Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-11
THE HENsCHEL RECITAL.
A Rare Exhibition of Vocal Art, With Cor
responding. Pleasure to a Large House.


singing that, from an artistic standpoint
is more thoroughly satisfying than re-
ctaI by Mr. and Mrs. Georg Henschel.
This phrase, or something like it, has been
iterated and reiterated so often that it
seems but the baldest and bleakest of
truisms, and yet there is literally nothing
else to say in summing up the results of
one of their concerts, like that which was
given to full house in Association Hall
Thursday night. This was the program:
Mr.. and Mrs. Henschel.
Aria from "Semele'. .................Ha Handel
Song, Polly Willis ..............Dr. Arne
Song, '4The glen of Kenmare" -. Old Irish
Mrs. Henschel.
Aria from "Orfeo" ............ $3.50. Haydn
Song of the haremkeeper, from '.Serag-
Crugantino's song from "Claqdine Won
Villa Bella" NJ t4anscbe, Beethoven
"Kennst du das land" ..................I List
serenade du PEASANT, from ''zanetto,"
Mrs. Henschel
Der ,doppelganger' .,...,....... Schubert
Der Asra" .........................R ubinstein
Couplets du Vulcain from Philemon"
Mr.. Henschel.
Duet, "Gondoliera". .............,. Henschel
Mr.. and Mrs. Henschel.
'Malgre IEclat .........-......... AenScnel
"SandmannSchen" ................,. Brahms
Ihe gardner ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS hdnn
Mrs. Henschel.
Ballads, ''The Erl-King'' ..,....':;.; .Loewe
1.-THE grenadiers' ................., Schtlmann
Mr.. Henschel.
"Duetto buffo,' Don Pasquale" .Donizett
If by art is meant the perfect co-opera-
ton of perfectly trained musical inteli-
gence and perfect command of vocal tech
nique Mr.. and Mrs. Henschel seem to
Nlafaf ono
was inclined to believe that Mr.. HenschePs
voice had gained in solidity since last he
was here, but whatever he has achieved
has come through art, for nature was
none too lavish in endowing him with gifts
of voice. With his dramatic energy and
poetic feeling, lively sense of rhythm
and an overflow of musical sentiment
combined with the utmost resources of vo-
cal technique, he compelS admiration and
delight. Breadth of musical sympathy is
one of his characteristics, so that it mat
tiers little what he undertakes; the result
is always convincing. The two grena-
diers'' is one of his famous songs, yet
there was equal pleasure in others. Loewe,
once famed as writer Of ballads, set
1.-THE EIl-King' to music that might be
heard oftener than it is had not Schubert
composed his epoch-making song. 1t is
by no means so dramatic as Schubert's,
but Mr.. Henschel made it thoroughly in
teresting. After that remarkable group
containing THE doppelganger, THE
Asra" and Nulcan's song, Mr.. Henschel
WAS called -DdCN 10 sing again, ana lnen ne
gave the joIiest OF songs, Schubert's 1.-THE
miller" with a Tilt that was captivating.
Mrs. Henschels singing is marked by
the same exquisite art, but added to 1t is a
feminine grace that is bewitching. Her
voice, though naturally pleasing, is not
large, but her tones are uniformly and
beautifully pure, her shading wonderful,
and her phrasing is elegance itself. She
eXcels in pianissimo effects with a deli
cacy that is almost lnconceivable. When
passion and power were demanded, how
ever, they were at her command, and they
came with most telling effect, so far were
they enhanced by contrast with modera-
ton and repose. The lullabys were sung
with infinite tenderness, softness and
sweetness, and it was after one of these
that she was recalled for another song
Ii was her husbands Spring song" in
which the bird calls were done with amaz-
ing dizziness. Another accomplishment of
hers is to sing one of those antiquated
MARBLES in Handel air with such grace
and such artistic shading as to make ac-
tual music of it.
The three duets, OF course, gave rare
pleasure, especially for their spirit and
vlvaelty. After the second one there was
an encore that brought out the familiar
"Oh, that we two were Maying, with all
the familiar beauties of a Hensche first
night" Applause was emphatic after
every song. and the people gave every
manifestation of intense eniOyment