Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-02-22
TWO RECITALS GIVEN
Nine. Julia Culp Sings for Charity;
Torello and Dubinsky Play


Two recItals of unusual interest and ex-
celence were given yesterday In the
afternoon Nine. Julia Culp singer of
lieder appeared for the second time this
season. In the evening, at Griffith Hail.
Messrs. Torello and DubinslSy, contra.
bassst and violinist with the Philadcl.
phia Orchestra, played in n joint recital.
The order Of both interest and excellence
commanded reverse arrangement In con-
sidering these artists.
Mr. Dubinsky, frankly, has been heard
better. Last night his tone was neither
full nor sweet. In the Tschaikowsky con-
Certo 1t was, at times, unpleasant to the
ear. The later numbers, including two
arrangements by Kreisler a previously un.
heard humoreske of Belov, Wienlawski's g
polonaise in A, and others. were better.
Mr. Dubinsky's merits are familiar, they
are a sufficient mastery of technique,
although by no means perfect mastery,
n thorough devotion to his art and lib
eral appreciation and understanding of
music These qualities were apparent last
night. only not in the degree they have
apeared before.
Mr.. Antony Torello is the virtuoso of
the contra bass who Joined the orchestra
year ago, played once, we believe, at the
StetsOn Auditorium. but did not otherwise
play alone. His abilities are eXtraordi-
nary. Many years ago a player Of the
contra DaSS, WHOSE name eluutS lIlt llltHl-
ory, made n tour Of this country and pro-
voked the same sensation which Pablo
Cassals, with the more familiar cello,
now is providing, Mr.. Torello, 1t may be
confidently said, could do as much. His
instrument, graceless and heavy as it
appears. is capable of n long range of
tone and under Mr.. TorellO's prehensile
fingers those tones are firm and rich and
true. His deXterity in the highest regis
ters of his instrument is marvellous. His
rhythmic sense, operating against such a
ponderous machine, is unimpaired. He
PLAYED n fantasie of his own, an air of his
own and three short pieces, OF which
F'ranchi's gavotte was so loudly and so
lengthily applauded that 1t should have
been played again. He is a splendid
player, and by all the signs fine artist.
Nine. Cup sang for the Emergency Aid
Committee and 1t was rather disappoint-
ing that the Academy was not crowded to
hear her. She Is the good wine that needs
no bush, for to the listener 1t would seem
that the mere utterance OF sound must
be the highest pleasure to her. She has
a voice OF unparalleled suppleness, full
ness, lovellness. She sings with MASTER
ing intelligence and with full heart.
From her lips the jaded sentimentalitieS
of a century ago sound rich In emotion.
For her they seem to flower again and
become fragrant with life, To speak or
her irreproachable technique, TO mention
the phrasing which is never at fault, the
production which is so finished yet so
spontaneous. to recall the slight turn at
the end Of "AIgnonette" which is incredi-
bly, soft, all these are only exercises OF
a critical faculty which abdlcates In the
presence of the highest art. Nine. cup
sang among other things, two songs OF
childhood by John Alden Carpenter. one
of them, when Bring COlored Toys" is
a setting OF Tagore poem. 1t would
seem impossible that the voice which
seems at the moment to be the only voice
for Schubert and for Wolf should also be
able TO simmer and shine in Carpenter
Yet that Is part OF the wonder OF Mime,
Culp. and part of the dear mystery Of her
existence. - " D