mUsic SUPPLEMENT L Sir 43aU DAitj mUsic SUPPLEMENT ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 1957 I w/ I a Ullll ll S S Annual Festival Has Unique Past First May Concerts Inaugurated In 1849 by 'U' Musical Society The annual May Festival is unique. It's not merely an isolated annual musical fete, but instead repre- sents the culmination of a definite program of concerts given through- out the entire season. These pre-Festival series include 20 performances by the world's most distinguished artists, both vocal and instrumental, string quartets and other ensemble groups. The country's major or- chestras and choral bodies perform in addition to the six May Festival concerts. The combined series are. carefully planned each season and con- stitute a serious and educational factor. Together, they provide op- portunities for members of the University, the community and the state in general to hear a wide Pianist To Open Concert Series Twelve Soloists, Two Choral Groups, Philadelphia Orchestra To Perform Twelve soloists, four conductors, two choral groups and the Philadelphia Orchestra will be featured in the 64th annual May Festi- val to be held May 2 through May 5 in Hill Auditorium. The two choral groups are University ,Choral Union and Festival Youth Chorus. The Festival Youth Chorus, composed of 400 young singers from the Ann Arbor Public Schools, will be directed by Geneva Nelson, associate professor of music education at the University. Alexander Brailowsky, pianist, will perform in the opening May Festival concert, playing Beethoven's Concerto No. 3 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 37. Under the directon of Eugene Ormandy, play an all-Beethoven concert in-i Noted Group Will Apear .a pp1VR In Festival Appearing in all six May Fes- tival concerts will be the Philadel- phia Orchestra, under the baton of Eugene Ormandy. The famous symphony en- semble played its first concert in 1900 at the Philadelphia Academy of Music, conducted by Frits Schell, a German musician. Schell had founded the orches- tra the preceding year. It num- bered. from 80 to 85 players. Fa- mous musicians, among them Richard Strauss, were constantly engaged to play with the organ- ization. Because these great names meant great fees, the orchestra soon went into debt. By the end of four years it was thought they would have to disband .The "Wo- men's Committee for the Philadel- phia Orchestra" was formed, how- ever, and through its work, the orchestra 'was established once more. Carl Pohlig succeeded Scheill as conductor of the famous group! and it was under his direction the ensemble performed the inciden- tal music .to Mendelssohn's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," in celebrating that composer's cen- tenary. When the orchestra was in its 13th season, Leopold Stokowski became its conductor. He soon -made the ensemble one of the top in the country. Many musical compositions made their Ameri- can debuts under his direction. Among these were, "Alpine Sym- phony," by Strauss, and Rach- maninoff's "Fourth Piano Con- certo." Because of illness ,Stokowski engaged many guest conductors for the orchestra. Among them wasw Eugene Ormandy. Six years after his first appearance with the group, Ormandy became its conductor. Under his direction, the Orchestra became the first symphony to appear before tele- vision cameras, performing an hour-long program in 1948. The Philadelphia orchestra was also the first symphonic en- semle to record and perform for a sponsored radio broadcast, and to appear in a motion picture, Form Society For Culture To develop musical culture in the University and its environs, and the pountry in general was the purpose lf the University Musical Society when it was organized in 1879. The society organized the Choral Union Chorus of 300 voices, which has been in existence through the years without a break. In connec- tion with the chorus, a series of concerts, the Choral Union Series, was provided. As a climax to the 1894 season's concert, the first annual May Fes- tival was organized. This first Festival consisted of three con- certs while the number has now* range of the best music literature performed by outstanding artists in their respective fiields. Educational Significance These offerings are planned, not primarily for amusement and en- tertainment, - but rather are of sound educational significance.. They are intended to appropriately supplemrent, on a worthy and dig- nified basis, the academic and professional resources of the Uni- versity in its numerous other fields. To adequately portray the mag- nitude. of the entire musical pro- gram, it is necessary to review briefly the early conditions which led to the founding of the Uni- versity Musical Society in 1879 -Daily-Norman Jacobs MAJESTIC HILL AUDITORIUM, HOME OF 'U' MUSICAL SOCIETY CONCERTS, STANDS IN TRIBUTE TO DONOR, ARTIUR HILL. '4". l 1 i 1 1 1 r I 1 i 1 7 1 and to the inauguration of the" first 'May Festival in 1894. Their A history comprises the old story of the "little acorn and the mighty oak." Sets In 1854, Prof. Henry Simmons Frieze was called to chair the University Latin department. He Hill Auditorium, home of the was an accomplished musician and University Musical Society con- supplemented his academic pur- certs, was constructed in 1913 suits by a lively interest in the cul- from funds bequeathed to the tural welfare of the University and University by the late Arthur Hill the community. of Saginaw. First President Hill a University alumnus, was Frequently "evenings of music" for many years a member of the were held at his home for inter- Board of Regents and a man who ested friends. Twenty-five years was greatly interested in the cul- later, in 1879, he was one of the tural education of the general organizers and. became the first student body. president of the University Musical At that time the Regents sup- Society. plemented Hill's bequest by a sum The principal purpose of this sufficient to construct the audi- Society was to provide musical op- torium on what was then monu- portunities and to "Bridge the mu- mental lines. sical resources of the University The auditorium primarily had with those of the community." a seating capacity of approximate- For its first 15 years, the So- ly 4560, but in 1948 it was reno- ciety directed its efforts largely vated completely. Larger and more to the organization and mainten- comfortable upholstered seats were ance of the School of Music and installed, but a shrinkage of 3501 the Choral Union which gradually in capacity was necessitated. developed, from a small member- Although lacking in stage ap- ship to approximately 300 singers. purtenances for such productions The organization provided occa- as opera performances, the build- sional choral concerts and from ing once again stands as a worthy See UNIQUE, Page 2 monument of its generous donor. 'U' Choral Union Evolved Annual May Festival Program Thu AJ Overtur Symph( All All Me Fir Concert and ( All Lax Ro Fri "Aida" Satu WIL Overtu Concert andt "Walru rsday, May 2-8:30 P.M. EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor LEXANDER BRAILOWSKY, Pianist re to "Leonore",,No. 3, Op. 72 ..Beethoven ony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93 . . Beethoven egro vivace e con brio egretto scherzando nuetto e trio nale: Allegro vivace to No. 3 in C minor, for Piano Orchestra, Op. 37 . ........... Beethoven egro con brio rgo ndo: Allegro iday, May 3-8:30 P.M. UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION THOR JOHNSON, Guest Conductor LEONTYNE PRICE, Soprano MARTHA LIPTON, Contralto KURT BAUM, Tenor ROBERT McFERRIN, Baritone NICOLA MOSCONA, Bass ....... ........................Verdi irday, May 4 -- 2:30 P.M. LLIAM R. SMITH, Assistant Conductor JOSEPH SZIGETI, Violinist FESTIVAL YOUTH CHORUS GENEVA NELSON, Conductor ire to "La Scala di Seta" ........ .Rossini to in D Minor for Violin Orchestra ............... . ..... .Tartini JOSEPH SZIGETI s and the Carpenter" ..........Fletcher FESTIVAL YOUTH CHORUS t No. 1, Op. 5 ..... .... .....Bartok ia .............................Corelli JOSEPH SZIGETI, ony No. 4 in A major an) ............,....... Mendelssohn rday, May 4-8:30 P.M. EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor ROBERT MERRILL, Baritone Overture to "Die Meistersinger".......Wagner Symphony No. 88 in G Major ...........Haydn "Adamastor, roi des vagues profondes," ..from L'Africaine...:............ .Meyerbeer Farewell and Death of Roderigo ........Verdi ROBERT MERRILL Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 ............. .Barber "Deh vieni alla finestra" . ........ ......Mozart "Nemico della patria"..............Giordano "Eri tu" from Un Ballo in Maschera .. . ...Verdi ROBERT MERRILL "Russian Easter" Overture ...Rimsky-Korsakoff Sunday, May 5-2:30 P.M.. THOR JOHNSON, Guest Conductor UNIVERSITY CHORAL UNION MARTHA LIPTON, Contralto DONALD GRAMM, Bass-Baritone GINA BACHAUER, Pianist JOHN KRELL, Piccolo Concerto in A Minor for Piccolo .......Vivaldi JOHN KRELL "Five Tudor Portraits" . . . .R. Vaughan Williams MARTHA LIPTON, DONALD GRAMM Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83 . .Brahms GINA BACHAUER Sunday, May 5-8:30 P.M. GINA BACHAUER EUGENE ORMANDY, Conductor RISE STEVENS, Mezzo-Soprano Overture, "Academic Festival" ....... .Brahms Symphony No. 3 in One Movement . ... .Harris "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" ......Mahler RISE STEVENS, Prelude to "The Afternoon of a Faun" ..Debussy "Connais-tu le pays" from Mignon ....Thomas Air de Lia, from L'Enf ant Prodigue ... . Debussy "Amour, viens aider" .............. Saint-Saens RISE STEVENS Choreographic Poem, "La Valse" ........Ravel cluding Overture to "Leonore," No. 3, Op. 72, and Symphony No. 8 in F major, Op. 93. In Friday evening's concert, guest conductor Thor Johnson will conduct the orchestra and Choral Union in Verdi's "Aida." Soloists for the opera will be Leontyne Price, soprano, Martha Lipton, contralto, Kurt Baum, tenor, Rob- ert McFerrin, baritone and Nicola Moscona, bass. The opera was written for Is- mail Pacha, Khedive of Egypt, to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal and the new Italian Theatre at Cairo in 1871. The libretto by Antonio Ghis- lanzoni is based upon a scenario by the Egyptologist Francois Marlette and Du Locle. "Aida" is a story of love, war and hatred and abounds in intrigue. Saturday afternoon violinist Jo- seph Szigeti will play Rossini's Overture to "La Scala di Seta," Concerto in D minor for Violin and Orchestra by Tartina, Por- trait No. 1, Op. 5 by Bartok and Corelli's La Folia. Also included in the afternoon's program is the "Walrus and the Carpenter" to be sung by the Fes- tival Youth Chorus. The Orches- tra, directed by assistant conduct- or William Smith, will perform Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 in A major. Feature Robert Merrill Singing excerpts from L'Afri- caine, Don Carlo, Don Giovani, Andrea Chenier and Un Ballo in Maschera, Robert Merrill, bari- tone, will be featured in Saturday evening's concert. Eugene Ormandy will conduct the orchestra playing Orverture to "Die Meistersinger" by Wagner, Symphony No. 88 in G major by Haydn and Rimsky-Korsakoff's "Russian Easter" Overture. Sunday afternoon, soloists Mar- tha Lipton, Donald Gramm, bass- baritone and the Choral Union will combine to perform R. Vaughan William's "Five Tudor Portraits." This Cantata is based upon texts by the Norfolk poet John Skelton. The texts range from a robust and humorous ballad of a tipsy ale- house keeper to a sorrowful lament of a little girl for her pet sparrow. Piccoloist, Pianist Perform John Krell piccoloist, will ac- company the orchestra, directed by Thor Johnson, playing Concerto in A minor for Piccolo and Or- chestra. Pianist Gina Bachauer will perform Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 83. In the final concert Sunday evening, mezzo-soprano Rise Ste- vens will join with the Philadelphia Orchestra in performing excerpts from Mignon by Thomas, L'Enfant Prodigue, by Debussy and Saint- Saens' Samson et Dalila. The Philadelphia Orchestra will perform "Symphony No. 3 in One Movement" by Harris and Brahms' "Academic Festival" in the Sunday evening concert. The evening's program will be concluded with "La Valse" by Ravel. Smith Assists In Conducting The establishment of a perman- ent Philadelphia Orchestra Cho- rus can be credited to William R. Smith, assistant to Conductor Eu- gene Ormandy, appearing with the Philadelphia ensemble in the Mau 4h nr rrt Sink Greets, May Festival Audience GREETINGS: The Board of Directors of the 'University Musical Society has full confidence in presenting this year's May Festival programs that they will meet with the enthusias- tic approval of music-lovers far and wide, both as to numbers per. formed, and the participating per- sonnel. Programs of variety and bril- liance, as well as of cultural signi- ficance, will be performed by re- nowned personalities. Orchestral works, choral works, solo composi- tions, both vocal and instrumental, will be heard. With the cooperationofcon- ductors, soloists and organizations it is hoped that the general vari- ety and the continuity Will be of interest' and pleasure, and of cul- tural value, to students, faculty, local concert-goers, and those who come from all over the country. This sixty-fourth annual M9Tay Festival, it is hoped, will justify the ideals of the founding fathers who chose as their legend, ARS LONGA VITA BREVIS. The Board of Directors of the University Musical Society takes this opportunity of thanking all who, by their continued interest and support, are responsible for whatever worthwhile results have been attained. -CHARLES A. SINK President of the University Musical Society Artist, Author Szigeti Has' World Fame Joseph Szigeti, internationally celebrated concert violinist, will appear in the third MayFestival concert. In addition to concert fame, Szigeti holds his own as an auth- or, having written an informal autobiography, "With Strings At- tached." The Hungarian-born violinist made his American debut in 1925 as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Leopold Stokow ski. He is now a. United States citizen with a residence in South- ern California. He has made two round-the- world tours and is currently mak- ing annual American and Euro- pean concert tours. During these past year, the long record of honors accorded Szigeti continued to grow. His Brahms Violin Concerto with the Phila- delphia Orchestra, under Eugene Ormandy, was chosen by a na- tion-wide poll of leading critics as the best concert recording of the year. Master of all styles, classic, ro- mantic, modern, Szigeti started the vogue for many a concerto - Prokofieff, Tartini, Frank Martin - and for many a composition of Stravinsky, Bela Bartok and Ern- est Bloch. Despite his universal acclaim, Six-eti take his fam with an Under Society Guidance Founded in 1879, the Choral Union has evolved under the guid- ance of the University Musical Society. Portrai' Prof. Lester McCoy of the music school conducts the singers. La Folia When first organized, the music group was comprised of singers from four local churches grouped together at that time to sing Sympho choruses from Handel's "Messiah." (Itali The organization is one of the oldest and largest permanent SatL choral groups in the country. Through the years, the group has added more members, made' its repertoire larger and changed its name to the one it now holds. Meetings were spent in discussing i performance procedure, choral re -NOTE CONDUCTORS- -ID~ hearsals and social entertainment. TE The Choral Union pledged to give four concerts for the benefit of the Ladies Societies of the Pres- Congregational Churches. O byterian, Methodist, Episcopal and o l hrhs The group staged public con- Two certs in which some of the solo altern"te roles were taken by artists fromx: aeat New York, Detroitan Chicago. "MaFst The attendance, however, was Orma meager and income was not" his positi enough to meet expenses. concert ai With a membership today of At five more than three hundred singers and by th drawn from the campus, commu- degrees in nity and environs, the Choral Un- In 19 ion performs yearly at the May was invit Festvial and sings in Handel'stundo "Messiah" during December. e age of 15 had received his professor's diploma in addition to piano playing, composition and counterpoint. 21 a long-cherished ambition was fulfilled when Ormandy>:' ed to make a concert tour of the United States. The tour be only glittering promises by an inexperienced manager; oung artist soon found himself alone in a strange country : mut funds. - - '- -- .- I antu the yc J~l i Uih