The San Francisco call., 1910-01-16

called by Madame Sembrich; how she
appeared at the benefit given to Alb
hey. First she sang; then she ap-
peared again on the program and
played a Chopin selection; then she
appeared once more and played a
violin solo. She was almost equally
good as singer. pianist and violinist.
1T was from my father" she says,
that l inherited my musical nature,
and it was he who first grounded me
in the fundamentals of the art of
music. / commenced the study of the
piano when 1 was 4 years of age at II
[ went to the conservatory at Lemberg,
where 1 became the pupil of Wilhelm
StengeI."
The latter, now gray but spry and
active. sat opposite his pupil and
beamed She had learned more than
the first lesson-to love the teacher,
and the preceptor of her girlhood be-
came her husband. A devotion too
beautiful to discuss here is apparent
between them.
StengeI took her to Professor Ep-
stein in Vienna. He had thought to
send her to Liszt, so persuaded her of
her unquestiOned ability as a pianist.
He wanted Epstein's advice. The lat
ter heard her play the piano and was
impressed with her youthful musician
ship. Then the young girl played the
violin for him and then she sang. That
settled it. The violin and the piano
were laid aside as her chief objects of
study and she was placed under the
tuition of Marchesi; then she went to
Lamperti in Milan and made her de-
but in 'TPuritanr" in 1877 in Athens.
Look at this said Madame Sem
brich. 1T is an article printed in
New York way back in 1886" It is so
good and so characteristic of the
charming hostess of our chat that 1
will reprint part of ii. The writer is
describing a visit he made to her villa
near Klein Schachwitz:
To hear her sing is to experience
exquisite delight; to see her in her
home is to be witness of one of
the prettiest domestic pictures
imaginable. There is a new baby at
the villa, marvel of fatness, which
made its debut on this worlds
stage nine months ago with sub
lime disregard of the fact that the
debut was costing prima donna
mother $4,000 francs as penalty for
a violated contract. An unsym-
pathetic Madrid manager refused
under the contract to recognize
the little fellows ambition as sick
ness on the part of his mamma.
But | heard no murmurs on this
account at Klein SchachwitZ. The
early morning romps in the nursery,
the quarter hours devoted to in
creasing the adipose of Marcel
Christian Stengel by feeding his
and the rolls in the grass in the
garden are worth many times $1,000
francs to the proud and happy
mother Now just imagine Marcella
Sembrich feeding a fat ba by out of
bowl and kissing his shoulders
redder than were the palms which
greeted her phenomenal Lucia three
years ago, before running to the
pianofOrte to oblige a visitor with
the Mad Scene" from Hamlet" or
a prelude by Chopin, and you will
have = nnin.Ep nicffIrn of
donna's domesticity.
The last Sembrich concert to be given
this afternoon at the Garrick theater
will take the form of a song recital,
and with the assistance of Frank La
Forge, the artist will sing a program
covering the entire range of song COM
position. Sembrich has always been
famous as a program builder-not an
easy art to master.
PART
Classical Airs
lsl T .Mein GIaubIges Here" Bach
(c) ''0h. Sleep Why Dost Thou Leave
Cd) Halleiujsh from ..Esther'') ........ Haadei
PART III
Classical German Songs
(bl .EIfersucht und StoIz'' ......... Schubert
tc1 a.SffIle Thraenen'' n''.-......... Schumann
td) '-Roeslein. Roeslin". n"..-...-..--.-.. Schumann
(e) Die Msinacht' '.................... Brahms
III .'Sonntag'' ....-.........-......... Brahms
tgl Der Schmeld' -..---.-. Brahms
PART III
(a) Lame des Oisesux''. ''............-M Massenet
fh) "LEventair' ..................... Massenet
(c) "Allerseelen" "....-............... r. Strauss
td) The Sheep Herder'. Frank La Forge
(e) An einem Boten' '....... Frank La Forge
~ ''Moja Pieszcotka" (''My Darling
.Paderewskl
The generosity of artists is pro-
verbal. They are the first to be asked
to give of their time and talents to
aid in getting funds for charitable pur-
poses. Sometimes the public has an op-
portunity to reciprocate and attend a
benefit concert given in honor of an
artist The recital at which Miss
Georgianna Strauss will sing the even
ing of January Il is such an event. The
well known contralto, who was one of
the stars during the recent grand opera
season, will be assisted by several well
known local artists, and the program
which will be heard in the ballroom
of the st. Francis hotel is said to be
excellent and varied. An executive
committee, headed by Mrs. w. w. Wy
more, Mrs. d. J. Patterson and Mrs.
r. il. Madden, has charge of the affair.
Assisting the artist in her program
viii be Oscar Sidney Frank, barytone,
and Frederick Maurer Jr., accompanist
There should be excellent music next
ThllrGdaU aUQninp at ny lo nd ,-;,, L.