Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-05
SGHUMANN. .HEINK
SINGS In BENEFIT
AT OPERA HOUSE
Great Audience Hears Con-
tralto Assisted by Godow-
sky and Cornfeld.

The Metropolitan Opera House was
filled almost to it's capacity last night by
an audience which gathered to hear Nine
schumann-Heink, Leopold Godowsky and
Albert Cornfeld T. their Joint recital held
under the auspicies of the Committee on
Home Relief, German-Austrlan Booth
French Booth. OF the "Made-in-America
Bazaar which is to be held later this
month The benevolent purpose of the re-
cital, which is the relief of destitute
women and children, drew part of the
crowd; the rest were attracted by the
great combination OF talent and genius
In the three artists.
Mayor and Mrs. Rudolph Blankenburg
occupied the box next TO the stage, oppo-
site the one taken by Nine. Schumann-
Heink after her part of the program was
over. In another part Of the house sat
the Austrian Ambassador TO the United
States. a distinguished list OF patron
esses sponsored the evening, many of the
boxes were retained by their occupants
on opera nights, and the balcony and
family circle were practically sold out.
Although It has not yet been announced
what the proceeds of the concert would
amount to, the management was willing
TO say after the evening was over that
1t was thoroughgoing success.
. The music was what could have been
expected for such an event. Each of the
artists appeared at least twice. Mr.. Co
dowsky, who began and ended the pro-
gram, was rather unfortunate In his first
piece, the Symphonic Studies" OF Schu-
mann. The audience kept coming in, and
after quiet had settled down, the length
and the essentially studious character of
the piece caused visible discomfort. Mr..
Godowsky played with care and rather
subdued fe cling; not until the last of
the studies did he bring fire into his
work.
There are so many artists who are too
snowy that it may appear ungracious to
crltlcise. Mr.. Godowsky for not being
snowy enough. Yet for such large
place, and under the peculiar clrcum-
stances which brought the audience there,
a more facile choice OF numbers should
have been made In the Chopin which
came later, Mr.. Godowsky was happier
Yet there, too, his sober technique, his
Rll-too-restrained uterance made his work
upachieved. Artistically Mr. Godowsky
gained little by the evenings work.
Albert Cornfeld, who began his career
as violinist here n year ago. exhibited
his characteristic virtues and the faults,
which he is rapidly correcting in the
pieces he played. They were all more
or less of a show-pece nature-Paganini
and Martini L.alo and Sarasate. In his
first number he displayed an astonishing
technical repertoire, marred by weak
bowling at times, and insufficient tone. In
the Martini "Mnuett" Mr.. Cornfeld
played with a lightness OF touch and
llghtness of spirit which made the grace
fully artificial sentiment he expressed ex-
actly right-considerinG the nature of the
piece. lie has an easy command of his
bow. but 1t tends to become careless ut
moments; growing power of tone and
power OF feeling should make an excellent
vlolinst OF him.
Nine. Schumann-He filled the even
ing with her good, great spirit. Her
voice is lovely, III not powerful, In the
upper reaches, and in the lower it is re-
sonant and powerful and dramatic Yet
one thinks not Of the voice. and its quail
ties, when one hears her sing. She sang,
last night. my Heart Ever Faithful"
the Buch hymn, which is always sung by |
contraltos, is well known and we'll liked. |
Yet she made IT,, somehow, a thing of her |
own, gave 1t a personal meaning and az |
hrmatton. Sine did the same with Raff's |
Eel stlll' again with the "Stille Nacht" |
which she sang as an encore This song, |
which Is played by every street band, |
and sung by thousands is none the less |
Fer song, hers alone, by that power she |
has of transmitting whatever she sings
into new mode, And IL is endlesslv TO |
her credit that she attempted nothing of |
the sort with the "Paternoster" of
Is rebs ard Bizet's "Agnus Der which |
were intoned rather than sung until the
Enc dramatic closes of each. 1t is a mat
ter OF 80 years since this voice and this
sihslnS nave been so, the audience last
'iGht appreciated its good fortune.