MUSIC ig Bkr Ab att SUPPLEMENT SUPPLEMENT. --" ' ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 1942 - -. _ Distinguished Negro Singer Will Open '42 Festival Here Marian Anderson To Sing In Her Fifth Concert; Winner Of Bok Award Is 'Cinderella Of Music' Popular Contralto Well Liked Locally Marian Anderson, whose beautiful contralto voice has won such enthus- iastic and well deserved acclaim froin her immense following throughout the nation, returns again to Ann Arbor to sing in her fifth May Festi- val. In a week filled with famous mu- sical stars, none is more popular with local music lovers than Miss Ander- son. The best evidence of how the great Negro contralto is regarded in Ann Arbor is the simple fact that she is returning once again to help make the Festival a great success. Marian Ande'son is unquestionably the foremost American woman of her race and her native city of Phila- delphia is proud of its famous daugh- ter. She is the last winner of the Bok Award of $10,000 which goes to the Philadelphian who has achieved the most for that city, and the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Temple University. 'Cinderella' of Music Rightfully termed the 'Cinderella' of music, Miss Anderson's rise to fame has been ltle .short of phe- nomenal. From a small child with much talent singing in a neighbor- hood church, she Ias risen to lead the nation in song from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Unable to receive much financial support from her family the great singer's early musical training was the result of the generosity of friends who realized the talents of the small girl. Singing in church concerts and similar benefits supported by com- munity .interest in the, young girl helpol to pay2her expenses. Miss Anderson studied abroad for some time and was really recognized as a great star while she was in Eur- ope. Not until she had completed a two-year European circuit did she re- turn to her anxiously waiting public in America. Annually singing before more than a quarter of a million people, the world-famous contralto's winter con- cert tours would make much hardier campaigrrs quail. In 1938 Miss An- derson broke all previous records by giving 70 recitals in the United States and since that time has broken her own record. During this, her seventh annual tour, Miss Anderson is sched- uled to give 80 odd recitals in more than 70 different cities. Beauty And Feeling "Her concerts have impressed peo- ple by the beauty of her voice and by her challenging personality; but the quality of the music which she has sung has been of the highest, and af- ter her programs anything less fine seems cheap indeed." Thus John Er- skine, Liberty Magazine, succinctly stated the qualities which make Miss! Anderson a great singer. Many famous contraltos have tak- en their places in the history of mu- sic but few if any have succeeded in singing with such beauty and feeling as does Marian Anderson. Famed for her renditions of Schubert and Bee- thoven, the world famous singer has done much to keep the great musical works popular with contemporary audiences. Miss Anderson returns to Ann Ar- bor with many new songs for Festi-' val audiences after spending last summer resting her voice and replen- ishing her repertory of songs. This was the first in six summers that the great contralto did not tour the ebuntry giving concerts and recitals.1 Opening the 49th May Festival, Miss Anderson will be the soloist un- der Eugene Ormandy conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra.1 Psalm 'King David' Will Be Performed With Judith Hellwig, Enid Szan- tho and Felix~ Knight as soloists and Rabbi Barnett R. Brickner as narra- tor, the symphonic psalm, "King David," by Honegger will be present- ed at the 1942 May Festival in Hill Auditorium. "King David," written in 1921, was taken from a drama by Rene M'ax.: Scene Of May Festival joncerts i'Message This is the 49th Annual May lFestival. The number is nearing the half-century mark. Born dur- ing the hard-times period in 1894, the institution has weathered many a gale. This has been due in large measure to the loyalty and the sym- pathetic cooperation of a culture. minded public, which at all times has supported the University Musi- cal Society in its endeavors. Mindful of all of this, and firm- ly believing that good music is of special importance and significance during periods of national crises, the Society this year has taken even greater pains in building a series of programs of outstanding merit, and has chosen the most distinguished performers. In so doing, the Soci- ety believes that it is carrying out the ideals of its founders, and the desires of its patrons and well-wish- ers. It has full confidence that members and friends of the Uni. versity, as well as the public in gen- eral, will continue their gracious co- operation, to the end that one and all may acquire renewed courage and fortitude in solving the na. tional and personal problems with which so many of us at the present time are confronted. The Musical Society thanks the public for its long years of con- structive support. -Charles A. Sink Festival !Famous Musical. Groups, Eleven Artists To Present 49th Annual May 'Fesiai Local Figures In Festival JUVA HIGBEE THOR JOHNSON Program For' 1942 May * * * Ann Arbor's Johnson, Higbee WillAppear In May Festival WEDNESDAY EVENING, MAY 6 Soloist: MARIAN ANDERSON, Contralto TN F PHIlADELPHIA ORCHESTR A EUGE:NE ORMANDY, Conductor PROGRAM Overture in D minor .. Handel-Ormandy Lamento d'Arienne . .. . .onteerd Aria, "Piangero mia sorte ria," from "Julius Caesar"................ Handel Marian Anderson "Classical" Symphony ........... Prok ofieff "San Juan Capistrano" Nocturnes Harl McDonald "Pleurez mcs yeux," from "Le Cid" . . ...Massewt Miss A nderson Orchestral Fragments from "Daphnis et Chloe," Second Suite........... .......... Rarel Waltzes from "Der Rosenkavalier".......Strauss THURSDAY EVENING, MAY 7 Soloists: JUDITH HELLWIG, Soprano ENID SZANTHO, Contralto FELIX KNIGHT, Tenor BARNETT R. BRICKNER, Narrator EMANUEL FEUERMANN, Violoncellis/ UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA iHOR JOHNSON, Conductor P'ROGRAMV "King DaNid, a Symphonic Psalm in Three Parts, A fter a Drama by Kene Morax ...... ........ ..... Honegger Soloists, Narrator, Chorus, and Orchestra Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra, Op. 104.. .. ........ Dorak Emanuel Feuermann FRIDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 8' Soloist: CARROLL GLEN'N, Violinist YOUTH FESTIVAL CHORUS THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA SAL vCAs TON aml JUVA I IJGIfEE, Condu/ors PROGRAM. Overture to "Russian and Ludmilla"..', .. Glinka Cantata: "The Walrus and the Carpenter"............. ... . Fletcher Youth Festival Chorus Overture, "Romeo and Juliet" ...... Tschaikowsky Violin and Orchestra, Op. 35 .... Tschaikowsk y Concerto in I) major for Allegro moderato; Canzonetta; Allegro vivacissimb Carroll Glenn Polovtsian Dances fronr "Prince Igor" ..Borodin FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 8 Soloist: HELEN TRAUBEL, Soprano THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor PROGRAM Overture to "Tannhauser" ........ . ......'Wagner Schmerzen. .....................Wagner Traumea................... ..Wagner Elsa's Traume ...................... .Wagner from "Lohengrin" Helen Traubel Prelude and Love Death from "Tristan and Isolde" ................ Wagner Excerpts from "Gotterdammerung" ...,...Wagner Siegfried's Rhine Journey Siegfried's Funeral March Brunnhilde's Immolation and Closing Scene ' Miss Traubel SATURDAY AFTERNOON, MAY 9 Soloist: SERGEI RACHMANINOFF, Pianist THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA I UGENE ORMANDY, Conductor PROGRAM (All-Rachmaninoff) "The Isle of the Dead," Symphonic Poem after Bocklin, Op. 29 Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 Non allegro; Andante con moto . (Tempo di valse); Lento assai; Allegro vivace Concerto for Piano No. 2, in C minor, Op. 18 Moderato; Adagio sostenuto; Allegro schcrzando Serge -Rachm ninoff SATURDAY EVENING, MAY 9 Soloists: JUDITH HELLWIG, Soprano ENID SZANTHO, Contralto JAN PEERCE, Tenor MACK HARRELL, Baritone UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor PROGRAM Toccata, Intermezzo and Fugue in C major .................. Bach-Ormandy Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 .. Beethoven Allegro ma non troppo; un poco maestoso Molto vivace; Presto Adagio molto e cantabile; Andante moderato Allegro assai Soloists, Choral Union, and Orchestra Conductors Of University Musical Society, Youth Chorus Are Prominent Among the repertory of great art- ists who will be appearing in the May Festival will be two local artists who have attained distinction in the field of conducting-Prof. Thor Johnson and Juva Higbee.' Professor Johnson, of the School of Music and conductor of the Univer- sity Musical'Society, has had a col- orful career both here and abroad as violinist, conductor and student. He has conducted more than 300 per- Cello Virtuoso- Is Instructor, Concert Artist Bad Cellists Do Not Exist, Feuermann Maintains; Noted For Solo Work There are no bad cellists according to Emanuel Feuermann, noted vir- tuoso on this instrument. "One is either a good cellist or not a cellist at all," he states. "It is true that many ambitious young pupils tackle this instrument, but its problems and difficulties are so in- tricate that only the most gifted manage to overcome them. The oth- ers become discouraged." Emanuel Feuermann is one person who started out on the cello at an early age, and definitely overcame the "problems and difficulties" of the instrument. He was eleven years' old when he gave his first concert, at that time appearing with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra under Felix Weingartner. So proficient did he become, that at the age of 16 he was already a professor at the Conservatory of Music in Cologne, Germany. He re- mained a teacher as well as a con- cert artist until 1934, when political conditions in Germany forced him to go into exile. At the time of his departure from Germany he was the head of the cello department of the famous Berlin Hochschule fur Musik. Feuermann's American debut was made with, the New York Philhar- monic Symphony Orchestra under Bruno Walter, another distinguished exile. This first recital created a tremendous stir, assuring him a firm position in the music life of the United States. Since that time, he has traveled back and forth across the United States, giving concerts which have caused critics to applaud him as "one of the greatest of living virtuosos," and placing him on a par with the in- imitable Casals.. Feuermann is a favorite solo artist among leading conductors. Be- sides Weingartner and Bruno Walter, he has appeared under the baton of Toscanini, Fritz Busch, and many others. Percival Price Will Play iuanal C n.11am 0.... .*p formances of the University Little Symphony in 30 states. He has also toured the South in Lamar String- field's Instrumental Quintet and as associate conductor of the North Car- olina Symphony Orchestra. The young conductor has traveled1 extensively in Europe, studying under1 eminent masters. For two summers he was under the'tutelage of Serge Koussevitzky, condutor of the Bos- ton Symphony. Professor Johnson is also conductor of the University Symphony Orches- tra and of the Grand Rapids Syn- phony. He founded, and is director of, the Asheville Mozart Festival, and is founder of the Carolina Salon En- semble. During the summer of 1940 he appeared as conductor of six of the Berkshire Center concerts with; the Institute Orchestra at Lennox, Mass., a division of the Boston Sym- phony Orchestra summer school. In Ann Arbor he has also served as choir director of the Congrega- tional Church; and at Chapel Hill,1 North Carolina, in the same capacity at the Methodist Church. In addi- tion he is chairman of the Associated American Orchestral Conductors. Ann Arbor's other noted conduc- tor, Juva Higbee, director of the Youth Festival Chorus, has been ac- tive in choral work since an early age. Supervisor of music in the Ann Ar- bor public schools for the past 15 years, Miss Higbee received her music training at the American Conserva- tory of Music in Chicago, Northwest- ern University, Hillsdale College. and Teachers College of Columbia Uni- versity. She has also studied under' numerous American choral conduc- 'tors. 'society Boasts; A Continuous Music Record Since 1879 when it was organized the University Musical Society, spon- sor of the May Festival, has main- tained a continuous existence plus providing good music for the Uni-, versity, the community and the coun- try as a whole. Incorporated in 1881 under the laws of the State of Michigan as a non-profit organization the Society has since maintained its concert activities only thrqugh the sale of tickets. In addition to the May Festival concerts, the Society developed the Choral Union Chorus and the Choral Union Concert Series, thus providing Ann Arbor with the best in both local and world-famed musicians and musi- cal organizations. The concert series started modestlybut gradually ex- panded to 10 annual performances which were climaxed by the Festival. Present officers of the organiza- tion are Dr. Charles A. Sink, presi- dent of the Society; /President Alex- ander G. Ruthven, vice-president; Oscar A. Eberbach, treasurer; Shirley W. Smith, secretary-treasurer, and Thor Johnson, conductor. Direction for the Musical Society is provided by a board composed of Anderson; Rachmaninoff Head Stars To Appear In Auditorium May 6-9 Five New Figures Will Make Debuts Music lovers of this city and of the entire state will have the opportunity to forget their personal troubles and the war and listen to the works of the great masters as presented by 11 musical celebrities and three large musical groups in the 49th annual May Festival which will be given May 6, 7, 8, and 9 in Hill Auditorium. Sponsored by the University Mu- sical Society, the festival's six con- certs in 'the four day period will pre- sent several old favorites of Ann Ar- bor concert audiences and will in- troduce five new faces. Familiar to every local concert-goer are such artists as Marian Anderson, con- tralto; Sergei Rachmaninoff, pianist; Emanuel Feuermann, violoncellist; Enid Szantho, contralto; Jan Peerce, tenor, and Mack Harrell, baritone. The new faces include Helen Traubel soprano; Judith Hellwig, soprano; Carroll Glenn, violinist; Felix Knight, tenor, and Rabbi Barnett R. Brick- ner, narrator. Returning to Ann Arbor for his sixth May Festival will be Eugene Ormandy who will lead the Philadel- phia Symphony Orchestra. He will be assisted by his associate conduc- tor, Saul Caston. The University Choral Union under the direction of Thor Johnson, conductor for the Uni- versity Musical Society, and Juva Higbee's Youth Festival Chorus will also participate. opening Series Opening the concert series on Wed- nesday will be Marian Anderson. Miss Anderson's renditions will include "Lamento dArienne" by Monteverdi and an aria, "Piangero mia sorte ia," from "Julius Caesar,"by andel. She will also sing "Pleurez mes yeux from "Le Cid" by Massenet. The Thursday night, Friday after- noon and Saturday afternoon pro- grams will present three instrumen- talists. Emanuel Feuermann, violon- cellist, will play the Concerto for Violoncello and Orchestra, Op. 104, by Dvorak as the second half of the Thursday night program. Tschai- kowsky's Concerto in D major for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 35, will be. offered by Miss, Glenn on Friday afternoon. Heard for the first time in Ann Ar- bor with an orchestra will be Sergei Rachmaninoff. The entire Saturday afternoon program will be devoted to the pianist's- own compositions. It will begin with his work entitled "The Isle of the Dead" followed by "Sym- phonic Dances," Op. 45. The Russian artist will play his Concerto for Piano No 2, in C minor, Op. 18. Scheduled For Thursday Night Scheduled also for Thursday night. will be Honegger's "King - David." Three soloists, a narrator and the Choral Union will join in the pro- gram. King David will be portrayed by Rabbi Brickner. Solo parts have been allotted to Miss Hellwig, Miss Szantho and Mr. Knight. A May Festival tradition will be continued again this year when Miss Higbee conducts the Youth Festival Chorus in Fletcher's "Walrus and the Carpenter" on Friday afternoon. In its final appearance, the Choral Union will take part in the perfor- mance of Beethoven's Ninth Sym- phony in the last concert on Satur- day night. Solo roles will be sung byr Miss Hellwig, Miss Szantho, Mr. Peerce and Mr. Harrefi. Ticket orders for the May Festival should be placed immediately at the offices of the University Musical So- ciety in the Burton Memorial Tower. Orchestra, Choral Union To Present Beethoven's Ninth Regarded as one of the greatest symphonic works ever created the ninth symphony in D minor, Op. 125 of. Ludwig van Beethoven, will be performed by .the' Philadelphia Or- chestra under Eugene Ormandy and the Choral Union at the annual May Festival. Although this work is outstanding Sergei .Rachmaninoff Is Renowned Contemporary Composer-Pianist ' -4 Sergei Rachmaninoff, famous com- poser-pianist, who will be heard dur- ing the 1942 May Festival in Hill Auditorium, is regarded as one of the foremost living musicians.' As a composer Rachmaninoff un- questionablyranks among the out- standing ones of the day. He has written practically all forms of music: operas, symphonies, piano composi- tions and songs. It was while he was living in Dresden in the early 1900's that Rachmaninoff did most of his composing. This period gave impetus to his list of works, which includes three symphonies, the sym- phonic poem, "The Island of the Dead," four concertos for piano and orchestra, "Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini" for piano and orches- ductorship of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, but he refused because he preferred his career as a pianist. In recent years. Rachmaninoff has devoted himself largely to piano re- citals and composing. He has toured this country many tines and has al- ways been enthusiastically acclaimed arce Showed TlentEarly Born in the province of Novgorod, Russia in 1873, Rachmaninoff showed talent at the age of four. He entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory at nine, and at twelve he transferred to the Moscow Conservatory. His teachers there included Sverev, a friend of Tschaikovsky, Siloti, Tan- eiev and Arensky. While an under- graduate in Moscow, Rachmaninoff of the country so that when the pian- ist has to make a long jump between cities, there will be no danger of his being minus the right kind of a piano when it is time for his recital to be- gin. To keep these instruments in perfect order, a piano tuner always travels with him to give 'a final check-up before every concert. Rachmaninoff Seldom Laughs After forty odd years or playing the piano in public, Rachmaninoff says the building of programs is the most difficult of problems. He spends a great deal of time and care on every program he presents , in public and practices about two hours a day to keep up his renowned tech- nique. For years the legend has been cur-