Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-27
NJ. ana NJ. Kslir.

Mr.. ard Mrs. Kelly.
For two hours last night Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas J. Kelly delighted an audience with
such singing as is rarely heard in Omaha
II was not mere exhibition Of voice tricks
vocal gymnastics. so 10 speak. but
showing OF wonderful artistry and such e1-
quisite good taste. both in selection and
prodUction. as can not be cverpraised. For
once at least Mr.. Kelly forgot and let down
his barrier Of diffidence and sang IS he
can sing. Il was q magnificent effort And
Mrs. Kelly used her glorious voice with per
feet effect; her tones were pure, her enun-
c.Rtion exact. and her melody beautiful
No better colorstura singing was ever lis
tened to In Omaha; she took her runs with
such consummate ease ss TO fairly surprise
her friends. ans poured forth her perfec,
notes with 80 little apparent effort that
the charm Of her singing vas heightened to
the utmost. She has gained IN confidence
since her last concert appearance, az well
as in method, and her expression is better
because her attack" is more certain. A
master OF the art Of tone placement Mr..
Kelly achieves such results with his voice
a. deserve the comprehensive adjective.
wonderful.
the Young women's Christian association,
under the direction OF Miss Evelyn Hopper
and was attended by such an assemblags
as any Omaha singer may feel proud ot
tracing. And the delight and aTp-ota io1
Of that assemblage was expressed in such
applause as might easily intoxieate even
the most tried Of public performers. From
the cordial greeting Of interested friends
il took on the form OF the enthusiastic
approval Of well-pleased patrons eager to
commend and equally eager for more. And
each OF the singers contributed an extra
number, Mr.. Kelly. perhaps, singing his
very best in the little-known Grieg song
"JohannesnBcht." He rarely attains such
( perfect abandon as he did in this. and tbs
effect was shown b. the most spontaneou.
applause OF the evening in greeting his
share OF the program.
Much might be said Of one quality OF the
program. Mr.. Kelly goes far efisld in hi,
/ quest for musical gems TO lay before the
people. lie might easily content him.
self lss some OF much more note -ha bituaIly
do) by offering equal number Of familiar
songs, whose melody is known 10 US ali
and with whose words we are on more OF
less easy terms Of acquaintance. such 8
course does not satisfy mis- artistic ideal
and he searches the realms Of music. not
for mere novelties, but for new-old songs
jewels Of rare masnificence, that lie a7art
for the pleasure Of those who get away
from the beaten path in Art and seek IN,
higher things II Is this fidelity to a lofty
idea that has marked him IN his othe
work, and he adhe0ss to it lovingly in /. 4
arrangement Of songs for his too rar,
public appearances. Not a cong on the III.
of last night car be catalogued - vel
/ known or popular and yet not one tha
does not realize IN itself the quality Rus,,Ir
says is the ultimate end OF art-sim
plieity- II was a program worthy OF tn
singers. And Il was 80 presented tb,
il will long be remembered.
Mr.. Jean P. Duffield was at the plan,
and played the aocompanimsnts with sym
pathetic touch; HIS comprehendinr skil
must have been an inspiration to the sing
ers. and was surely q most worthy par
of an excellent whole.