Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1912-11-19
Music Lovers
Entranced at
Concert Here
Nine. oIitzka, Russian Con-
traIto, Charms at Second
of Series of Three Entertain
Tnents.

The ballroom at the Washington
| was thronged with music lovers yes
terday afternoon, the occasion being
the second of a series of three con-
certs given under the direction of
| Mrs. Robert s. Graham and Mrs.
! Robert Wallace Elliott. Mime. Rose
| Olitzka, the Russian contralto of the
Covent Garden, Chicago, and Metro
politan grand opera companies, and
Charles Gilbert Spross, pianist. were
the artists for the occasion.
Nine. olitzka, charming and gra-
cious of manner, with a presence
that ingratiated her Immediately
with her audience, chose wide range
OF songs whereby to win critical ap-
proval. There was no monotony in
the choice of her selections, and they
ranged from grave to gay, from the
sornbre "Die Dtadt," of Schubert, to
the sprightly "winkele Wankele," of
De F1aguy.
Her Voice Is Flexible, Pure and Sweet.
II was Nine. Olitzka's first appear
ance in this city, and though she
| measures well to the standard OF ex-
cellence maintained by artists who
| have been heard locally, there are
heights to which she has mot reached.
Her voice is flexible, of remarkable
purity and sweetness in the upper
tones, and she has a good range.
Her lower register is throaty, and
her breathing is labored, and in fleet
| passages there was an occasional
! grope for pitch. But for this there
/ was a balancing intelligence in read
ing the thought of the composer, in
entering into the spirit of the com
position, that earned merited ap-
plause.
Schumanns beautiful "Frulings-
nacht'' was invested with new mean
ing through her Interpretation. and
| she was forced to repeat "Es hat die
Rose Sich Beklagt," by Franz. as
! well as the charming Russian Folk
song" of Tchaikowsky. At the close
she added my Shadow" by Hadley
The beauty of Der Gottsucher' was
| greatly enhanced by the fact that
| the composer, Arthur Hochman, was
present. and played the accompanl-
ment with spirit.
A remarkable technique, accurate
lingering and a clear staccato are
the attributes of Mr.. Spross as
pianist. His runs are examples OF
deftness and precision, and his touch
is light and sure. OF his dynamics
there can be no judgment made be-
cause his program contained nothing
that called for heroics.
He Reserved His Energies.
There was a lack of enthusiasm in
his reading of the first two num-
bers and he reserved his energies
for the brilliant lingering test of
Moszkowskis Spanish Caprice" This
he executed with a mastery of detail
that resulted in a demand for an en-
core He responded with Paldinfs
''Marche Mignonne, delicate fab
ric that he threaded with rare deli
cacy. He invested the fire music of
"Die lWalkure' with no thunderous
volume of sound. but brought out the
motifs with a charity that bespoke
careful pedaling.
Mr.. Spross furnished sympa-
thetic accompaniment for Nine.
Olitzka, following her with precision
and not seeking to obtrude upon first
place. The program follows:
(a) "Song of the Sea" ........ Ware
(b) 'Nocturne' C minor ..... Chopin
Mr.. Spross.
'Softly Awalkes Ny Heart"
c'Samson and Delilah'). 80.
saint-saens
Madam Olitzka.
(a) Die Stadt'' ............ Schubert
(b) "Es hat die Rose Sich Bek-
lagt" Observation-Disclosures. Franz
(c) "Auftrage" ............ Schumann
I'D "Fruhlingsnacht" .schumann
Madam Olitzka.
(a) "Magic Fire Scene ("Die
WalkureD ........,...... Wagner
Cb) Spanish Caprice" - Moszkowski
Mr.. Spross.
Der Gottsucher" Arthur Hochman
Madam Olitzka
(a) die Nacht" ......, Tschaikowsky
OBJ Russian Frolksong' .........
Tschaikowsky
| (c) Baby" ...............,... Beach
(d) 'Pastorale'' .............B Bizet
Madam OIitzka.
! (s) "Mindu's Slumbersong'' ....
Harriet Ware
(b) THE Night-long Tryst"......
Allitsen
(c) "Winkele Wankele". De Flaguy
(d) Der Lem" ".......,....... Hildacf
Madam Olitzka.