Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-12-08
OPENING OF SLATER
HALL MUSIC COURSE.

On Friday evening the first concert
in the 1876 Slater hall music course
will takep lace. presenting Nine. Povla
Frisch. a Danish French soprano, as
sisted by Jean Nerd, the brilliant young
French pianist.
Nine. Povla F'risch had to refuse a
most unusual honor abroad in order to
return to America in time to fill the
engagements arranged for her here.
Late in August she went to San Sc
bastian, Spain, to give a series of reci-
tails at the Casino there. AS is we'll
known, this seaside resort is the most
fashionable watering place in the
kingdom, and is in fact the summer
capital, for there King Alfonso has a
palace. Because of the war going on,
on every side. San Sebastian was the
one gay spot in Europe last summer,
and was crowded with visitors. At
first engaged for two recitaIs. AIme
Frisch was forced to add a third in
order to satisfy the popular demand.
Seated in her dressing room, and
about to go on for her third group of
songs, on the night of the final con-
cert, Nine. Frisch was waited upon by
the chamberlain of the king, request
ing that she sing at the palace for
the following Sunday. 1t was with
the keenest regret that Nine. F'risch
was obliged to decline the honor, but
it happened that on the very day
chosen by her majesty the singer was
booked to sail for New York from
Bordeaux.
I've sung for members of nearly
every royal family in Europe except
that of Spain" said Nine. F'risch after
her arrival in New York. II did want
to complete my list, but l am happiest
to have sung for the Queen Mother
Alexandra of England. for she was a
Danish princess. and WE'LL am a
Dane myself she naiveIy added
Jean Verd, the young French plan
list, who is to appear with Nine. PoVla
Frisch, is looked upon as one of the
most brilliant pianiStS of his nationali-
ty known to the music world of today.
Mr.. Verd has the distinction of hav-
ing won the Premier PriX for piano at
the Paris Conservatoire, the highest
award possible al that famous inStitu-
| ton. AS he won it under circumstances
quite extraordinary, the incident is
worth relating. 1t was six years ago,
when the competition was held at the
Opera Comique, the judges including
such well known musicians as Harold
Bauer Albeniz, the composer, and
had drawn numbers for the order of
their appearance. and Mr.. Verd had
been so fortunate, or unfortunate, he
has never made up his mind which it
was to draw the unlucky '1S."
The time came for him to play and
just as he seated himself at the piano
he fell to the floor in "a faint and had
to be carried from the stage.
It's a pity that the poor boy didn't
get a chance" he happened to hear
someone remark, as he was regaining
consciousness several hours later. The
last one has played and now the jury
has gone to their ROOM" his informant
continued.
Without a seconds hesitation. the
young man arose from the couch and,
walking back to the auditorium, he
played with such brilliancy, skill and
intelligence that he not only won wild
applause from the audience, but also
| the highest award from the judges.
At the recital here, in addition to
| playing Nine. Frisch's accomplishments,
Mr.. Verd will play the LISTS Legend
| of ST. Francis de Paul Walking on the
| Waves" the "Clair de Lune'' of De-
| busy and an arrangement of an old
| French folk song.
Course tickets for the three concerts
are $780, all seats reserved. Single
| tickets for the Nine. Povla Frisch re-
cital are 81. Tickets for the course, as
well as single tickets for the Friday
evening concert. will be on sale at the
store of George a. Davis beginning
| Wednesday, Dec. s.