The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-16
Mrs. Guwen Talks Of Opera Season
DebuMy'S Music And Boston Concerts


in his old splendid style, but evidently
the newspaper reports of his health ara
true. He is dreadfully nervous and pale
and seems Ill at ease. I enjoyed an even
ing very much in Boston when | heard the
Shroeder-Hess quartet. Willy Hess, by
the way, has brought his daughters TO
America to live. His wife died about a
month or six weeks ago in Germany and
he went home to arrange matters SO that
he might live in America His concert
the day that he learned of her death
was affecting. His tore were never better
and his playing. all in all, was beautiful
~ appealing. He is extremely popular
in Boston. He entered a restaurant one
day while I was dining there and the ex-
cited whispers the moment of this en-
trance told of the approach of a real
lion"
did You hear the Kniesel string orches-
tra?" I asked Mrs Gussen.
Eyes, and in the most beautiful sur
roundings-the ball room at Mrs. Jack
Gardner's Fenway Court. There were sew
eral hundred people in the audience. in
Guiding Mrs. Jack" who was looking
very chic and wore one of the biggest
hats saw in Boston"
Did you not spend a part OF your
time in Philadelphia p
Yes, but not long. I really went prin-
cipally to hear the Philadelphia Symphony
orchestra with whom Mr. Gussen used to
play. He was one Of their first violins
for a long while
ct am told that the Philadelphia or
ehestra ranks very highly" I remarked
yes, it does About the third in this
country I believe. The Boston orches-
ira Is of course first. and the Chicago
second"
Dear me- after simply living and
breathing music as you did for those
months | should think it would be hard
for you TO leave it,"
why. you don't know" she laughed
birmingham grew in attractiveness the
longer I stayed. / really could not be
happy elsewhere. This has been home now
for so long"
You are surely going to give Others
the benefit of your musical wanderings,
are you not?" I asked There are SO
many that l would like to discuss with
you all these interesting things that we
have talked about today"
Well. 1 expect to do something of
the Sort said Mrs. Gussen. Beginning
Wednesday 1 expect to give interpreta-
tons of the composers in my studio to
which the pupils of the Conservatory OF
Music professional musicians, music low
ers and teachers are invited Ny pro-
gramme Wednesday will have these num-
bers: "Tocatta and Fugue' (Bach-Tan-
sig; TO Spring" Butterfly" Lullaby
and other Norwegian melodies (from
Lyric Pieces, Grieg) ;"Etude op. 10, No.
g." "Etude op. 10, No. 49," "Fantasie I'M
promptu." Chopin; Clair de Lune' ODE
bussy)
u think that is splendid" 1 said Just
like a series of charming recitals with
lecture added" And they are sure to be
delightful
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Gussen. have done
much for music in Birmingham There
are few professionals with such exquisite
technique and they are giving generous
ly of their art to further the cause of
music here for its own sake. A musical
programme seems incomplete without one
or both Of them and, busy as they have
been, they respond to every appeal for
the elevation of musical standards. AS I
left their pretty, cool-looking studio, I
thought of the many demands made upon
their time during the winter and spring
and of the enviable rank that they have
attained not only because of superb mu-
steamship, but through broadness and
generosity as well.