The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-04-14
with a large and appreciative audi

evening at the college auditorium.
The Warren String quartet of Min
neapolis, consisting of three violins
and cello, furnished the chamber
music of the evening. Luverne Sig
mond of Minneapolis, sang the tenor
role, Katherine Won Ewertsen the
soprano, and Max H. Schleuder the
baritone role.
Due to the shortness of the oratorio,
a prelude program was rendered, the
first number being four movements
by Mozart, played by the Warren
String quartet. The quartet has Gre
ated favorable impression wherever
they have appeared in concert, and
their work Monday evening at the
auditorium was well up to the stand
ard claimed for this most excellent
quartet of musicians. The next
number on the program was Luverne
SigmOnd, who rendered several pleas
ing tenor selections.
Katherine Won Ewertsen, vocal in
structor at Gustavus Adolphus COL
lege, next sang a group of two songs,
in a delightful manner. In the rem
dition of the second solo, Rejoice
Greatly, o Daughter of zion," her
work was of exceptional worth. The
last number before the oratorio was
the Warren String quartet, which
played Haydn's quartet in ID Minor
with exceeding finesse and tech
nique
The event of the evening was then
commenced The text of the oratorio
being taken from the Book of the
Revelation, it has been fittingly called
'"The Vision of st. John" From
the opening tenor solo until the final
harmonious Amen" the oratorio Was
listened to with the closest attention
by the audience.
Luverne Sigmond, who sang the
tenor role of st. John, has an excep-
tionally pure tenor voice, which he
handles with good dramatic effect.
The highest tones in his difficult
score were as clear and distinct as
those in the middle register.
Max Schleuder, singing the baritone
score, made an instantaneous hit, in
his initial appearance in, solo oratorio
work. Mr.. Schleuder has deep bari
tone voice Of resonant quality, that is
very pleasing to the ear
Mr.. Schleuder is a pupil of Kath-
crime Won Ewertsen at Gustavus Adolf
plus college. His voice is of deep
ringing quality and is especially
adapted to difficult solo parts. AT
Monday evenings concert Mr.. Schleu-
der had perfect control of his voice
and sang with finish and technique
which showed his worth as musi-
: clan.
Katherine Won Ewertsen has So
prano voice of remarkable high range
/ and good quality. In the rendition OF
the difficult soprano solos she handled
| her score with an ease and finesse
that captivated the audience.
Miss Alice Myrman handled the
alto role in the trio selections in a
| creditable manner. Katherine Won
Ewertsen and Luverne Sigmond were
| the other members who took part in
the trio work
The ensemble singing was of the
| highest order, the large chorus sing
| ing with precision and tone placing
that showed long and careful work
| Changing from fortissimo to the soft
! est pianissimo, the tone shading was
delightful surprise to many of the
audience who had not heard such a
| large chorus sing in such perfect
| unison.
One Of the most delightful surpris-
es of the evening was the piano ac-
! compartment by Miss Edith Quist
Acting as accompanist to a large
chorus is by no means an easy under
| taking but Miss Quist rose to the
occasion in a manner that was truly
remarkable. Professor A Waldemal
| Anderson directed the audience in an
| excellent manner.
Bringing a chorus of such size as
the one which sang Monday evening
to such high state of efficiency as il
displayed, is a task of no mean pro-
portions and to the director, Profess
| scr a. Waldemar Anderson, much
praise and credit should be given
| With one hundred and fifty voices
swelling and receding in unison as
one voice, signifies that much arduous
work was expended on the chorus by
the directors in drilling it to this
stage. Professor Anderson, in his in
itial performance in the directing o.
a large oratorio chorus in this city
did himself proud and showed thai
he is a past master in drawing forth
perfect harmony and unison of voice
with his baton.