Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-24
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Miss Mary Munchon in a song recital.
The program;
Polonaise, OPP .Paderewski
II Pensieroso. f. Handel
With flute obligato by Mr.. Petersen.
~ caro- MIC ben.........".....G, Giordani
~ DeIcSus wagner
~ 9ianucnen; ''''...s..''.... Brahms
tu( Haidenroslein................F. Schubert
ts( outrage Schumann
Miss Munchof. 20
NdJ GdNOLNe
OBJ Dalse Petite Cc) Menuet Moderne.~.
....Joseph Calm
Mary of Aliendai s =, .' Sam Hook
Lullaby Dedicated to Miss MunchoD
rA '.S;;.i.. Calm
Miss Munchof.
The triumph which was accorded to Miss
Mary Munchof at the Boyd last night,
when she appeared in her Arst home con-
cert after many years of foreign study,
was a triumph OF which she is assuredly
proud, and the memory Of which will last
until she has sung her last song on this
sphere, which heaven grant may be very
many years distant.
1t was a coronationi The crown Of low
ing sympathy woven with sterling appre-
citation and golden appreciation Was placed,
not on the brow, but on the heart of the
singer who came back to her own people
and who was by them received right roy
ally, and while reclamation poured forth
the oil Of comfort she was hailed and
anointed and crowned as an artist and as
an example Of success through earnest
work.
Miss Munchof has worked necessarily.
intelligently and bravely, patiently search
ing for the true art path and walking in it
uncompromisingly.
She has not hurried. She has succeeded,
and Omaha is proud of her achievement.
She is an example for all students to
look to, and her work last night Will have
its effect in many an Omaha studio for
the next few months. students will be en-
Unused and teachers will find their work
more earnestly absorbed.
Miss Munchoff has been somewhat unfor-
tunate, since her arrival in this country.
in having a press agent (whoever he may
bel whose idea seems to be thai she should
be "circussed," to use an Advertising
phrase. 1t is not necessary to boom her
as Americas greatest Soprano nor is it
prudent to advise the public that she is a
second Patti, or the superior OF Melba or
sembrich, that she taught Germany what
colorature singing is, etc.
Such statements are intrinsicaIly and
historically incorrect and are absolutely
unnecessary. She is the FIRST Mary
Munchoff," artist-and her place is hers and
no one, else's; 1t is an enviable place.
which she herself has made. and II can
stand on its own merits absolutely.
Critics have differed and will differ as
to Miss Munchofs classification, most of
them considering her a pure example of
colorature singing, Of which Emma Nevada
is a splendid type, and of which many
discerning ones consider Nine. Nevada the
absolute monarch. -.-
After hearing Mary Munchoff last night.
In various kinds Of work the impression
grew upon the musical critic of The Bee
that Miss Munchoff is notably a 'Iieder''
singer, an adept at the difHcult and oft
attempted eld-th classic song.
A critic is not entitled to any considera-
tion II he does not support his opinion by
evidence, and therefore 1t devolves upon
the present writer to state that in defense
Of his position he notices in Miss Munchof
a fascinating power Of Interpretation, a
wonderful ommand OF the beautiful and
elusive "mezza voce" and a wealth Of tone
color, In the lower registers especially.
She has also that gift Of expressing by
her countenance, sincerely and without
~mannerism, the meaning and sentiment Of
what she sings.
In fact, II is in her colorature work that
any mannerism is noted unworthy OF such
an artist, namely a tendency to terminate
a cadence by closing the mouth suddenly.
and an inclination to close the eyes In
securing certain pianissimos. These are
tribes, but Miss Munchoff is q great artist
and as such she cannot afford to do any,
thing inelegant.
In colorature work, roulades, trills and
shakes" the artist showed a magnihcentlv
trained organ. and the months and months
and years Of careful, conscientious study
and practice bore fruit last night. Her
trill is like the ripping tone OF a rare
bird OF song. and in her "Nachtigall"
song she literally and actually was a
glorious nightingale" Her runs and
arpeggios were not always as "clean" as
one might look for. but yet her work was
always dainty. Flexibility, she has, for.
idity, she has, II must be admitted, but
nevertheless, while not critieizing her az
a colorature singer, the thought impresses
itself that she is primarily a heart-singer
and she sends her tones right home.
-
Mr.. Joseph Cab played two numbers
and responded to generous encores; par
ticularly enjoyable were the compositions
Of his own. His Lullaby sung by Miss
Munchon Ito whom 1t is dedicated), was
yoeiferously a%pplauded and repeated, after
being beautifully and POLITICALLY sung. Mr..
Calm also played most artistic aceompani-
ments and some Of them were very din
cult.
Mr.. Petersen played a most effective flute
obiigato. THOMAS J.. KELLY.
A to mBtaFta,
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