The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-03
THE sEMBRIGH CONCERT

Nine Marcella Senbrich's recital at
Plymouth church Saturday evening was
one of the leading musical events Of the
season, as it was an event of social impor-
lance. Music. and society are potent at
fractions, and theIagifted soprano was
greeted by an audience which filled the
church auditorium u to overlooking, each
listener instinct with anticipation. Sem
brich's talents are manifold, and; 1t was to
be expected that much would surely be
distinct wayesGof disappointment. The
high anticipations pf the listeners were
not fulfilled. *ssfsSs5sSsss=. -:
Sembrich is the embodiment Of lovely,
gracious, piqttant MOmanhood.. Her smile
is enhancing, magnetic. Her gestures
are full Of dramatic grace: Her fame as
a cantatriceE is Worldwide. j She is the
voice is superb and her method the fin
ished product Of Lamperti There seems
to be nothing lacking. Why was it, then,
that there was so marked a disappoint
n1ent in. the concert. Saturday evening?
The program vas divided into three
what might be- s4tsled 1.-THE Old Masters
| Gluck. Handel; Beethoven Pergolesi, Bach
and Campra were. the composers from
whose works thes numbers were selected
| None of them, however, was worthy Of
| especial note from the standpoint of exc
cution save, perhaps, the aria from La
Serva Padrona, a very; early opera
+ bouffe, which was daintily sung and thor
oughly enjoyed. After singing the first
| group Of songs, Nine. Sembrich was re-
called three times, but there was a notice.
able lack Of that all-compelling enthusi-
assn which it is the delight of singers to
acknowledge and honor.
The second section Of the program was
devoted to classical German yLieder."
! ~, ~1>f ~ r p1ol ,%oor
appeared on the list. 1t was in the sing
ing of Schunann's ''Nussbaum' that
Nine. Sembricll aroused the first genuine
and, in fact, the only enthusiasm Of the
evening. This exquisite love lyric, writ
ten by Schumann for the sweetheart who
afterward became his wife; was exquisite
ly sung and with consumnate art, and the
audience sat GREATNESS and spellbound
| as the melody tenderly wooed the listen
ing ear. The last stanza was repeated as
| an encore. II
Part third was devoted to Modern
Songs" and at least three Of the numbers
brought Nine. Se,nbrich into comparison
with three prominent sopranos who have
been heard here within the last year
Mines. Lilli Lehman, -Nordica and Blau-
welt. The Gr1eg ''Zickeltanz" and Bun
gerts quaint I'm der Eosenlaube," both
demanding most artistic rendition, were
sung by Lehman, and the contrast was
most marked. While Sembrich's voice is
younger and =fresher, the palm OF. the fin
ished artist must certainly be awarded to
lehman. 49, =
Many in the audience were disappointed
in that Nine. Sembrich confined her Of
forts to songs which required but little
of coloratura, and did not sing at least one
} number which. might adequately display
her vocal powers. Among the first grour
Of songs there was but one not taken from
opera or oratorio, and it would seem as
though room for one such number might
have been found. =.
Of Nine. Sembrich's voice it were idle tt
speak. A soprano of rich quality and full
even register, with tantaliZingly vibrant
tone in its cadences, she possesses all the
i gifts for supreme success. That she die
not win more enthusiasm from so musica
and appreciative an audience is to be re-
: GREETED. Rubin Goldmark at the piano
. was a sympathetic and acceptable accom-
PIANIST. -: u,...=s '-Boardman.
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