'AGE TW ,"HE MICHIGAN DAILY- SUNDAY, SEPTET ZMER 26, 1948 ~1 ?AG1~ TW~ ~UN~DAY, SEPTE1~~RER 26, 194S RADIO SINGER: Eileen Farrell Will Appear In Opening Choral Concert Eileen Farrell, young Irish- American soprano, will make her first Ann Arbor appearance in the opening concert of the 1948 Choral Union Series, October 6. Well known to radio audiences, Miss Farrell was hailed as the Muench Will Direct French Orchestra Here Charles Muench, renowned in this country as a guest conductor, will soon become even better known to American concert-goers when he takes over the permanent leadership of the Boston Sym- phony Orchestra next fall. Muench will direct the French National Orchestra in its appear- ance at Hill Auditorium Oct. 25 as part of the regular Choral Un- ion Series. He has conducted the Chicago, Cleveland, Los Angeles, Cincinnati and Minneapolis or- chestras in previous appearances in the United States. Born in Strasburg in 1891, the distinguished PVrench conductor was destined for a musical career from the first. His father was or- ganist in Strasburg, professor of its Conservatory and founder of the choir of St. Guillaume. Muench studied the violin at the Paris Conservatory and in 1919 was appointed professor of violin at the Conservatory and concertmaster of the orchestra in his native city. After a conductorial apprentice- ship at the Gewendhaus in Leip- zig, he made his official debut as a conductor in 1932 in Paris. In 1935 Muench was appointed head of the Orchestre de la Societe Philharmonique de Paris, and three years later was named mu- sical directoreof the Orchestra du Conservatoire. Devoted to the championship of French music, Muench has re- ceived the Chevalier of the Legion of Honor for his services. He was French representative at the In- ternational Festivals in Prague, directed many concerts in Pales- tine and Egypt, and made him first visit to South America short- ly after the war. Columbia Broadcasting System's "find of the year" by the New York Times in 1941. She has starred on nationwide programs such as the "Prudential Family Hour," the "American Melody Hour," "Pause That Refreshes" and many special broadcasts. * * * MISS FARRELL WAS born in Connecticut, but boasts of her Gaelic ancestry. She claims she was singing Irish ballads before she learned her ABCs. Her par- ents, known in vaudeville as "The O'Farrells" provided a colorful musical background to her talents. Even after they gave up their pro- fessional work, Mrs. Farrell or- ganized choral groups and taught singing at home. Miss Farrell was almost lost to the musical world when she decid- ed to sing only for pleasure and take up the visual arts as her profession. However, after a brief session at art school she decided on music. ** * AFTER ACHIEVING rapid suc- cess in radio work, Miss Farrell is making her first expanded con- cert tour this season. Always am- bitious, she is now looking forward to work in opera-she :ays, though, she needs more maturity before she will feel capable enough to "tackle" Wagner. Besides her classical repertoire, Miss Farrell is at home in calypso and boogie. She has appeared with Frank Sinatra as a popular singer, and with orchestra leader Ray- mond Scott under the pseudonym of "Dimples Lunceford." Miss Farrell has also success- fully mixed motherhood with her career and has said that her only BURTON TOWER-The home of the University Musical Society, Burton Tower was constructed as a memorial to President Marion Burton. Percival Price, University Carilloneur gives carillon con- certs during the school year. TOP-R AN KING PIANIST: Rudolf Serumn Programmed For Extra Concert Series regret concerning is that she must month son. Neveu Picks As Favorite1 her concert tour leave her nine- Europeans Authors Rudolf Serkin, who has been called one of the top-ranking pianists of the day by critics, will appear in his first performance here Dec. 3 in the extra concert series. He was born in Eger, Bohemia, 1 of Russian parents. His father, a basso, -was forced to abandon his career as a singer and become a merchant to support his family but was determined that his tal- entpd son should have the oppor - tunity to study music. ALTHOUGH SERKIN could play the piano well at the age of four his father felt that his talent should not be exploited and he was taken to Vienna for study. When he made his debut at 12 with the Vienna Symphony Or- chestra offers for concert tours poured in but his parents and teacher, who felt he was still too young for a tour, encouraged him to continue his studies under Ar- nold Schoenberg. A turning point in his career came at 17 when he met Adolf Busch, the noted violinist. Serkin went to live with the Busch family and gave a series of sonata re- citals with him. AFTER HITLER came to power the family moved to Switzerland where Serkin married Irene Busch, the violinist's daughter. When the war broke out they came to the United States to live. He first played in this country at the Coolidge Festival in Wash- ington, but his debut as solo pian- ist did not come until Toscanini chose him as soloist in 1936 with the New York Philharmonic. He was an outstanding success and recived an ovaion such as had ;endo been seen at Carnegie Hall. Busch Leads Chicago .Group Here in March Orchestra Is Third Oldest in America The Chicago Symphony Orches- tra, under the direction of Fritz Busch, guest conductor, will per- form here on March 27 at Hill Auditorium in the 1948-49 Choral Union Concert Series. Familiar to music-lovers every- where through their regular Wed- nesday evening radio concerts, the Symphony has iong been in the forefront of the nation's major orchestras. FOUNDED IN 1891 by the late Theodore Thomas, the orchestra is the third oldest in America. It has numbered among its condue- tors Thomas, Frederick Stock. Desire Defauw and Artur Rod- zinski. During its 57 years of contin- uous existence, the Symphony has branched out into several fields of activity in the line of "public serv- ice." In addition to its regular subscription concerts, the orches- tra is noted for its Saturday eve- ning "pop" concerts, which fea- ture good music popular in the sense of giving pleasure to both those with and without a musical education. The Orchestra's Young People's Concerts were an experiment of the season 1919-20 as Children's Concerts, meeting with instant success. Adults are admitted to these concerts only when acting as escorts to children. Children's concerts have since been widely adopted by other major orches- tras. * * * THE CHICAGO ORCHESTRAL Association also maintains the Civic Orchestra.asa training or- ganization for future symphony players.The Civic Orchestra, also an original idea with the Chicago Symphony, is the only institution of its kind maintained by a major orchestra. Players who received their "fin- ishing" with the Civic are now members of major orchestras from coast to coast, and include upward of 60 members of the Chicago Symphony. Superstitions GuideViolinist Violinist Nathan Milstein, who will appear here in the Choral Union series, is not only a great musician, but exhibits stellar orig- inality in his pet superstitions. While Milstein is a high-paid artist, he often performs in worn shirts. The reason for this is his belief that when he gives a par- ticularly satisfactory concert, he should wear the shirt he wore during the program at all subse- quent concerts till it is worn to a shred. Milstein never has his fortune told, since unpleasant predictions make him uncomfortable. He would rather act on his own the- ories, such as leaving his room in order before every concert-his superstition being that a disor- derly room will cause a bad concert. FIRST TRY AT 'MESSIAH': Choral Union Formed 69 Years Ago 'l UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY Calendar of 26 Concerts 4 EILEEN FARRELL, Soprano. . . MARIAN ANDERSON, Contralto . . . F'RENCH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA. . Wed., Oct. 6, 8:30 Thurs., Oct. 14, 8:30 Mon., Oct. 25, 8:30 CLEVELAND ORCHESTRA . . . . . Sun., Nov. 7, 7:00 1 The history of the Choral: Union dates from 1879 when singers from four local church choirs decided to band together for the purpose of singing choruses from Handel's "Messiah." Its first concert ' took plane in the Congregational Church,, its second in the Methodist Church, and its third in the Presbyterian Church. Later public perform- ances were given in University Hall. Today, with Hill Auditoarium filled to capacity for two per- fermances of the "Messiah," the CINCINNATI SYMPhONY . . . EZIO PINZA, IBass . . . . . Mon., Nov. 15, 8:30 Thurs., Nov. 18, 8:30 CLIFFORD CURZON, Pianist . . RUDOLF SERKIN, Pianist . . . BOSTON SYMPHONY . . . . . Sat., Nov. 27, 8:30 . . . Fri., Dec. 3, 8:30 Mon., Dec. 6, 8:30 group has come a long way from the days when there were more chorus members than listeners and the ladies of the various churches served refreshments after concerts Before the first season had end- ed the group took on larger as- pects, admitting other competent singers and expanding its reper- toire to include other choral works. The size of the chorus expanded to over three hundred voices, and orchestra or organ accompani- ment was added. At first local soloists were employed but later important artists from Chicago and New York appeared with the group. During the 69 years of its exist- ence the Choral Union has per- formed in public almost all of the great oratorios, and many great operas adaptable to concert per- formances. Membership in the Chorus is obtained on a try-out basis. Ap- pointments may be made in the offices of the University Musical Society in Burton Tower. . . . MESSIAH MESSIAH r s " e " e " "* s " " " .. . Sat., Dec. 11, 8:30 Sun., Dec. 12, 2:30 Violinist Ginette Neveu can al- ways find time to read, even in the midst of a busy schedule. Her favorite authors are Ro- main Rolland, Roger Martin de Gard, and Tolstoi, in that order. She thinks that the three great- est works ever penned are "War and Peace," "Madame Bovary" and "The Tempest." GINETTE NEVEU, Violinist. PAGANINI QUARTET PAGANINI QUARTET . PAGANINI QUARTET .. . VLI)IMIR HOROWITZ, Piani IIEIFIETZ, Violinist . . NATHAN MILSTEIN, Violinist INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY . . . . . Sat., Jan. 8, 8:30 Fri., Jan. 14, 8:30 . . . . . Sat., Jan. 15, 8:30 Sun., Jan. 16, 2:30 1st . . . . Fri., Feb. 11, 8:30 . . . . . Sat., Feb. 19, 8:30 t. Fri., Mar. 4, 8:30 . . . . Sun., Mar. 13, 7:00 . . . . Sun., Mar. 27, 7:00 I rt-I CHICAGO SYMPHONY . . TWO CONCERTS FIFTY-SIXTH ANNUAL MAY FESTIVAL . . SIX CONCERTS First Concert.............. ............................... Thurs.,. Second Concert ................................. Fri., Third Concert ..................................Sat., Fourth Concert ........................... .. ... Sat., May 5, May 6, May 7, May 7, May 8, May 8, 8:30 8:30 2:30 8:30 2:30 8:30 SATURDAY, December 11 8:30 P.M. Fifth Concert .................. Sixth Concert .................. ARS L O NGA ..Sun., ... ......... Sun., REPEAT PERFORMANCE VITA BREVI S SUNDAY, December 12 2:30 P.M. . . . . LESTER McCOY i Soloists. DORIS DOREE NAN MERRIMAN FREDERICK JAGEI . . . Soprano Contralto . . . Tenor Bass JOHN GURNEY . JOHN GURNEY All four arc dislingutishied major opera stars UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION SPECIAL ORCHESTRA Mary Stubbins - Organ Lester McCoy - Conductor TICKETS (Tax Included) EITHER CONCERT 70c or5Oc On Sale Beginning October 1st NAN MERRIMAN PRGf4NINI STRING QUARTET IN THE NINTH ANNUAL CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL THE PAGANINI STRING QUARTET will re- turn to Rackham auditorium for the Ninth SMAnnual Chamber Music Festival, consisting of three concerts-Fricday and Saturday evenings, and Sunday afternoon, January 14, 15 and 16. The three programs will include major quartets and other ensemble numbers. HENRI TEMIANKA, Violin ROBERT COURTE, Viola GUSTAVE ROSSEELS, Violin JEAN DE NOCKER, Violoncello Three CONCERTS in RACKHAM AUDITORIUM FRIDAY, 8:30 P.M. SATURDAY 8:30 P.M. SUNDAY, 2:30 P.M. JANUARY 14, 15, 16, 1949 TICKETS (tax incl.) THREE CONCERTS $3.00 and $2.40 11111 11 - --------- Il I II ____ I 111111