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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 1954
FOUR PAGES
Top Singers, Conductors
Featured
in
ay
Festival
I.
Ormandy, Johnson
To Lead Orchestra
Conducting the Philadelphia Orchestra in its 19th May Festival
appearance will be the orchestra's regular director, Eugene Ormandy,
and guest conductor Thor Johnson of the Cincinnati Symphony Or-
Sc hestra.
Ormandy will lead the first, third, fourth, and final concerts of
the Festival, and Johnson the second and fifth performances.
MAY FESTIVAL PROGRAMS
The Philadelphia Orchestra at All Six Concerts
THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 8:30 P.M.
EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor
LILY PONS, Coloratura Soprano
Overture to Egmont, Op. 84........ Beethoven
Symphony No. 7 in A major. Op. 92.. Beethoven
Lo ! Here the Gentle Lark .............. Bishop
Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14......... Rachmaninoff
Lily Pons
INTERMISSION
Chere Nuit.. ... ..............Bachelet
"Caro Nome" from Rigoletto........ . . .Verdi
Miss Pons
Symphonic Poem "The Pines of Rome" Respighi
FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 8:30 P.M.
THOR JOHNSON, Guest Conductor
LEONARD ROSE. Violoncellist.
LOIS MARSHALL, Soprano
BLANCHE THEBOM, Contralto
UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION
"Gloria", for Soloists, Chorus and
Orchestra. . . ..............Vivaldi-Casella
Soloists and
University Choral Union
Corrido de "El Sol"
C Ballad of the Sun) ......... Carlos Chavez
University Choral Union
INTERMISSION
Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, for Cello
and Orchestra ..................Dvorak
Leonard Rose
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 4:30 P.M.
EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor
JACOB KRACHMALNICK, Violinist
LORNE MUNROE, Violoncellist
FESTIVAL YOUTH CHORUS
MARGUERITE HOOD, Conductor
Variations on a Theme by Haydn,
Op. 56a ........................ Brahms
Eleven Songs........ ....Brahms
Festival Youth Chorus
INTERMISSION<
Concerto in A minor, Op. 102, for Viohn.
Cello and Orchestra.............Brahms
Jacob Krachmalnick
and Lorne Munroe
"Academic Festival" Overture, Op. 80. .Brahms
SATURDAY, MAY 1, 8:30 P.M.
EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor
ZINKA MILANOV, Soprano
KURT BAUM, Tenor
Overture to ."Die Meistersinger".......Wagner
"Nessun dorma" from Turandot ........ Puccini
Kurt Baum
"Un bel di" from Madama Butterfly.. . .Puccini
Zinka Milanov
"O terra, addio" from Aida. .............. Verdi
Mme. Milanov and Mr. Baum
Concert Music for String Orchestra and
Brass Instruments, Op. 50....... Hindemith
INTERMISSION
"Voi lo sapete" from
Cavalleria R.usticana.............Mascagni
Mine. Milanov
"Cielo e mar" from La Gioconda....Ponchielli
Mr. Baum
"Tu qui Santuzza?" from
Cavalleria Rusticana ............. Mascagni
Mme. Milanov and Mr. Baum
Armenian Suite.. ..............Yardumian
, SUNDAY, MAY 2, 2:30 P.M.
THOR JOHNSON, Guest Conductor
LOIS MARSHALL, Soprano
BLANCHE THEBOM, Contralto
JOHN McCOLLUM, Tenor
WILLIAM WARFIELD, Baritone
UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION
"Elijah" ....................Mendelssohn
University Choral Union
and Soloists
SUNDAY. MAY 2, 8:30 P.M.
EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor
ARTUR RUBINSTEIN, Pianist
Toccata and Fugue in D minor..Bach-Ormandy
Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, for Piano
and Orchestra ..... .............Grieg
Artur Rubinstein
INTERMISSION
Symphony No. 3a...................... Landre
Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini. Op. 43
for Piano and Orchestra. Rachmaninoff
Mr. Rubinstein
Choral Union Series To Begin
To Conclude A ril29 in Hill
75th Season
75thSFeasone Eleven Soloists, ri o W(horal Groups
~InTw Featurds To Perform During Six Concerts
In. Two Concertsj
Climaxing its 75th year of activity on campus, the University Mu-
Singing in the second and fifth sical Society will present the 61st annual May Festival April 29 through
concerts of the May Festival, the May 2 in Hill Auditorium.
University Choral Union will con- This year's Festival will feature a series of six concerts, highlighted
dude their 75th consecutive year for the 19th consecutive year by the Philadelphia Symphony Orches-
of performance here. tra under the direction of Eugene Ormandy and guest conductor
Founded in the season of 1879- Thor Johnson.
80, the group has grown from 40 ThrJhsn
members to its present member-
ship of 350, which is limited only OTHER STARS of the four-day Festival will include 11 soloists,
by the size of Hill Auditorium's the Festival Youth Chorus, directed by Prof. Marguerite Hood of the
stage. music school, and the University?
* * * Choral Union.!DM & intL
EUGENE ORMANDY THOR JOHNSON
conductor , , . guest conductor
Returning to Ann Arbor and the
May Festival, Eugene Ormandy
has been connected with the Phil-
adelphia Orchestra since 1936, be-
coming permahent music director
and conductor several years later.
A violin prodigy, Ormandy en-
tered the Budapest, Hungary, Roy-
al Academy of Music at the age of
five. After touring Europe in his
teens, he came to the United States
to fulfill an expected concert tour.
WHEN this proved to be a hoax,
Ormandy took a job in the orches-
tra of the Capitol Theater in New
York, one of the leading moving-
picture houses of "pre-talkie" days.
Ormandy soon rose to assist.
ant conductor, receiving recog-
nition by critics for finish, ac-
curacy and spirit. This reputa-
tion led to hs summer appear-
ances with Philadelphia's Robin
Hood Dell Orchestra and the
New York Philharmonic.
In 1930, conductor Henry Ver-
brugghen of the Minneapolis Sym-
phony fell ill and Ormandy was
asked to complete the series.
Leaving the mid-West, he
guest-conducted with the Phil-
adelphia Orchestra. This led
him to the post of co-conductor
and to his present role.
During the May Festival of 1952,
the University honored Ormandy
witha doctorate ofmusic, adding
to the doctorate degrees awarded
him by St. Paul's Hamline Uni-
versity in 1934, the Philadelphia'
Musical Academy in 1939 and the
Curtis Institute of Music in 1946.
University alumnus Thor John-
son will return to guest conduct
at the May Festival, making his
seventh consecutive appearance.
Johnson entered the Universityj
in 1935 for his-master's degree.
* * *
AFTER receiving the Beebe
scholarship entitling him to two
years of music study abroad, he
was appointed assistant profes-
sor at the School of Music, and
conducted the Little Symphony,
Two years later, he took over'
the direction of the Choral
Union and the Grand Rapids
Symphony Orchestra.f
With the advent of World War
II, Johnson organized the first all-
soldier symphony orchestra. Aft-
er his discharge, he was appointed
the director of the-"Julliard School!
of Music Orchestra. In 1947 he ac-
cepted his present post, the con-
ductorship of the Cincinnati Sym-
phony Orchestra.
Born in Wisconsin to a musical-
ly-minded family; Johnson moved
to North Carolina where, at the
age of 13, he became conductor of
a 17-piece orchestra composed of
fellow students. His undergradu-
ate music work was done at thet
University of North Carolina,
where he was awarded a Phi Betai
Kappa key and was assistant
conductor of the university sym-
phony orchestra.
Recipient of numerous honorary1
degrees,. Johnson has five doctor-
ates of music in addition to a Doc-!
tor of Laws and Doctor of Letters.j
ORIGINALLY, the Choral Un-
ion, composed of members of the
Ann Arbor Methodist, Congrega-
tional, Presbyterian, and Episco-
pal churches, had as its chief in-
terest. the singing of Handel's
"Messiah.".
Soon after the ,group's incep-
tion, however, it was assimilated
into the activities of the Uni-.
versity Musical Society, and be-
gan to perform other choral
works as well.
To date, the group has per-
formed practically all of the ma-
jor oratorios, as well as operas
adaptable to concert performance
and other works of various nature.
Frequently, American or workd
premieres of choral works have
been presented by the singers. I
THE ENSEMBLE will performI
one such American premiere when,
during the second concert of the
Festival, they will sing "Corrido
de El Sol," or "Ballad of the Sun,"
by Mexican composer Carlos Cha-
In addition, the second con-
cert of the series will feature
the American premiere of "Cor-
rido de El Sol" or "Ballad of
'the Sun," written for chorus
and orchestra by Mexican com-
poser Carlos Chavez. This com-
position, expressing the -nqui-
etudes of the M4exican peon, will
be sung by the Choral Union in
Spanish.
The first concert at 8:30 p.m.,
April 29, will star Metropolitanj
Opera coloratura soprano Lily'
Pons, singing Bishop's "Lo! Here
the Gentle Lark," and Rachmani-
Inoff's "Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14."
The French soprano will conclude
her program with "Chere Nuit" by
Bachelet, and "Caro Nome," from
Verdi's "Rigoletto."t
Conducted by Ormandy, the or-
chestra will play Beethoven's "Ov-
erture to Egmont, Op. 84" and
"Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op.
92," along with Respighi's "Pines
of Rome."
* * *
Welcomes
Audiences
Charles A. Sink, president of
the University Musical Society,
sends his annual message for the
coming May Festival Season:
"The Ann Arbor May Festival
of 1954 brings to a close the ob-
servance of the diamond jubilee
season of the University Musical
Society, which was formed during
the season of 1879-1880.
* * *
"AS A FIRST STEP the Society
organized the Choral Union. For
about one and a half decades the
U eictietL
GREIG'S PIANO CONCERTO:
Last Concert of Serites
To Feature Rubinstein
Ranked among the most celebrated of living pianists by music
critics, Artur Rubinstein will appear with Philadelphia Orchestra in
the closing May Festival concert at 8:30 p.m. May 2.
The Polish pianist will perform two numbers, Grieg's "Concerto'
in A minor, Op. 16, for Piano and Orchestra" and Rachmaninoff's
"Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43" as part of his sixteenth
consecutive tour of the United States. In November Rubenstein con-
cluded a two-month series of performances in Europe, playing con-
tinuously to full houses.
* * *
*
"SHOWBOAT' BARITONE:
Warfield To Perforn
Mendelssohn's 'Elijah'
Wllliam Warfield, known mainly to American audiences for his
rendition of the classic "Ol' Man River" in the movie "Showboat," will
perform in Mendelssohn's "Elijah" during the 2:30 p.m. May Festival'
concert on May 2.
The young baritone began his musical career at Eastman School
of Music in Rochester, N.Y.
STUDYING there on a scholarship, he attained proficiency in
German, Italian and French which caused him to be chosen for mili-
tary intelligence work during World War Two. Immediately after
V-J day the youthful ex-GI returned to Eastman to work on his Mas-
ters' degree.
Further studies had to wait, however, for Melvyn Douglas
~~~~~-~-- -- signed Warfield to the touring
company of the musical comedy
Festival Books "Call Me Madam." Back on
Broadway he was awarded small
W ill Be. Sold parts in "Set My People Free"
and "Regina."
is
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FIRST DISPLAYING ,,musical talent at the age of three, Rubin-
stein gave his first concert two years later. At eight he was presented
to Joachim, who was so impressed that he assumed responsibility for
the pianist's musical future.
of
Rubinstein was 16 when he first appeared in America. Reviews'
his first concert in Boston labelled him "half-baked; not a prod-
igy, not an adult. After 75 con-
certs in three .months, he returned
to Europe to begin a long period
of study "to hurdle the greatest
obstacle in the path of a prodigy,
that of shedding my immaturity."
Whenever his f a r- f lu n g
* :: schedule permits, the pianist
lives at home in Los Angeles
with his wife and four children.
Of touring, he says, "I love to
play the piano and touring gives
me great satisfaction. When I
arrive in a town I am a strang-
er. Then I give my concert, and
people talk to me and thank me.
It is a wonderful feeling."
An intimate friend of many of
the world's music greats, Rubin-
stein was a close friend of the.
French composer, Maurice Ravel
and of the Spaniard, Manuel de
Falla. He also credits Claude De-
ARTUR RUBENSTEIN bussy with being one of the ma-
noted pianist jor influences in his musical life.,
Series
Major works of the May Fes-
tival will be analyzed and dis-
cussed by Prof. Glenn D. Mc-
Geoch of the music school dur-
ing a weekly series of lectures
given 'at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Rm.
206 Burton Tower.
Students may enroll in the
course for a. fee of $6.
Brahms Work
To Be Played
By Monroe
Lorne Munroe, who at the age
of five made his first public ap-
pearance and at 10 toured Europe
will be principal violoncellist of
the Philadelphia Orchestra during
the Festival.
IMunroe, together with Jacob
Krachmalnick will be featured in
"Concerto in A minor, Op. 102 foi
Violin, Cello and Orchestra" bN
Brahms during the 2:30 p.m. con-
cert on May 1.
HE WAS in the process of com-
pleting his training at Philadel-
phia Curtis Institute of Music
when'he won an audition for solo-
ist during a Philadelphia Orches-
tra Youth Concert.
An immediate deep impressior
on conductor Eugene Ormand:
was made by Munroe's virtuos-
iity, but after his graduation fron
Curtis he virtually "disappeared'
into the mid-west. Later though
his brilliant playing won him the
solo cellist position with the Phil,
adelphia Symphony Orchestr
beginning with the 1951-52 seasor
vez. HONORS for the second pro-
During the three quarters of gram at 8:30 p.m. April 30 will be
a century of its existence, the shared by three soloists and the
Choral Union has had over 16,- University Choral Union, with
000 members, many of them stu- Thor Johnson conducting. So-
dents, but large numbers of prano Lois Marshall and Blanche
them coming from the Ann Ar- Thelbom, contralto with the Met-
bor area as well. t ropolitan Opera, will combine
In addition to singing in the their talents to sing "Gloria for
May Festival each spring, the Soloists, Chorus and Orchestra"
Choral Union also presents two by Vivaldi-Casella.
performances of the "Messiah" at This concert will also feature
the beginning of the Christmas violoncellist Leonard Rose in
season each year. Dvorak's "Concerto in B minor, CHARLES S
During the Festival, the ensem- Op. 104," as well as the Choral University Musica
ble is under the leadership of Union's premiere of "Ballad of President
guest conductor Thor Johnson, the Sun."
conductor of the Cincinnati Sym- .At 2:30 p.m. on May 1, the tra- Choral Union was he
phony Orchestra. Associate con- ditional all-Brahms program will sional programs inv
I ductor Lester McCoy, who has been be given with the Festival Youth siah" and other stane
with the Choral Union for the Chorus led by Prof. Hood singing ios were presented, eit
past eight years, readies the group 1 "Eleven Songs." The orchestra or in part. Often1
for the series, carrying them will provide the background for vi- out-of-town soloists a
through the numerous rehearsals olin soloist Jacob Krachmalnick groups were included.
which precede the spring event. See TOP, Page 3 "In 1894, as a clip
-- - season's offerings, ti
e . nual May Festival
- H sk rFestval To Present tuted. Since that ti
, ciety has increased
f *Ponspresentations to 26
g i o in Op Te ig Concert I certs. These involve
dIti
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l Society
ard in occa-
which "Mes-
'dard orator
Cher in whole,
programs by
and ensemble
max to the
he first an-
was insti-
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Metropolitan opera soprano L
Festival at 8:30 p.m. April 29 is pr
rated artists in the music world, ha'
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of renownea smoisis, coin voca
ily Pons, who will open the May and instrumental, chamber mu-
obably one of the most commemo- sic and choral groups, and the
ving received numerous honors and most important American and
medals and having one city, two European orchestras.
locomotives and several recipes "The Board of Directors has full
named after her. confidence that the artists chosen
and the programs arranged for
During her appearance here, the this closing event of 75 years of
world famous singer will perform continuous activity will not only
four numbers-Bishop's "Lo! Hear be worthy of the programs given
the Gentle Lark," Rachmaninoffs' through all the years but also will
"Vocalise, Opus 31, No. 14," Bach- meet with the hearty approval of
elet's "Chere Nuit" and Verdi's students, faculty, and music lovers
"Caro Nome" from the opera "Rig- in general.
olletto." "It is also lioned that these
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LILY PONS
... soprano
THOUGH having achieved fame
as an opera singer, Miss Pons' or-'
iginal ambition was to become a
concert pianist. After winning first
prize at the Paris Conservatoire of
;s her native France, her plans were
disrupted when she was suddenly
taken ill and forced to give up all
practice for two years.
Upon her recovery, she wash
asked to entertain wounded
World War I veterans in a huge
*hospital. Hesitating at first, Miss
Pons complied and was heartily
applauded by the audience of
soldiers.
performances will be an inspira-
tion through the seasons to
come, to the end that the world's
greatest music may continue to
be heard, thus fulfilling in large
measure the spirit of the legend
adopted by the founding fathers
--Ars Longa Vita Brevis.
"The Board of Directors is
deeply appreciative of the gracious
and generous support of students
and members of the University in
general, as well as of the press,
for their help and encouragement
through the years."
Tickets
Official program books for the
May Festival will be sold in the
Hill Auditorium lobby before the
concerts and during intermissions,
according to University Musical
Society presient Charles A. Sink.
Now being prepared by Prof.
Glenn D. McGeoch of the music
At the same time he studied'
under the GI Bill in the Ameri- NINT EETHL
can Theater Wing's Professional1 NINET N I
Training Program, managing to
STRAIGHT FESTIVA L:
supplement his educational allow-
ance with church and supper club
jobs. In his spare time Warfield
is also an excellent pianist.
Philadelphia Orchestra To PlayDuring All Concert
Playing during all six May Fes-
. . r.ac. _ 1n. .-. 4 'h .. nni-f ivsre inv. r.f n
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school, te 61st annual program . In 1950, he made his debut in tival concerts, the Philadelphia. pines, ledo othe setting up of a
book, which is more than 100 pages New York Town Hall. Immed- Orchestra will perform in its nine- permanent organization.
long, w1l contain the libretto for iately following this Warfield teenth consecutive Festival series. Sheel and a group of 80 mu-
the concerts, in addition to a list- was signed for a tour of Aus- Fifty-tour years old, the orches- sicians played six concerts dur-
ing in the appendix of personnel of tralia. tra had its beginnings in two con- ing their first regular season
the chorus and Philadelphia Or- Singing the 'male lead in the certs given under the direction of !in 1900.
chestra. ~ revived version of "Porgy and Fritz Sheel in 1899. Today it Currently composed of 110 mu-
t Sn~eczili feaar o oe o l IS v.2 '., 'n , 1h - - .nA Ae ,i , .,. I_ - -..f - ___ - -- - ... +j., -ncvic
SINCE SHEEL'S death in 1907
the orchestra has had only three
permanent conductors-Carl Poh-
log, Leopold Stokowski, and the
present conductor, Eugene Or-
mandy.
Ormnandy and the orchestra
student concerts and five chil-
dren's concerts.
The children's concerts, hour
long performances held on Sat-
urday mornings, are directed to
audiences under 13 years old,
Soloists playing during these
oncerts are the sm, e p aa
Her' vocal career was climaxed
when she made her American de- Season and single tickets for
but in the Metropolitan Opera. May Festival concerts are on sale
Since that performance she has from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. and 1 to
made concert tours throughout the 4:45 p.m. daily in the University
world, even traveling more than Musical Society offices in Bur-
100,000 miles entertaining soldiers Prices for season tickets include
I