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,. ..