The Savannah morning news., 1903-05-10

his position there and Mr.. w. ., BUN
has accepted the vacancy.
The many friends Of Mr. r. C. Cor
don will regret to learn that he has
been quite i'll for some time, necessi-
tating his absence from st. Johns
Church choir for the last two Sundays.
Mrs. George schley will have her an
nual pupils recital the early part OF
next month. Mrs. SchleV has num-
Der of young pupils Of much promise.
Among them is Miss Harvey Hull who
plays we'll now, and with a continue
ton Of her studies bids fair to make
one of the foremost pianists Of the GtT
as she grows older.
A young man here .Yto with care
and study has the making OF a tenor
voice is Mr.. c. E. Donnelly. The
quality of his voice has an unusual
mellow richness and already his tones
are we'll placed and even. They flow
with an ease which shows an uncon-
I scious direction OF the proper efforts
In singing. Good tenors are scarce
everywhere, and it is hoped that in
the course Of a few years Mr. Donnel-
ly may develop the voice that there
is every irdicatio should result from
consistent and proper work on his
part.
But seldom has such a piano per-
Torrance been heard in this city as
Mrs. Laura Mehrtens gave at the May
concert of the Music Club. Her appear
ance on the stage brought forth a
burst of applause from the few who
have heard her play of late years.
The greater portion of the au-
dience had never heard her and were
In nowise prepared for what was be-
fore them. Mrs. Mehrtens had not
played a dozen bars before the entire
audience raised themselves to a sud-
den position of expectant alertness.
There was no doubt of the surprise
to everyone The touch of the piano
made the instrument sound like a
mellow toned harp, her power of tone
was like that of a man, her execution
was absolutely accurate, and the in
depreciation of the composition-the
Liszt "rarantella"-was thorough and
complete. In the midst of the interest
In the work OF the performance her
appearance at the piano was not lost
sight Of. She sat at the keyboard with
a graceful ease, and every move
ment appealed to the artistic senses of
those watching her. Mrs Mehrtens
studied abroad for eight years under
Johannes Weidenbaoh Prof. Heinrich
Berth, principal of the Berlin High
School of Music, and DR.. Carl
Reinecke. From DR.. Reinecke she holds
a certificate tegtifying to the high de-
gree of exceHency as a pianist to
which he considers she has attained.
This was the first occasion on which
Mrs. Mehrtens has played before the
Music Club, though she has been a
member of 1t for two years 1t 10 hop
ed that another season will bring her
before the club and the Savannah
public more frequently than hereto
fore. There is doubtless not another
city IN the South that can boast four
such accomplished pianists as Mrs.
Mehrtens. Mrs. DR.. Fuehr (nee Miss
II. Marion SMART Mrs. Lilienthal and
Miss Coburn
Mrs. S. F. Smith and Mrs. M. Ed
Wilson never appeared in better voice
or sung to better advantage than on
Tuesday evening. Both were most
fortunate in the selection of their num-
bers, giving works which Thoroughly
| suited their voices. Mrs Smiths
phrasing always attracts notice and
commentator and this was especially
good in the aria from THE Marriage
of Figaro" The List Loulei furnished
full opportunity for all the beautiful
sang with a more thorough confidence
in her work than ever before. The
Programme Committee displayed good
Judgment in selecting these two a. the
soloists.
Miss Ysobel Smart has been greatly
missed from the musical set this sea-
son. She Is recognized as one Of the
prominent pianists of the city and has
Of late years appeared frequently on
the programmes of the Music Club For
several years she was a member of the
board of managers of the club but re-
signed last summer prior to leaving the
city for years travel with her par
ents around the world. Miss Smart
will return to Savannah next fall ana
will again take an active part in mu-
steal circles.
After hearing Mr.. Harry Raskin's
two violin solos Thursday night the
members of the Music Club feel all the
more that they have been deprived of
much pleasure during this season by
his failure to appear before the club.
He won many friends by his perform
ances last season, and they have re-
gretted not hearing him again until at
! Thursdays concert. 1t is hoped that
he will appear more frequently In the
| future.