The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-04-26
MUSICIANS N SOCIETY HERB
SINGERS AND PLAYERS VINO
SET A HIGH STANDARD.

One Of the projects for a charitable
entertainment last winter that did not 20
through was the production OF an opera
oomique by amateurp we'll known socially.
The promoters did not feel in the least
Gpprehensive that their singers would not
be equal to their tasks. They were certain
that a standard nearly as high as that
Of the ordinary professional performance
might be attained. 1t was the difficulty
Of getting the amateurs together often
enough for rehearsals that caused the
' trouble.
New York society has never been al
together without lie musical performers,
although there happens TO be more Of them
ut present than ever before. At all events
they seem to take their accomplishments
more seriously. They have their coaches,
devote regular hours TO practice, have
their throat doctors and keep all the regu-
lar adjuncts OF the professional singers.
OF course this little comedy makes them
feel that they are perhaps a little nearer
the professional standard. Few diversions
Of society seem to interest the members
30 much as their music. They take II
much more seriously than any other in
Cidental occupation.
II was not a great many years ago that
society In this city had in lis ranks at least
three women who we're uncommonly gifted
as singers. They we're Mrs. Nicholas Fish.
Mrs. FoIhall Keene, then Tippy White, and
Miss May Calender. None Of them sings
now even for charity or for their friends in
public, but Miss Calender has never lost
an iota Of her interest in music and has
shown IL in other ways than her attendance
At the opera and her general support "
concerts She founded the symphony
Club and the orchestra Of women, and she
now has regular classes Of advanced pupils.
There are few worthy musical enterprises
to which both Miss Calender and Miss de
Forest are not among the first subscribers.
Miss de Forest and Miss Calender are two
friends who rank as the feminine Damon
and Pythias OF society.
One Of the most accomplished singers in
society is Mrs. Grenvillc Smelling, who has
| cultivated her talents here and abroad
and has appeared publicly with such sue
cess as TO prove her right to rank among
the singers whether Of professional or
social life. Mrs. Lawrence Townsend has
studied singing for some years and has
even composed melodies good enough to
be played by such a master OF the violin az
Fritz K~reisler, who also plays the COM
positions Of Rawlings Cottenet, who ~
largely responsible for the direction OF the
Metropolitan Opera House,
Miss Lucille Thornton is one OF the few
contraltos who have won rank as q singer
before audiences Of her friends accustomed
10 hearing the best professional talent.
Miss Alice Preston il especially well known
for her singing Of lieder. She is ole NJ
the first singers to be invited % take part
in the musical entertainments organized
for charity by the amateurs OF society.
Miss Fanny Ives, daughter Of Brayton
Ives. is another earnest student who for
the past three years has been devoting
herself in Europe TO improving a volCs
which many who have heard her believe
would assure her success on the operatiO
stage. Mrs. John Kane, who was a Miss
Schermerhorn, Ia another woman OF society
who has been almost constant in the Gull
tivation Of a voice which has caused great
delight TO those who have heard her. such
persons arc necessarily her friends, as she
has never sung in public.
Mrs. Rutherfurd Stuyvesant, who was
the Countess de Wessenaer before she
married Mr.. Stuyvesant, has a mezzo-
soprano voice which she has cultivated
here and in Paris with Jean de Reszke.
De Reszke is the teacher also Of Miss Made
leine Dlnsmore, an enthusiastic musician
and student OF singing. although she never
appears in any but her own drawing room
or that OF her friends.
Mrs. X. s.. Kip. who was Miss Jones aud
is a niece Of Miss Fanny Coster Jones. is
one Of the most enthusiastic singers IN
society. She has studied for several years
in this country and will soon 60 to Paris
to perfect herself in diction and mlse-en-
scene, 1t has been said that she contem'
plates a professional debut. She is a daugh.
ter OF Mrs. Louis Quentin Jones. No other
New York woman ever made such a thor
ough study of French diction merely for
it's own sake, Mrs. Kip usually deyoteS
herself to operate music and is said 10
know already we'll enough to sing them at
short notice GiIf1, .Juii6te, Mdnon, Mimi
and ViolettO. She has studied these roleS
as a means Of perfecting her skill as a singer.
and at the time she learned them had no
idea Of going on the stage.
Mrs. Chauncey MCkeever, who was Miss
Julia Draper before her marriage is another
singer who has won a place among
the best Of the society vocalists,
There are also instrumental players o'
considerable skill. Foremost among the
women violinists ia Mrs. Wilbur Mathews.
VINO DRIOIt ltI marriage wax vi 20 ' uTll~
Duke Of Kentucky. Miss Duke sAIdicd for
some years in Germany and later took n
course in France in order TO learn certain
phases OF her art that she had not been able
TO perfect in Berlin, She is one Of the mem
hers in the women's orchestra founded by
Miss Calender.
Miss Gladys Rice, daughter Of DR.. Clarence
Rice, is another ~violinist in the slme or
chestra and only a few nights ago took
porf In a nnnpnTt Uivan Inv RiuUnp Rnafp
the cellist. Miss Rice and Miss Rcsamond
Street played trios with Signor Bcsco,
which was an evidence NJ the skill Of these
two young women musicians. When Miss
Rice was studying in Paris several years
ago Mime. Eames gave a special musicale
in her honor. Miss Rice expects TO spend
next summer in Germany continuing her
studies.
Another v~iolinist who can rank with
the profess iOnals is Mrs. Trenor L. Park,
who as Miss Julia Catlin was a well known
amateur. For some years past she has
spent every summer in Paris studying
with a we'll known teacher.
Miss Rcsamond Street, the ~favoritA
OF society, is a daughter OF Mr.. and
Mrs. William Street Of 43 Park avenue.
She has appeared at most OF the private
benefits Of the winter. Russell Hewlett Ia
the most popular pianist among the men Of
and 10 In special demand az an ac-
companist by the young women who sing
In public. He 10 also heard often as a soloist
NJ pivate concerts.
Lawrence Butler. an architect and son
Of Prescott Hall Butler, is the most popular
OF sooiety just now. He came back
from Paris last autumn, where for the past
four years he had been studying with Jean
de Reszke. Mr.. Butler has sung in oonoerta
with Mrs. Kip the duets from Romeo ct
and with Miss Preston the duet
Ado and Rhdddmes. Since Beverly