New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-19
MUSIC
Alma GIuck's Recital.

That Miss Alma Gluck was possessed OF
most gracious gifts and requirements was
plain to all judicious hearers when she e'-
fected her operatic debut in Massenet
"Werther,' at The New Theatre. Her part
was small one but it sufficed to disclose
q voice of great natural beauty, and, what
was better. a refined taste and good tram
ing Her association with the Metropoli-
tan OUe.a Company afforded her but few
uncertainties TO call attention to herself
but this ought not to have discouraged her
or her Wellwishers. The atmosphere OF d
too early triumph in opera is seldom con-
ducive to artistic growth and frequently
utterly destructive TO talent Her singing
of a single air in 'Orfeo' will remain one
of the loyeliest recolleCtions of the last
Metropolitan season. because it confirmed
the ir?lpre sslon made at her earlier per
formances that her artistic nature was OF
fine fibre Last night she gave song re-
cital III Mendelssohn Hall and at once es-
tatIished the fact that the concert platform
has been notably recruited There is no"
but one thing TO fear, and that is that she
may get into the dramatic swirl and be
tempted to abandon the fine instincts which
have directed her thus far Every lover OF
beautiful singing will hope that she will
have the moral courage. strength and WIS
dom to withstand the temptations which
will now assail her and seek fame and
fortune in the direction in which her gifts
and graces already shine respondent, in
which they will grow to the delight of the
true lovers OF music.
As Miss Gluck made a happy beginning
in opera, so last night she made fortunate
entrance into the concert field. Her pro-
gramme was first of all unhackneyed-
There were four parts. In the first she
sang songs by classical writers-Beethoven.
Mendelssohn and Schumann - beginning
with the first composers "Busslied." which
subjected her to the severest test of the
evening fine song. with nothing to 1t
to appeal to the careless listener. but much
to enlist the attention of the connoisseur-
A more impressive Interpretation than II
received IS its due: but we have few con-
cert singers who would have overcome its
difficulties of phrasing better, or VINO Wouid
have surpassed Miss GIuck in distinctness
of enunciation, purity of information or
breath control After that. all that she had
set herself 70 do was comparatively SIM
pie, but it was a fine pleasure to note how
the exalted spirit of her performance was
preserved In Robert Kahn's "Prseludrium
the local public. 1t was a fine exhibition of
sustained singing, as the song itself was
beautiful exempliflcation of the charm
which still lies in dignified melody and har-
mony at once appropriate, ear filling and
satisfying to good taste. 1t stood out IN
fine relief against the constrained utter
ances Of the songs by the modern German
composers which followed it. These songs
were by Richard Strauss, Hugo Wolf, Max
Schillings and Gustav Mailer Mr.. Nah
ler's setting Of the old German foksong
text Bald gras ich am NeCkar. bald gras
ich am Rhein.'' was dainty and fitting In
melodic conception, but in harmony and
meditation II wandered into strange and
unnatural fields So charmingly it
sung, however, that it won demand for a
repetition.
The third part of the programme was de
voted to Smetana, the Bohemian composer,
and the Russians, Rimsky korsakow. Rach-
maninow and MoussOrgsky, the palm going
Enthusiastically to the last writer's ''Hopak,"
full of the enthusiastically wild COsSaCk
spirit, for which, though 1t put somewhat
of a strain on her vocal material, Miss
Chuck disclosed nice appreciation. These
Russian songs were sung in English, and
English words. with the exception of a
Tuscan folksong. There was delightful
charm in all the singer sang, and Miss
Chuck won appreciation from fine audi
enCe. II. r. X.