Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-15
BRILLIANT RECITAL
GIVEN IN GINTER PARK
Mrs. Charming Ward. Pianist, and Mrs.
Hamilton Smith, Contralto,
Delight Audience.

The Ginter Park Woman's Club
though younger Institution than it's
elder sister on Franklin Street, bids
fair to be no mean rival of its senior. if
the delightful concert and reception
given by ii last night at the school
auditorium Is rair sample Of its en-
tertainments. This was the last con-
cert of the season and was under the
excellent and artistic management of
Mrs. Frank Duke. chairman. The audi
forum was profusely decorated and
the large audience. present was in even
ing dress and Handsomely gowned, and
the enthusiastic applause was inspir-
ing.
Tho artists who gave SO much pleas
urc were Mrs. Claiming Ward, pianist,
and Mrs. Hamilton Smith. contralto.
Mrs. Ward Is well known in musical
circles, and Is "A pianist OF very excep-
tional ability. Her playing OF Grieg's
Sonata in minor was marked by brill
liant technique, and almost masculine
power. The Andante movement was
especially rich and even orchestral in
its fullncss. and the Finale was SUI
pcrb climax splendidly played At times
Mrs Wards power and brilliancy re-
mind one of the great Carreno, and no
higher tribute could be paid TO any
pianist
In Mrs. Wards second group. the
Rachmaninoff Melodies and Tendre
Aveu. by Schutt. was especially beau
tiful.
Besides the difficult and varied pro-
gram played by Mrs. Ward. she showed
unusual versatility In her wonderful
playing of the Accomplishments for the
singer To play acceptably the diff
cult music of modern song writers is
10 mean accomplishment in itself
Mrs. Hamilton Smith has a contralto
voice OF rare power. range and sweet
ness and better still. of unusual Guilt
walton, and is gifted with the dramatic
instinct SO necessary to a great artist
Her first number. the Aria "Adieu
Fo-ets," from Tschaikowsky's opera
Jeanne dare, was revelation. 1t was
sombre. and dramatic In turn and was
an artistic triumph. Mrs. Smith gave
as an encore the famous Habanera song
from Carmen. This coquetsh and dar-
ing song was In bold contrast to the
tragedy Of the Aria. and would have
been destructive to the effect OF both
had 1t not been perfectly sung.
Mrs. Smiths last group of songs was
we'll chosen and enthusiastically re-
ceived. Dawn in the Desert" by Ger
trude Ross was realistic. and in the
final notes describing the rising of the
sun, She ala 1ull justice 10 the beauty
and majesty of the scene. War" by
Rogers. is splendid song. and her
rendition of 1t was thrilling.
Both Mrs Ward and Mrs. Smith re-
sponded to persistent encores after
their last numbers. Mrs. Ward playing
the exquisite Song" by Mcdowell, and
Mrs. Smith singing that dainty song of
Leoni The Leaves and the Wind"
Refreshments were served after the
concert. while the artists received the
congratulations and thanks OF the de-
lighted audience. 1t was an evening
long to be remembered.
The program follows:
i, Allegro: .. andante; 3. men
uetto: 1, allegro, fnale.\
,. "Adieu Forets," from Jeanne
Dare ..........Tsch aikowsky
5. Melodie; prelude, G minor. ......
Rachmaninoff
Chant D'Amour". StoJowski
''Danse Negre". Cyril Scott
"Tendre Aveu". .Schutt
'Fledermaus Walter para
phrase Strauss-Sc hutt
l. Invocation to Eros. $50. .Kursteiner
THE STAR: War. Rogers
Dawn in the Desert" Gertrude Ross
The DANA" .............. Chadwick
4. B. G.