The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-12-01
NEWS OF THE DAY
IN SOCIETY WORLD
Informal Entertainments Yes
terday
NOTES HERE AND THERE
Mr.. and Mrs. Seals Dinner for Miss
GiIIespy and Mr.. Wimberly.
chiIdren's Party-Bridee
Luncheon-Personals.
NOTES HERE AND THERE
BY MYRTLE MILES.

man by several callers who are members
of the club. She is personally very pleas
ing, with a face of charming expressive
ness and manner most gracious She is
of that type, strong and big, that sug-
gests voice of rich volume and timbre
and one can not help associating her with
the big things in music when one knows
that she sings at all. She is quite cap
tivating with her little gestures and her
efforts to make up in expressiveness of
face and persuasive manner whatever
DEFICIENCIES exist in her Engish-for she
speaks most brokenly.
She chartered quite attractively to her
guests of her musical career, beginning
at the beginning, back in Berlin, where
she received lily training from Mad
anne Mallinger, going later to sing in the
theatre at Strasburg, such roles as COR
trud' and 'Azucena" for two years Then
she studied in Dresden with Frau Soehre
and sang In the opera The succeeding
two years were spent in the Theatre
Prague.
At Bayreuth Madame Langendorff won
the interest of Frau Wagner because of her
superb rendition of the works of the
master composer. Madame Wagner per-
sonally assisted her in the preparation of
her roles for the great productions and
she also became a friend of Siegfried
Wagner. She is most enthusiastic in
speaking of Madame Wagner whom she
describes with a world of emphasis and
meaning, as Zach, so wonderful" but
he
conductor and more courteous than Frau
Wagner.
Madame Langendorff was at the Metro
politan opera house a season in a num-
Der of Wagnerian roles. She worked
while there with Mrs. De Rigaud. She
will go west on this winters tour, sing
ing in concert in Los Angeles and San
Francisco in February, but is booked
for an appearance with Nordica in Mex
leo in the spring. Those who have
heard her sing since her arrival Friday
are most enthusiastic over her voice
which is pronounced superb and in the
cry of Rachel from "The Prophet" which
she will sing this evening, Mrs Aldrich,
her accompanist, states that she is thrill
Ing.
The Treble Clef concert promises with
such a soloist to be a delightful treat
The music-Ioving public already appre-
ciates the beauty of the chorus work
done by the club members. They have
had the constant training and attention
this fall of Mrs Flournoy Rivers, who is
a director of experience and skill, and
the prospects are most favorable for this
to be one of the most pleasing musical
events of the winter.
Rarely has benefit entertainment been
anticipated with such interest as is the in
terpretative reading to be given by Mrs.
Leonard 7. Beecher on the evening of
December 8 under the auspices of the
Free kindergarten association. Mrs.
Beecher's reputation as reader is so
extensive that she was we'll known in
Birmingham before taking up her resi-
dence here Several who had heard her
in the east were numbered among her
admirers. This will be one of the most
unique and enjoyable treats of the season
and promises to attract large audience
among whom will be numbered, in addi-
ton to those interested in the beautiful
philanthropic work that Mrs. Beecher is
aiding, all lovers of literature and the
dramatic art.
1t was the original plan of Mrs Beecher
to produce 1.-THE Servant in the House"
that masterpiece by Charles Ram Ken
nedy, of which so much has been writ
ten in praise and this met with the an
nrOVal xubn
plays of it's peculiar significance and
would be glad to have an opportunity
of studying 1t from the standpoint II
Mrs. Beecher's interpretation However.
when partial list of the numbers In
Mrs. Beecher's repertoire was given In
these columns last week q number of
requests were made for a change in the
subject, hence it is possible that instead
of 1.-The Servant in the House." which
was chosen because of its appeal to the
critics and playgoers of the east and of
the readers personal interest in it, some
other favorite may be heard. This will
depend solely upon whether it was found
that the Birmingham public wants some
thing else. 1t is the desire of those con-
nected with the entertainment to have
Mrs. Beecher present the number that is
most favored, whether it be the one orig
inally decided upon or something different.
but decision will be reached at once
Among the favorites in Mrs. Beechers
repertoire are number of selections from
Shakespeare, notably "As You Like It,"
much Ado About Nothing "The Tam
ing of the Shrew," Twelfth Night: and
from Browning, SAUL "Pompilia," I'm
a Balcony and "a Blot in the 'Scutch-
con-" She gives the Christmas Carol"
from Dickens and 1.-The Mill on the Floss"
by George Eliot; also such thoroughly
charming numbers as 1.-THE Lion and the
Mouse" 1.-THE Little Minister .peter
Pam and Monsieur Beaucaire." In the
new art form with musical setting may
be mentioned "Enoch Arden" ''Des Hex
enlied," "Hiawatha," Jeanne dare"
''Parsifal' and "Bergliot"
Senator ]. P. Dolliver. who will lecture
before a Birmingham audience In March. |
is one of the distinguished admirers of
Mrs. Beecher's art He said Of her not |
long since:
Mrs. Beecher has done more to give |
life and heart to the art of public read
ing than any of our present day elocu- |
tionists. Her art has charm and fas- |
cnation beyond the genius of either the
platform or the stage of today. She
gave that great assembly new sensation
the sensation that makes one wandering