evening, May 8
Soloists:
JARMILA NOVOTNA, Soprano
NORMAN CORDON, Bass
GREGOR PIATIGORSKY, Violoncellist
University Choral Union
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy and Thor Johnson, Conductors
PROGRAM
i
r
Alleluia
Ruie
................Randall Thompson
University Choral Union
. c u c s . .. . . . . . . . . ... .
Jarmila Novotna, Norman Cordon
and the University Choral Union
"Don Quixote" Variations for Violoncello
and Orchestra.......
Gregor Piatigorsky
Brahms
Strauss
FIFTH MAY FESTIVAL CONCERT
Saturday Afternoon, May 10
Soloist:
JASCHA HEIFETZ, Violinist
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy, Conductor
PROGRAM
All-Sibelius Program
Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105
(in one movement)
Adagio; Vivacissimo; Adagio
Allegro molto moderato; Vivace
Presto; Adagio; Largemente
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D minor
Jascha Heifetz
Symphony No. 1, Op. 39, in E minor
Aandante ma non troppo; Allegro energico
Andante
Scherzo: Allegro
Finale (quasi un Fantasia)
Andante; Allegro molto
SIXTH MAY FESTIVAL CONCERT
Saturday Evening, May 10
SOLOISTS:
JARMILA NOVOTNA, Soprano
SUZANNE STEN, Mezzo-Soprano
ENID SZANTHO, Contralto
CHARLES KULLMAN, Tenor
MACK HARRELL, Baritone
NORMAN CORDON, Bass
The University Choral Union
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra
Thor Johnson, Conductor
PROGRAM
Versatile Spanish Pianist
Began Concert Career
In U.S. II Years Ago
Iturbi's'Music
Holds Essence
Of %Artistry'
THIRD MAY FESTIVAL CONCERT
Friday Afternoon, May 9
Soloists:
SUZANNE STEN, Mezzo-Soprano
JOSE ITURBI, Pianist
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra
Youth Chorus
Saul Caston and Juva Higbee, Conductors
PROGRAM
Overture to "The Flying Dutchman" .Wagner
"St. Mary Magdalene".. . ... d'Indy
Suzanne Sten and the Youth Chorus
Suite from "The Fire Bird" Stravinsky
Concerto No. I in E-flat major .. ..Liszi
Jose Iturbi
(Conducted from the pianoforte by the performer)
FOURTH MAY FESTIVAL CONCERT
Friday Evening, May 9
Soloist:
DOROTHY MAYNOR, Soprano
Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra
Eugene Ormandv, Conductor
Episodes from Eugene Onegin
Larina
Tatiana
Olga )
Philipina).......
Eugene Onegin
Lenski . .
Prince Cremin .
Peasant, Ball-guests, Landowners
... Tschaikowsky
. Suzanne Sten
jarmila Novotna
Enid Szantho
... Mack Harrell
Charles Kullman
Norman Cordon
Choral Union
.1
i fetz, Regarded At Top Of Career,
Is Made Synonymous With Violin'
. . Mozart
Mozart
11 Soloists, Three
Groups To Appear
For Six Concerts
Four Metropolitan Artists Will Make Local
.Debut; Philadelphia Orchestra, Youth
Chorus, Choral Union To Participate
The 48th edition of Michigan's annual May Festival, featuring "a
happy balance between new faces and former favorites," will begin its four-
day, six-concert run May 7 at Hill Auditorium, under the sponsorship of the
University Musical Society.
During those six concerts 11 vocal and instrumental soloists, three
ensemble groups and four conductors will make their appearance. Four
artists will be making their local debut: Jarmila Novotna, soprano; Suz-
anne Sten, mezzo-soprano; Charles Kullman, tenor; and Mark Harrell,
baritone. Seven other will simply be renewing acquaintance with Ann
Arbor audiences: Lawrence Tibbett, baritone; Norman Cordon, bass; Gregor
Artistry - whether it be at the
piano or as conductor-is the essence
of Jose Iturbi's music.
The versatile Spanish pianist who
has been heralded for 11 years since
he first arrived in America to begin
his career, has the spirit of an artist
and his broad experience shows-clear-
ly that his success has resulted from
an inborn talent to produce music
that sparkles with delightfulness.
Born in Valencia, he studied in his
native city of Barcelona and so com-
pletely won the confidence and ad-
miration of the people who lived in
that sector that they contributed to a
fund and sent him to Paris to contin-
ue his development. At seventeen, he
was graduated from the Paris Con-
servatory with first honors.
Experiences In Paris
His days in the French capital
were not different from those of the
average American college student of
today. He played in cafes until the
small hours of the morning to earn
money for food and board. Despite
many hardships, he stuck to his job
and when he finally completed his
course of study, he wascmade head of
the piano faculty of the Conservatory
of Geneva.
Iturbi thought that he was not
meant to be a teacher and decided to
embark on the life of a virtuoso. In
1929, he first landed on American
shores. Shortly afterwards, the pub-
lic was figuratively in the palm of
his hands and he quickly seized the
opportunity to step from keyboard
to podium. Again he was successful
and today he is constantly torn be-
tween playing, and conducting.
Directed Leading Orchestras
He has directed the country's lead-
ing symphonies, including the Phil-
adelphia and he is a great favorite
of radio audiences. In recent years
he has aligned himself with popular
music to such an extent that con-
troversies have raged over his atti-
tude. He appeared on many occasions
with Bing Crosby on commercial
broadcasts and he outspokenly laud-
ed several popular song hits. One of
(Continued on Page 2)
Tibbett Had To Win
Fight To Gain Right
To SingOn Ocean
During the World War, Lawrence
Tibbett served in the American navy
and had to win a fight in order to be
allowed to sing on the high seas.
The young baritone often took ad-
vantage of spare moments while on
ship to burst into song-something
which angered many of his fellow
seamen.
On one occasion an exchange of
comments led to a row and Tibbett
'Piatigorsky, violin-cellist; Jose Itur-
bi, pianist; Dorothy Maynor, soprano;
Jascha Heifetz, violinist; and Enid
Szantho, contralto.
To support these soloists the three
ensemble groups that have become
identified with the May Festival will
return once more: the Philadelphia
Orchestra led by Dr. Eugene Or-
mandy, regular conductor, by Saul
Caston, associate conductor, and by
Mr. Iturbi, guest conductor; the Uni-
versity Choral Union, led by Thor
Johnson of the School of Music fac-
ulty; and the Youth Chorus made up
of boys and girls from local schools
and directed by Miss Juva Higbee.
The ChoraldUnion will be heard in
three works during the Festival.: a
short unaccompanied composition,
"Alleluia", by Randall Thompson, a
contemporary American composer;
Brahms' "Requiem," and episodes
President's Message
The University Musical Society
is grateful to a music-loving pub-
lie, which, througl its gracious,
sympathetic and co-operative sup-
port, has made possible the May
Festival tradition of nearly half
a century.
The,'Society each year has en-
deavored to present worthy pro-
grams adequately performed by
the leading musicians of the day.
This alone, however, is not enough.
A supporting audience of taste and
discrimination, and of broad and
liberal musical views is necessary.
Ann Arbor provides such an audi-
ence. Artists and other disting-
uished authorities realize this, and
throughout the world the musical
reputation of Ann Arbor stands
high.
The University Musical Society
recognizes and appreciates the lib-
eral substantial support which has
ever greeted its efforts. It also
realizes that this support brings
with it the commensurate re-
sponsibility of ever striving, both
to keep abreast of the times, and
of ever bearing in mind the So-
ciety's motto, adopted in 1879:
"Ars longa vita brevis".
For all this the Society is thank-
ful. It desires to express sincere
appreciation to its patrons and
friends, to the press, and to the
public in general.
-Charles A. Sink
from "Eugene Onegin" by Tschai-
kowsky. The Youth Chorus will pre-
sent d'Indy's "St. Mary Magdalene",
and will sing a group of three songs
by Gillett.
Besides accompanying the soloists
in the six concerts the Philadelphia
Orchestra will present orchestral se-
lections including Beethoven's Seven-
th Symphony; Handel's "Concerto
for Orchestra" arranged by Dr. Or-
mandy; four excerpts from Wagner's
"Die Meistersinger"; Wagner's Over-
ture to "The Flying Dutchman";
Handel's Suite from "The Water Mu-
sic";.Hindemith's Symphony, "Mathis
der Maler" and Sibelius'-Symphonies
No.1 and No. 7 this latter as part of
a commemorative all-Sibelius pro-
gram on which Mr. Heifetz will play
the Finnish composer's Concerto in
D minor.
Continuing a regular practice the
Festival will offer for its last con-
cert on Saturday night, May 10, a
concert version of an opera, this time
Tschaikowsky's "Eugene Onegin".
JARMILA NOVOTNA
. . . reportedly "the most beau-
tiful opera singer in Europe" . . .
imported by Met upon Toscanini
recommendation . . . pronounced
the finest Violetta (La Traviata)
in two decades by N.Y. critics .. .
star of numerous European motion
pictures and of several Max Rein-
hardt major European productions.
Jascha Heifetz means "violin" to
the entire civilized world and no art-
ist in the realm of music today stands
so absolutely alone in his art. America
is his adopted country, but his fame
is international and without borders.
He has made four world tours and
innumerable tours of the United
States, and recently played 60 con-
certs in South America, where he was
called "the best ambassador of good
will" that the nation could have sent.
Born in Vilna, Russia, in 1901, Hei-
fetz began the study of the violin at
the age of three under the tutelage
of his fathei. A year later he was
enrolled in the Royal School of Vilna
where he studied for three years.
At the age of seven he made his
public concert debut playing the
Mendelssohn Concerto, and the fol-
lowing year performed for Leopold
Auer, who accepted him as a pupil in
the Imperial Conservatory in Petro-
grad.
Heifetz's career was really launched
in Berlin, where at the age of 10 he
Superstition Is Given
Back Seat With Tenor
made his first major appearance with
an orchestra as a substitute for Pablo
Casals. His debut in Berlin was such
a success that he was invited to play
with Nikisch in Leipzig and later with
Safonoff in Vienna.
When the World War broke out
Heifetz toured the Scandinavian
countries, returning to Russia during
the winter of 1916-17 to give a series
precedent renown in concerts
throughout the world. Two years ago
he played a starring role in Samuel
Goldwyn's production, "They Shall
Have Music," which was voted by
educators as the greatest single con-
tribution to an appreciation of good1
music which has thus far been made
by the motion picture industry.
Three of the most important pres-1
ent day composers have been com-
missioned by Heifetz to write major
works, William Walton, Serge Pro-
kofieff and Marie Castelnuovo-Te-
desco. His own contribution to the
repertoire comprises more than 40
transcriptions and arrangements for
violin and piano.
Today Heifetz is at the peak of his
career. According to music critics of
every nation he is endowed with a
fabulous technique, a pure and noble
style and a tone of incredible beauty.
Contralto Enid Szantho
Boasts Versatile Family
Miss Enid Szantho boasts a ver-
satile family.
Her father, a retired Vice-Secretary
of State in Humgarv. founded the Mu-
'XI