The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-15
Schubert Choir Creates
Favorable Impression

Always remembering that Detroit
has no body OF choral singers dolLe
public work and that opportunity to
hear choral work on the local concert
platform has been confined in the re
cent past to the visits of the Shelf cid
and the Mormon Tabernacle bodies
both of which proved artistically dis
appointing, the appearance Of the
Schubert choir OF Toronto, in the
Light Guard armory. Thursday even
ing, challenges friendly criticism on
ly. The Schubert choir paid Its first
visit to Detroit on this occasion and
the impression created was favorable
enough TO hazard the belief that fu-
ture visits will be welcome to that
singing appeals,
Toronto Is noted for its choral
bodies, and the Schubert is given
rank next TO the Mendelssohn choir,
han which there Is no finer body OF
singers TO be found in America, aC-
cording 10 the verdict of the New
York press and public following thu
appearance of the Canadians in New
York within the past fortnight. The
Mendelssohn choir includes the cream
OF the singers. professional and ama-
teur OF the city, while in the Schubert,
the young women and men. III the
main, have had no musical education
or training beyond that which they
have received from their able direc-
tor DR.. Herbert NJ. Fletcher.
Their work. therefore, must be
Judged with these facts In mind. That
DR. Fletcher has secured such excel
lent results as shown in the concert
Thursday evening. is proof OF his mu-
steamship and ability as a choral con.
ductor. The members Of the choir
are young and have the fresh cleor
voices OF youth. The tone and quality
produced are pleasing, and some re-
markably good effects were attained
in light and shade. The "a capeiiu
numbers were by far the most sue.
cessful, and the women,s- ehoFHses
better than the mems when each
went IL alone. A most unsatisfactory
accompaniment OF piano and organ
for the opening number, Bruch's "Ro
man Obsequies." almost succeeded IN.
"queering' the entire program at the
outset. Indeed, wherever the p!lEo
was used, including the accompani-
ments for the soloists, the result was
disastrous to the singers, except when
Dalton-B Baker played his own accom-
paniments TO encores.
The assisting soloists were Elsa
Kellner, soprano, and Dalton-Baker,
baritone. Miss Kellner was heard in
Detroit recently at a Sunday after
noon Garrick theater concert. She
has a pleasing voice and good meth
cd Of singing, bat evidently lacks
ease and experience on the concert
stage and her work suffers in conse.
quence. Much OF the non.succeos or
her senas=was= dae=te-t he=HEetehsa
accompaniment
Dayton-Baker's baritone is low IL
quality and rather limited in volume
md range, the sort of voice not heard
to advantage in big auditorium. As
drawingroom or small concert hall
singer Mr. Baker would doubtless be
at his best
An interesting feature of the even
ing was the rendition of the anthem.
for full chorus, Of j. Truman VOL
cott's How Beautiful Upon the Noun
tains.' which the Detroit orgaui5t.
composer directed himself. Fred Il
Frazer, tenor. OF this city, and Mr
Dayton-Baker; sustained the solo
PARTS. The anthem was we'll sung
and cordially received
ELLA MAE HAWTHORNE.