Omaha daily bee., 1902-04-06
will say. "why was this not done long
ago?'
Now is the time? why not nov?

viii say, why was this not done long
ago?"
Now is the time? why not now?
A concert was given at All Saints church
last Tuesday night in honor of Mrs. Myron
Smith, who left here last year with a beau
tiful contralto voice, given to her by a
benefcient Creator, and returned with a
supposed mezzo-soprano, given her presum-
ably by a London teacher. Mrs. Smith has
a musical temperament and style and poetic
genius, however, which neither teacher nor
Custom-house can take from her.
Mrs. @. w. johnson and Miss Helen
Hoaglaud, preceded Mrs. Smith in the
pushing up" process Of the voice, and
with Indifferent success.
Question-Is it a disgrace to be a Con-
tralto?
l had the pleasure of hearing Mr.. Lowell
Dunn play violin obligato to a solo by the
ever-popular musician with her voice Of
pure contralto, Mrs. Allen P. Ely, Friday
night, and l confess l was astonished at
the beautiful. rich and sonorous tone this
young artist brings forth. He has the
musicians temperament to his finger tips
and his ~obligato playing, a might rare
accomplishment, showed sympathy, ac-
curacy and velvety finish.
In a recent mention Of the Cecilian
quartet Of women's voices / inadvertently
omitted to mention the name Of the ac>
companist, Miss Josephine Thatcher, who
is one of the best we have got in this neck
o. the woods. l trust that Miss Thatcher
will accept my belated compliment.
Miss Mae Naudain has returned to Omaha,
direct from the studio of Mr.. Charles W.
Clark, the eminent baritone of Chicago,
who will soon leave for Paris to spend a
couple Of years there. Miss Naudain has
worked faithfully during her stay in Chi
cago, but her singing is the best evidence
Of that. She uses her voice well and the
voice itself is of excellent quality. Before
she went away the musical critic of The
Bee commented in this paper upon one or
two faults in her singing. These she has
almost entirely eradicated, and she is
honest enough to thank the writer for his
criticism.
OF all the promising young pianists there
is none more deserving Of praise or Of being
brought to the light Of public discrimina-
ton than Miss Joy Keck, whose talent is
equalled only by her modesty. She is an
indefatigable worker and she will win great
success. This paragraph goes to show that
one ought to do his or her best at all times,
whether the world is looking or whether
one is all alone in the dark. l have never
heard Miss Keck play in public or even
in a private musicale, but, passing, l have
heard her practice and have often stopped
to listen.
Mrs. Thomas ]. Kelly has decided not
to renew her contract with All Saints
church at last years price, consequently
she will not be heard there any more. The
reason for her resignation is purely a bus
mess one. The relations have always been
Of the most pleasant nature. Mrs. Kelly
will devote herself more to concert and
festival work, a field which has been open
to her for some time.
I regret very much that l was unable to
attend the grand scenic production of the
idyllic Oriental operatta'' written by my
DISTINGUISHED little friend and composer
librettist, Miss Carmelita Chase. l should
like to have seen and heard the all-star
cast at the "Garret theater," even at the
tremendous price mentioned on the ticket
81 cent" Miss Chase must not think that
because 1 did not go l didn't care a cent.
I should like to have gone, but, alas and
alackl II was holy week. However, to par
odize John Gilpin: "Whene'er she next
doth write abroad, may ! be there to see."
THOMAS ]. KELLY.