The Washington herald., 1914-03-21
irish FOLK SONGS OF
MCCORMACK PLEASING
Famous Tenor's Recital Gives EXPIRES.
sion to Lyric loneliness Of His
Vccal Equipment.
SHOWS GENIUS In BALLADS

John Mccormack, the Irish tenor, had
first place at the New National Theater
yesterday afternoon in a recital Of as
sCmbled soloists.
The assisting artists were the violinist
Donald McBeath. Miss Ellen Marshall.
mezzo-contralto. and Vincent O'Brien. ac-
| lcompanist The program opened with the
aria from Mozart's Don Giovanni" I'll
milo Tesoro.'' a piece that not only af-
ford pleasure from its intrinsic beauty.
hut gave ideal expression TO the lyric
lovelness of Mr.. McCormack's voice. as
well as to his perfect vocal equipment
from pure executive skill.
His second appearance was in a group
of songs OF which a Schumann number.
IntermezZo," made one. Mr.. Mccormack
is not happy in the Interpretation OF
Schumann. nor is he quite al home in the
German tongue. The French song. Jan
pleure en- reve," Of Hue. went better. In
the last two songs of this group. Cyril
Scott's Loves Quarrel" and the Mother
o Mine" of Frank Tours, Mr.. McCor-
mack found his special field. In ballad.
folk song. the love song or simple mar
rative art song. Mr.. Mccormack might
cultivate exclusively for the remainder
of his career to his great advantage, and
the unfailing delight of his public. The
One Morning as ! Walked FORTH and
81 Hear You Calling Nc" are of this
type.
Above all. his genius has found its
best expression in the Irish ballad and
folk song. The group OF ancient Irish
songs. arranged by Hughes, were by
far his best. The truth Of his character
iZation. his inlmitable brogue. the tender
pathos linked with Irish wit, that senti
ment peculiarly Irish that keeps one di-
vided between laughter and tears-this Is
his speCial> undisputed kingdom. and he
should not leave il for the field of Ger
man lied or OF the French high art
song. He raises the Celtic storytelling
song. the song that deals with intimate
homely details, into an art song Of a
high order, simply through perfection of
narrative style.
Among his encore numbers were the
Mother McChree," Molly Brannigan,"
and Good Night. Love" The program
closed with two song In Her Sim
plicity," CMignon). by Thomas. and LII
ccvan le Stelle'' La Tosca), by Puccini.
Mr. McBeath is a violinist> Of marked
ability and intelligence. His bowling Is
firm. his tones true and. with good ex-
ecution. he combines variety of color
and musical feeling. He played an
Adagio of Ries, and Chanson OF Cou-
perin-Kreisler. Mr. McBeath was twice
recalled and responded with extra num-
bers.
Miss Marshall is the daughter of DR..
c. r. Marshall. OF Detroit. conductor OF
the Mendelssohn Orchestra Of that city.
Miss Marshalrs voice is well under con-
troll and sweet in quality. She is making
her debut this season. and has already
a repertoire of at least ten opera roles.
She has been offered an engagement In
light opera by Henry Savage, which she
declined. for her ambition is toward
grand opera. She sang yesterday a cycle
of II. G. Stewart. Legends Of the Yose-
mite" the poem by Allen Dunn. The |
cycle comprises AN Invocation Lula |
by" The Lost Arrow" white Waters" |
and spirit OF the Waters" Miss Mar |
shall is very young: her voice has much !
latent promise for maturity; its present |
sweetness is marked.