I { mUsic SUPPLEMENT one Sir i4au f aitjdRVII mUsic SUPPLEMENT 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 1 1 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 iNK l Society ard in occa- which "Mes- 'dard orator Cher in whole, programs by and ensemble max to the he first an- was insti- ime the So- its annual major con- the services b htlh vn.2 C1 1, e i Metropolitan opera soprano L Festival at 8:30 p.m. April 29 is pr rated artists in the music world, ha' :Xiiii$ r' { S f f f t S i 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 f 1 : 5 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 y J F 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