mUsic SUPPLEMENT ig *irW Iaij SECTION TWO 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