The Detroit times., 1911-04-19

most interesting artistic and thor
oughly enjoyable programs of song
the season has afforded.
Mrs. Peocock was fairly buried In
flowers and at the end of the recital
the palm-decked platform resembled
q riotous flower garden OF beautiful
blossoms. Real tribute was paid the
singer, however, aside from the pretty
floral tokens, in the deep and close
attention and the sincerity Of applause
which followed every number.
1t was a remarkable bit of song pro-
gram-making in itself which Mrs. Peo-
cock offered and IL is doubtful II any
other American woman singer who
visits Detroit in recital work would,
CT could, have attempted such pro-
gram. 1t began with the quaint and
daintily precise seventeenth and eigh-
teenth century songs and arias OF
Durante (16S4-1755), Lully Q633-16sO,
Mozart (1756-1790), Haydn (1732-
1909; six classical songs by Schubert
in the original German text; a cava-
tina from Les Pecheurs de Perles"
Bizet; three Brahms and three Hugo
Wolf songs represented the moderns
and a closing group of six English
varied and interesting as one could
find in years search through musical
literature.
A pleasing and delightful feature OF
the recital was the reading, by Mrs.
Peocock, of the English translation
OF the German songs which she gave
with such charm and ease OF elocution
as to make the succeeding rendition
OF the song doubly interesting and at
tractive and permitted undivided at
tention to be given to the singer.
Throughout the program Mrs. Peo-
cock disclosed the possession OF keen
intelligence, deep musical feeling and
finely-attuned sense of related emo
lions She gave each song its rightful
expression OF tender sentiment, stir
ring dramatic clashes. humor, pathos
or whatever the text OF the song and
the composers intent, required. Each
song was a gem in itself. in correct,
sympathetic and withal individual In
depreciation. Leaving the technic and
the vocal equipment demanded Of the
arias and older classics, old and new,
on the program, Mrs. Peocock would
have won recognition alone, In the last
group. Her singing OF an old-time
song, Kitty Wells" the accompani-
ment arranged by that extremely
clever young Canadian girl-composer
Gena Branscombe, was one OF the
most beautiful and finished bits OF
song work IL has ever been the privi-
lege OF Detroit concert audiences to
hear. Quite different, but as distinc-
tive, as Mrs. Peacock's superb inter
probation OF the dramatic and uncan-
ny die Zigeunerin" OF Hugo Wolf.
This song and 'Das Sterbeglocklein,'
by Schubert, have not been given on
American concert platforms before, as
far as could be learned by Mrs. Peo-
cock. But, for that matter, the entire
program was novel I'm that II offered
compositions rarely heard II was un-
hackneyed and interesting I'm the high
est degree.
Mrs. Peocock has been a resident OF
Detroit for many years, but has no.
been heard. I'm public, for several
years past the major portion OF which
time she has spent In Berlin. in seri-
Gus and advanced study. That she
has worked TO good purpose. was APP
parent every moment of her recital
Tuesday evening and Detroit music
lovers should feel proud to claim so
clever and talented a woman singer
as Mrs. Peocock.
Miss Harriet j. Ingersoll played
the accompaniments in manner to
establish herself as one OF the best
accompanies in the city. Her play
ing was at all times subordinate to
the singer, sympathetic. skillful and
authoritative.
ELLA NAE HAWTHORNE.