The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-03-20
HUNDREDS ATTEND
PARS|FAL RECITAL
BY NINE. BEECHER
St. Elizabeth College Alumnae
Hear Woman Interpret
Famous Opera.
MANY JERSEY FOLK AT
WALDORF=ASTORIA EVENT
Money Realized Will Be Applied
on New Chapel at the Con-
vent Station School.

The production Of "Parsifal," as in
terpreted by the celebrated expression
list. Nine. Isabel Garghill Beecher,
assisted by Emma Kimball ~Goldsehmidt
at the piano, was the centre of interest
at the Waldorf-Astoria New York, yes
terday afternoon. For months past the
altmnae of the college for women at
Convent Station have been engaged in
preparation for the recital. and the ex-
p%ectations of all who were interested in
The affair were more than realized when
the Aston gallery of the Waldorf was
filed to its utmost capacity to hear
Nine. Beecher in her wonderful piece of
Interpretation.
With a repertoire of exceptional merit,
"Parsifal'' is justly considered by Nine.
Beecher as her masterpiece, and all
who heard her Yesterday in her soulful
and inspiring treatment of the great
Wagnerian opera. expressed themselves
as charmed by the woman's personality,
touched by her wonderful power of APP
pealing to the emotions, but above all,
awakened to a keen sense of apprecia-
ton of all things good and beautiful
and true. ,
Nine. Beecher's mnemonic gifts are
certainly marvellous, but far from max
ing one feel that she accomplishes sim
ply a feat of memory. Prodigious as
this is in itself, the sense of her higher
and nobler influence welded through
infection of voice, attitude and gesture
makes one forget the mechanical effort
of the mind in the purely spiritual ele-
walton of the soul. She has devoted
years to her art, and in the form OF
cantillation, which h has made a
speciality, she stands with few peers
and no superiors.
Audience sDeIIbOund.
The recital, or Interpretation, of Par
sifaTp was a revelation to the hundreds
of college women who went to hear
Mime. Beecher's work. Long before the
time appointed for the entertainment
the seats We're filed, and when the
artist appeared upon the stage there
was not standing room in the hall. Fol
two full hours she held her audience
%spellbound, reverent almost in it's at
~tentive silence, and at the conclusion
of the beautiful story of the Grail, the
impression which carried away eaeh
was one of awe and admiration for the
artist who could so we'll lift her work
above the mere plane of the artisan.
THE students of the. college attended
the recital in large numbers, and grad
yates of other days mingled with those
of the present, all intent upon mani
testing their loyalty to alma mater, and
in e~spousing whatever might add to her
name and fame.
Neyyarkers Present.
Among those who occupied boxes at
the recital were Mrs. Teresa A. Sherl-
dan, the president of the Alumnae AS
sociation: Mrs. S. Josephine Egan, the
vice-president, and Mrs. Mary Nam
mack. In the other boxes
were Mrs. James Smith, il, wife OF
former United States Senator Smith;
Mrs. b. M. Stanley, Mrs. Daniel El1ott,
Miss MARY Rose Smith, Miss Agnew,
Mr.. and Mrs. Maurice Brill, Mrs. John
d. sullivan. Miss Sullivan, Mrs. Frank
sullivan, Miss Gillen, Miss Irvine, Mrs.
Delehanty, Miss STANLEY. Mrs. Peter
Hauck. jr., the Misses Walsh. MISS
Minahan, Mrs. Thomas Foley, wife OF
the present sheriff of New York; the
Countess Leary, Mrs. Thomas f. Ryan.
Prominent among those on the floor
were:
Brooklyn-Mrs. James Shevlin, Mrs.
Timothy L.. Woodruff. Mrs. Michael
Murphy, the Misses McGroarty, Mrs.
Laidlaw, Mrs. M. O'Donnell and daugh-
tors. Miss Cunningham, Miss Tomney,
Miss Flannery. Miss Flanagan, the
Misses Ennis, Mrs. Walters and others,
Newark was represented by the
Misses Garrigan. Henrietta Smith, Nc
Cabe. Conlon, Mrs. ] Holbrook, Mrs.
James Smith Sd. Mrs, b. NJ. Shanley,
jr., Mrs. William Stanley, Mrs. f. IF.
Mcdonald and daughters.
From the Oranges-Miss Minahan,
Mrs. Daniel Dugan. Mrs. Joseph Sharp,
Mrs. Frank Winter, the Misses Winter,
Miss Goken. Miss Crowley, Miss Nc
Keen, Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Nevins,
Mrs. Hart, Miss Meterie, the Misses
Lamb, Mrs. Brown. Miss Cogan.
From Paterson-Mrs. Joseph Nc