The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-13
MARCELLA SEMBRICH
IN SONG RECITAL
Famous Soprano Returns to
Platform With Art Of Beau
tiful Singing.
NOTABLE AUDIENCE THERE

Mime. Marcella sembrich. who was not
In this country last winter, was heard in
song recital for the beneft OF suffering
Poles yesterday afternoon In Carnegie
Hall The usual Accomplishments OF en-
thusiastic crowds and still more enthusl-
astio applause were present. The audit
ence quite filled the hall and some people
had to stand. Among those who listened
TO Nine. Sembrich were her one time asso-
ciate at the opera, Mime. Emma Calve
Nine. Aida of the present opera company.
the singers popular pupil Alma Gluck.
the Russian violinists Eiman and Zm.
balist. Harold Bauer. the pianist, and
Richard Epstein. son OF the inglished
plano teacher who advised Nine. Sembrich
10 become a singer.
Nine. Sembrich's programme yesterday
did not include any old Italian airs. IL
began with Ave Schubert songs. and the
second gropp consisted OF six songs OF
Schumann. Five Brahms numbers con-
stltuted the third group and the last was
miscellaneous Six languages and at least
ten styles were heard. and the recital fur
nished food for reflection as well as com
ment.
Mime. Sembrich's voice is in a condi-
ton which was nothing short OF extraor-
binary. for she Is not a young woman
and she has seen long service in the
field OF her art. But only a few
tones were uncertain and only once
or twice was the intonation question
able, and then only to a keen ear
II there had been no other lesson in this
concert. that which II published as TO the
value OF a correct technic In keeping the
useful qualities OF a voice serviceable
In the beautiful sunset of a brilliant
career should have been enough. That
Nine. Sembrich will be able to sing
through the sunset, through the gloam-
ing and into the evening. like Lilli Leh-
man, who at 81 gave a successful re-
cital not long ago in Berlin. seems fairly
certain.
However, the beauty OF the voice and
tho excellence Of the technic, important
AS they were. did not constitute the most
admirable features OF the recital. This
is a period well supplied with song sing
ers. and the art OF Interpretation is per-
haps better appreciated here to-day than
It ever was before. People have heard
many really accomplished and some gem
timely great lieder singers and there
fore when II Is said that there are
still SOME songs which are almost ex-
clusively a field for the triumph OF Nine
Sembrich's art 1t will be understood that
she has lost none OF her old time imagine
ton. tenderness. poetic sentiment and
arch humor.
one has only to recall her delivery
yesterday of Schuberts "Forelle" Schu-
mann's Der Sandman" and "Auftraege"
Brahms's "Botshcaft," "Nachtigalr' and
"Vergeblisches Staendchen'' TO realize that
she Ia still the beloved mistress of the in
terpretative art In singing She has sung
'NusSbaum'' better than she sang 1t yes
terday, but the real climax OF the recital
was reached IN Schumann's "Lieder der
Braut' Nos ! and 2. which no one else
has ever sung In our time with such pro-
found insight such moving emotion and
such a perfect adjustment of the means
to the end Second only to this was her
delivery of "Nachtigal," which was filled
with interpretive power and with ire
sistible yearning.
In the final group were Rachmaninov's
'Kakmie BONO and Moniuszko's "Przas-
nicka." both sung In the original Russian;
Debussy's "Fantoches'' and first "Auuar-
ellie (Debussys Ii an unfamiliar name
on Nine. Sembrichs programmes), Frank
La FORCES charming song Longing" and
'Rom kyra," the Norwegian folksong.
which figured in the singers great fss:.-
song programme a few seasons back. Mr.
tho composer. who played all the accom-
paniments with consummate art. received
a warm tribute from the audience.
or course there were numerous extra
after the fret group Arne's
Lovely Celia" after the second "Fruh- |
lingsnacht' and THE Coolin"-ravish-
ingly sung-after the third a Polish ma
zurka song and after the fourth several
others, beginning with 1.-THE Lass With
the Delicate Air" Such an achievement
as that of yesterday must be accorded
the warmest tribute of critical praise, to
which must bo added fervent expression
of gratitude that this artist liz still here |
to demonstrate for us all the uplifting
power OF beautiful singing.