The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-31
a Forge, the brilliant

tenor, and Frank La Forge, the brilliant pianist.
 Reserved seats are on safe at Parker's Nineteenth street store. There has been a large demand and although the audi torium has a seating capacity Of loOO' a crowded house is assured. It Is be- lieved that every seat will be sold by tomorrow night. - -s
 Not only is the High school auditorium acoustically perfect, but every seat in the balcony as well as on the main floor commands full view of the stage. In short it is one of the best concert halls in this country.
 Madame sembrich ranks easily first among sopranos She is certainly the finest colorature artist now living and one of the greatest who has ever lived.
 Liszt took deep interest in Sembrich when as little girl she went to call on him. The old master, kindly in ex- pression, yet never without that inlmita- bly, sarcastic smile lowering faintly about the corners of his mouth, asked the young Slavic maiden to play Beethoven. She modestly asked;
 "Bach or Beethoven, master, or Shu- mann or Chopin?" Liszt shook his shaggy locks and laughed.
 Tt seems you have a repertoire?" he queried.
 Marcelline courtesed and then in de- mure accents answered:
 Perhaps some, Liszt," and, without waiting for a reply, she went to the grand piano, seated herself, and placing her childish feet on the pedals, dashed into the pompus introduction of the master s twelfth Hungarian rhapsody. The bold ness of her attack, the surety of her fingers, and her fire and freedom pleased the great pianist exceedingly. When she had finished he asked, in bantering man. ner:
 What else9" She took out her violin and pluekng it's strings moment to test the tuning of the instrument, she began one of Wienawslds mournful Polish melodies, and soon demonstrated her excellent lowing and rich cantabile.
 Anything else, young lady?' Liszt asked sarcastically. Then Sembrich sang, and sang like a bird, and Liszt burst into enthusiastic applause.
 My little angel" he said in German, God has given you three pairs of wings with which to fly through the country of music; they are all equal; give up none of them but sing, sing for the world for you have the voice of an angel"
 In recent years few singers have come more deservedly into popularity than FL lison Van Hoose. Though of Dutch de- cent. he is an American born and bred, his home being in Tennessee, where much of his early musical training was ob- tained Subsequently his studies were supplemented in Europe, where he placed himself in the hands of the best mas ters and devoted several years to the most careful preparation for the concert and operatic stage. His voice has been styled pure lyric tenor, singularly sweet and of unfailng purity and warmth. Although he is essentially a temperament tai singer, he has learned the art of self control, and sings with artistic restraint. This artist, by the way, is kinsman of J. A. Van Toose of Birmingham. MT Van Hooses first public appearance was as tenor soloist in Dr. Heber New tons church, New York, and other church positions of prominence were filled by him for several years In 1897 Damrosch and Ellis engaged him for their season of grand opera in German, French and Ital- ian, the leading prima donnas being Melba and Gaisll, and he continued in opera for two seasons with ever in- creasing success. In 1898 Damrosch and at the summer concerts in London, and after two seasons, during which he be- came a pronounced favorite, he returned to America for another season of opera. His second series of London triumphs be- gan in 1899, where he appeared at the important festivals with. such conductors as LomoureauX, Richter, Wood and Aug ust Hams. With the exception of a year in Paris, Van Hoose has spent the time since then in his native land. In 1892 the Boston Symphony inaugurated a season of Wagner concert, with Van Hoose and Madame Ternina as solo, ists, and the venture met with enthusiastic support. For four seasons-two in opera and two in concert-Van Hoose has been associated with Madam Melba. This