The Washington herald., 1911-04-05
MARYGARDEN SINGS
EMOTIONALBALLADS
Interpretation of Songs
Brings Displeasure.
TEMPERAMENT LEADS ALL
Voice Sounds Asthmatic-Exhibi
of Bad Method-Voice Needs Coax
ing to Old Italian Style-AssistfnE
Artists Well Received Tibaldf
and Brockway Score Hit.

Mary Garden gave a song recital here
yesterday afternoon which in many ways
was a remarkable one. 1t was, so far
as her performance was concerned, more
impassioned song acting than a recital.
Mary Garden is first an emotional actress,
and last a singer. That is not because
she has no voice, nor because she has
not studied, but because she has sacri-
feed voice, method, refinement to her
Temperament" She rot only displays
an unlimited amount of temperament in
the aria from "Tosca,'' but an equal
amount in the singing of the simple old
ballad Annie Laurie" and both accom-
panied by such an avalanche of gasps
and wheezinGs that were it not known
that she was singing for the pleasure of
an audience, it might have been sus-
pected that she was in the most agoniz-
ing stages of asthma.
Not a breath escaped the audience.
1t is safe to say that no singer known
as great artist and with the wonder
full success behind her that Mary Garden
has had ever gave such an exhibition of
bad method. She has fashion of giving
little cooling tone, usually as the finish
OF sustained tone, which is most beau
uful and most bewitching. This was
uOtlSedDle IN Ine 1d1nllldT
AT Parting of Rogers. In her singing
of Annie Laurie it was transformed
from the gentlest and sweetest of bal
lads into a highly impassioned dramatic
song; and perhaps, after all, it is only
a. matter of taste as to which interpreta-
ton music lover likes better.
Singer Has Voice.
But to say Mary Garden has no voice,
or that Mary Garden does not know
how to sing, is a mistake. She has a
voice which would be beautiful if coaxed
back into the beautiful old Italian style
beyond a doubt, but she lets her I'M
intellect and defes art.
She was a beautiful creature to look
at yesterday in her directoire gown of
clinging black satin, with just a suspi-
cion of the opening of the skirt on the
left side, which showed a charming foot
and ankle and soft chiffon underpaneL
She was most gracious in her encoreS.
and in giving credit to the young COM
poser of a new song on her programme,
the "'Du Dist vie cine Blume," of Arthur
Rosenstein, who accompanied the song.
and whom she made acknowledge the
genuine approval of the audience Again,
in this song Miss Garden turned the
classic verse into impassioned heart
throbs. and ended it with dramatic
Shrek.
The assisting artists were good ones
Arturo Tibaldi, violinist, and Howard
Brockway, pianist and composer. Mr.,
Tibaldfs performance was a genuine
treat. He plays with sincerity, good
tone and technique, and shows great
skill in harmonics, whether simple or ir
thirds and sixths. The special feature
of his performance was the playing of a
nocturne by a Washington violinist and
composer, Robert Cary Stearns, which
has met with great success all over the
it. and which received the warmest sort
of greeting yesterday.
The young composer, who is one Of the
best known musicians in Washington
sat in the audience and beard his work
and after the concert went back and
presented the artist with a handsome
and substantial token Of his apprecia.
ton of the performance.
Mr.. Brockway, who is well known So
cially in Washington. as Mrs. Brockway
is former Washington girl, daughter OF
Rear Admiral and Mrs. Bradford, is not
only a satisfactory accompanist, but is
good pianist, and made a pronounced
success with the audience. He waS
obliged to play two encores. The first
was an Evening Song OF his own com
position, and the other a Grieg nocturne
which he played with much exquisite
sentiment and finish. He also showed
much skill in the Schubert-Liszt 'Marche
MiIitajre''