MUSIC
SUPPLEMENT
Latest Deadline in the State
41P
:43 a t t
MUSIC
SUPPLEMENT
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1955
--4
r.
ARTUR 'RUBINSTEIN, virtuoso pianist, who will appear
March 1 at Hill Auditorium
Critic Considers Rubinstein
'Master Pianist, Musician,
"Artur Rubinstein made his
first American appearance more
than 40 years ago.
"He has long been a great mu-
sician and a grand executant; and
now ... lhe is king of his profes-
sion . . He is a master pianist
and a master musician. There has
not been his like since Busoni !"
So wrote Virgil Thomson,' New
York music critic after a recent!
Rubinstein concert.
Born in Warsaw, son of a hand-
loom manufacturer, he first dis-
played signs of musical talent at
the age of three. At six, he al-
May Festival
To Conclude
Musical Year
ready had performed at a charity
concert in Warsaw.
Debut at 11
At 11, young Artur made his
formal debut in Berlin under the
baton of the venerable Joachim,
who had assumed responsibility
for Artur's musical future.
By the time Rubinstein was 15,
his reputation had spread through-
out Europe and he-had earned the
praise of Saint-Saens, Paderewski
and Max Bruch. He paid his first
visit to America in 1906, and gave
75 cbncerts in three months.
Rubinstein returned to Europe
to begin his global trips, which
have since covered more than two
million miles and have taken him
to every country in the world ex-
cept Tibet.
Knows Eight Languages
Upon the outbreak of World
War I, he tried to join the Polish
legion, but his knowledge of eight
languages made him more valu-
able as an interpreter.
He was so shocked by the bru-
talities of the German army that
he swore never again to play in
that country. He has kept that
vow for more than 35 years.
Rubinstein's concert appear-
ances have broken attendance re-
cords at box offices all over the
world.
He became an American citizen
in 1946.
Rubinstein estimates that he
has been asked 16,327 times
whether he is related to the de-
ceased great Russian pianist-com-
poser, Anton. During his student
days in Europe, he forestalled the
question by wearing a cap which
had a visor embroidered with a
large "NO!"
Beer, Wine,
Light Music
Pops' Fare
When springtime comes to Bos-
ton, every inhabitant of that his-
toric city knows that it's time for
the "Pops," it's time for Arthur
Fiedler to pick up his baton and
lead the Bostorr Pops Orchestra
through its paces of light, gay
music.
After the winter season of
the Boston Symphony, Symphony
Hall, the Orchestra's home, gets
a new coat of- paint inside the
auditorium. Bright green re-
places the--red winter colors, and
gold trimming adds brightness to
the Hall.
Wine, Beer and Light Classics
Then, from May to July, come
crowds of music lovers who de-
mand and get the best in the
light classical repertoire.
The air is festive as the audience
takes its place at the gold and
green tables, orders a glass of wine
or beer and awaits the entrance of
the man whose name has been
synonymous with that of the Pops
for a quarter of a century.
Out on the stage comes Arthur
Fieldler; he steps briskly onto the
podium, raises his baton, and to
the martial chords of Sousa's
"Stars and Stripes Forever" an-
other season of the Boston Pops
begins.
How did it all begin? How did
it come about that Boston should
follow its regular Symphony
season with a season of light
classical music, mixed with the
gaiety of beer and conversation,
marches and waltzes?
The Experiment of 1885
The Pops owes its origin to an
experiment which was tried as
long ago as 1885, when the Bos-
ton Symphony was four years old.
At the end of that season a series
of summer concerts was an-
nounced to be "made up largely
of light music of the best class."
The "Promenade Concerts" be-
gan Saturday night, July 11, 1885,
with the seats removed from the
floor of the old Music Hall, tables
installed and aproned waiters
much in evidence.
The concerts were a great suc-
cess and continued till October,
when the Pops was obliged to
make way for the Symphony. The
concerts have continued, with in-
termittent breaks, until the pres-
ent day.
Boston-born Arthur Fiedler has
been conducting the Orchestra
since 1930. Although a musi-
cian who can conduct Bach as
well as the more popular classical
music, he has this to say, "A
Strauss waltz is as good a thing
of its kind as a Beethoven sym-
phony. It's nice to eat a good
chunk of beef, but you want a
slice of light dessert too."
Fieldler is particularly concern-
ed about serving the dessert as
well as possible.
GREETINGS!
The University Musical Society is happy to announce a
comprehensive schedule of concert attractions for the coming
season. These concerts are planned primarily for the cultural
life of students, faculty, and the general public. Great orches-
tras and other ensemble groups, both American and foreign, are
included; as well as world-renowned soloists, both vocal and j
instrumental.
The programs are carefully arranged, and consist of a
happy balance of works from classical, romantic and con-
temporary schools of composition, including symphonies and
other great orchestral numbers, choral works, operatic arias and
songs.
The University Choral Union and the University Musical
Society Orchestra offer opportunities for competent singers and
instrumentalists to gain valuable practical experience supple-
mentary to the inspiration gained from listening to performers
of world-wide reputations. Information as to membership in
these groups may be obtained at the offices of the Society, in
Burton Tower.
With justifiable pride in the accomplishments of the past,
the Board of Directors hopes and trusts that the twenty-six
concerts will prove to be valuable and happy experiences for
those able to attend. The Board expressers appreciation to the
Regents, faculty, and students, as well as to musical friends
in general, for their loyal and continued support of the ac-
tivities of the Society. The Board also expresses appreciation to
the press, both local and nationwide, for generous co-operation
and publicity. All of these elements have been valuable factors
in contributing to the success of the Society's efforts to worthily
follow in the steps of the Society's founders who adopted as
their legend, "Ars Longa Vita Brevis."
(Signed) CHARLES A. SINK, President, I
University Musical Society.
BRITISH MUSICIAN:
U.S. Audiences Admire
Pianist DameMyra Hess
Dame Myra Hess, the British pianist, is among the most beloved
musicians in America today.
She was born in England and made her debut at an orchestral
concert with Sir Thomas Beecham. It aroused such enthusiasm that
she was engaged at once by several leading orchestras.
Since then her career has been a succession of triumphs. In 1936
her services to music in England and abroad were recognized by King
George V, when she was made Commander of the Order of the British
Empire, a distinction never bfore -
given to an instrumentalist, popular the artist is, the greater
Her American debut took place his responsibility in playing pro-
in New York in 1922. Since then, grams of nothing but the finest
her tours in this country have music.
been an eagerly awaited event. "I love America the breadth of
"It is a joy to play to American
audiences," Dame Myra says. "So the country geographically and
many people on both sides of the the infinite variety of people, and
Atlantic think that the bulk of everywhere I go, in places large
the concert-going public likes only and small, I find a nucleus of
so-called popular music and that
success can only be won by play- ,.
ing programs which have quick
appeal. My experience is entirely
to the contrary.
"It is the great classics that are
most appreciated and enjoyed
everywhere. It is we artists who
train the public; they trust us and
we owe it to them to respect the
trust," she continues. "The moren
Orchestra
Celebrates
Tenth Year
Youngest of the great orchest-
ras of Europe, the Philarmonia of-
London will celebrate its tenth
birthday this year by making its
first tour of the United States.
The Orchestra was planned
during the war by Walter Legge
as one which would enlist the best
musical talent in England. When
the war ended, the dream mater-
ialized.
The Philharmonia was formed
of young British musicians, most
of whom had spent the war years
in uniform in the service of their
country, plus a handful of young
women instrumentalists. Its first
concert was given October 25,
1945, in Kingsway Hall, London.
Its conducters haye included
such famous names as Toscanini,
Furtwaengler, Kubelik, Marke-
vitch, Ormandy and Cantelli.
With its principal conductor.
Herbert von Karajan, the orches-
tra played at the Edinburgh, Aix-
en-Provence and Lucerne Festivals
in the summer of 1954.
In January, the Philharmonia
and Karajan will participate in
the inauguration of the Mozart
commemorative year in Salzburg.
Born there in 1895, Karajan
studied at the Vienna Conser-
vatory. Karajan served an appren-
ticeship of three years at the Ulm
Opera House, then moved on to
Aachen where, within a year, he
was made Musical Director of the
theater.
An invitation to the Berlin
Opera immediately established
him as an outstanding conductor
before he was 30.
He is a permanent maestro at
La Scala, and made his American
debut when, upon the death of
William Furtwaengler last spring,
he headed the London Philhar-
monia on its first U. S, tour, at
first temporarily, now perman-
ently.
Single Tickets
Now on Sale
Single tickets for the Choral
Union Series and the Extra Con-
cert Series are now on sale in the
offices of the University Musical
Society in Burton Tower.
Choral Union Series prices are
as follows: Main Floor-$3.50.
First Balcony-$3.00. Top Balcony,
first eight rows-$2.50. Top Bal-
cony, ninth to 16th rows---$2.00.
Top Balcony, last five rows-$1.50.
Prices for the Extra Concert
Series are as follows: Main Floor
-$3.50. First Balcony-$3.00. Top
Balcony, first eight rows-$2.50.
Top Balcony, ninth to 16th rows-
$2.00. Top Balcony, last five rows
-$1.50.
Musical Society
Sponsors Stars
Rubinstein, London Philharmonia,
CGieseking, Hess to Give Concerts
By TAMMY MORRISON
The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Arthur Rubinstein and the
London Philharmonia Orchestra will be among the featured perform-
ers in the 1955-56 concert series at Hill Auditorium, sponsored by the
University Musical Society.
The 77th annual Choral Union Concert Series will open October
11, with Zinka Milanov, Yugoslav Metropolitan Opera soprano. The
Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch conducting, will make its
annual visit to the University October 24, followed November 6 by the
appearance of the Cleveland Orchestra, with conductor George Szell.
Nathan Milstein, noted violinist, will be featured November 14.
- The Robert Shaw Chorale will
Child Choair
Wins Praise
.In America
The Obernkirchen Children's
Choir are the young singers who
last season, on their first tour of
the United States, took the coun-
try by storm.
The fairy-tale-come-true began
only a few years agowhen Edith
Moeller, a social worker, sought a
means to raise funds for an or-
phanage in her small town of
Obernkirchen, which nestles in a
valley in Lower Saxony. Miss
Moeller, organizing a choir from
musically talented children, hoped
that by giving local concerts, they
would be able to earn money to-
ward the building of the orphan-
age.
In the summer of 1950, the choir,
not only unknown, but barely con-
sidered in the professional class,
entered the International Eistedd-
fod in Llangollen, Wales. Chal-
lenging the 25 larger, more ex-
perienced singirig groups from all
over Europe, the children walked
off with first prize.
"The Happy Wanderer"
At the Wales festival they sang
a song that had been written ex-
pressly for them by Friedrich Wil-
helm Moeller, Miss Moeller's bro-
ther. Soon the children's recording
of the song, "The Happy Wander-
er" was selling in hundred's of
thousands, became a juke-box and
"Hit Parade" favorite, then be-
came known as the Choir's theme
song.
"The Happy Wanderer" was
their passport to world citizenry.
After the Wales festival, they tour-
ed London and the English provin-
ces ,then arrived in New York..
After an appearance on coast-
to-coast television, they went on
to a phenomenal 31-concert sold-
out tour of six and a half weeks,
getting rave notices from critics
and ordinary concert-goers alike.
make its third appearance in Ann
Arbor November 22, followed by
a return engagement of the
Vienna Choir Boys, famous a cap-
pella boys' choir, January 15.
Toronto Symphony to Appear
The Toronto Symphony Orches-
tra, conducted by Sir Ernest Mac-
Millan, will give a concert Febru-
ary 22. Artur Rubinstein, famed
pianist, will appear M~iarch 1, fol-
lowed by Virtuosi di Roma, 14-
man chamber music group, March
13.
The series will close with the re-
turn appearance March 19 of
pianist Walter Gieseking, best
known for his interpretation of
Debussy.
The tenth annual Extra Concert
Series will begin October 17
with the Obernkirchen Children's
Choir, who introduced "The Hap-
py Wanderer," followed Novem-
ber 9'by the London Philharmonia
Orchestra, conducted by Herbert
von Karajan.
The Boston Pops Tour Orches-
tra,' Arthur Fieldler conducting,
will make its third visit here Jan-
uary 8, followed February 15 by
Dame Myra Hess, distinguished
British pianist.
The series will conclude March
9 w i t h Teresa Stich-Randall,
young American soprano, who this
year, after many successful Euro.
pean engagements, makes her
first concert tour of her native
land.
Traditional performances of
Handel's "Messiah" will take place
December 3 and 4, featuring the
University Choral Union and solo-
ist, Ellen Faull, soprano; Lillian
Chookasian, contralto; Howard
Jarratt, tenor; and Donald
Gramm, bass. Lester McCoy will
conduct both performances.
Chamber Music Festival
The Budapest String Quartet
will be featured at the 16th an-
nual Chamber Music Festival Feb-
ruary 17, 18 and 19. The Quartet
is composed of Joseph Roisman
and Alexander Schneider, violins;
Boris Kroyt, viola and Mischa
Schneider, violoncello.
The six concerts of the+
annual May Festival will
place May 3, 4, 5 and 6 in
Auditorium.
63rd
take
Hill
The Philadelphia Orchestra,
making its 20th consecutive ap-
pearance in the Festival, will be
conducted by Eugene Ormandy.
Others participating in the con-
certs will be the University Choral
Union, Thor Johnson, guest con-
ductor and Lester McCoy, associate
conductor; and the Festival Youth
Chorus, Marguerite Hood, conduc-
tor. Soloists will be announced in
the spring.
The Festival programs serve as
a climax to the yearly Musical
Society activities, which consists
of 26 major concerts, besides those
in the Festival.
- Tickets will be on sale at the
offices of the University Musical
Society in Burton Tower on Dec. 1.
COLORATURA PLUS:
Zinka Milanov Noted For Vocal Range
o
Zinka Milanov, Metropolitan
Opera primadonna soprano, is one
singer with virtually two singing
voices.
The distinguished Yugoslav ar-
tist, officially classified on the Met
roster as a dramatic soprano and
world-famed for her interpreta-
tion of Aida, Tosca, Santuzza and
other powerful-voiced heroines, is
also quite at home in roles norm-
ally assigned these days to colora-
turas,
Her extraordinary vocal en-
dowments are not, however, en-
tirely responsible for Zinka Milan-
ov's tremendous following, for she
has realized that American opera-
goers look for something more than
brilliant technical flights, and to
act upon that realization.
Arrived in 1937
Arriving from her native Yugo-
slavia in 1937, Mme. Milanov pre-
sented an appearance very much
New York couturiers and hair-
dressers have contributed to the
transformation from singing haus-
frau to glamour girl. This offstage
improvement in personality and
appearance naturally pays divi-
dends in operatic impersonations
of the slim and regal Aida or the
lovely, sad Lenora who could dis-
and now does everything she can
to aid in the rehabilitation of this
land.
Mme. Milanov's father was a
bandmaster with a baritone voice,
and her brother, Bojodar Kunz,
is a celebrated pianist.
The primadonna-to-be made her
first public appearance quite
young, singing to her brother's
accompaniment at a charity con-
cert. Later she entered the con-
servatory at Zagreb to be trained
as a contralto. There, her two
and one-half octave range was
discovered.
Debut as Leonora
She made her formal debut in
1927 as Leonora in "Il Trovatore."
After dramatic soprano training,
she made appearances in other
European opera houses and Bruno
Walter asked her to sing Aida in
Vienna. Arturo Toscanini heard
her performance there and invited
Italian Con cert
Group Unique
"Something different, something
superb," as one of the New York
critics put it, appeared on the New
York concert scene when the Vir-
tuosi di Roma were introduced to
the metropolis in the fall of 1950.
Fourteen musicians, each of
them a virtuoso in his own right,
make up the ensemble, which plays
as a chamber orchestra in perfect
proportion, while any one of the
members may be called on to be a
soloist.
Chamber Orchestra,
Soloist Caliber
Renato Fasano, the director,
brought the ensemble together,
searching all over Italy for the
talents which would combine into
a chamber orchestra and still be
of soloist caliber.
He found men in Venice, Rome,
Naples, Turin and the other cities
of Italy, who shared his dream
and were willing to work for it.
Six violins, two violas, two cellos,
a contra bass, a flute and a piano
make up the ensemble.
300 Years of Chamber Music
The repertoire of the Virtuosi
di Roma reflects their high pur-
poses. From the chamber music
literature of 300 years, the cham-
ber group has drawn the finest of
all types, nations and combina-
"EX-GOLDJMANN":
Nathan Milstein To Use World
Famous Strad ivarilus in11Recital
DAME MYRA HESS
... British pianist
culture that knows and loves the
great classics.
"The spontaniety of the audien-
ces and their freshness of outlook
is one of the greatest inspirations
to a performer," she concludes.
Dame Myra has been acclaimed
as one of the greatest and best
interpreters of Chopin and Schu-
mann at present. Her repertoire
equally represents Bach, Brahms,
Beethoven and Mozart.
She holds many awards and
honorary degrees. In 1945 the
King conferred upon her the hon-
or of Dame Commander of the
British Empire and in the same
year, she was awarded the Gold
Medal of the Royal Philharmonic,
The Guild of Musicians, a City
Company dating back to the 14th
century, gave her the Cobbett
Medal. She asmade ho~nraryv
o .
ash
When Nathan Milstein makesv
his appearance in Ann Arbor, he
will play one of the greatest
violins left to posterity by that
most famous violinmaker, Anton-
ius Stradivarius.
The Instrument, which arrived
in this country several years ago,
is known to connoiseurs as the
"Ex-Goldmann' and dates back
to 1716.
Milstein is Russian by birth and
American by adoption. He began
study of the violin in his native
city of Odessa with Stoliarsky,
and later went to Petrograd to
study with Leopold Auer.
Although he had played in
public when he was ten years old,
he did not take up a career as a
child prodigy.
First Tour At 19
He was 19 when he made his
Milstein was recognized as a
master of the violin before he
started his concert career in the
western world, by the great violin-
ist Eugene Ysaye. The young Rus-
sian had gone to Belgium to study
with him, but after hearing him
play, Ysaye said simply, "Go-
there is nothing I can teach you".
umphs when he made repeated re-
cital and orchestral appearances
in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Brus-
sels, Paris, London, Zurich and
Lucerne. He has touredLatin Am-
erica, Mexico, Egypt and Pales-
tine.
He became an American citizen
in December 1942. He declares, "I
esteem that above all honors I
have received in my life",
Milstein made his American
debutin 1929with the Philadel-
phia Orchestra under the direct-
ion of Leopold Stokowski.
No Geniuses Today
He does not believe there are
any immortal violin geniuses
living today. "There are two re-
quisites which real genius must
possess," he says.
"First, genuine musicianship
and a full emotional and intellec-
. . x,. ..