Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-11-21
SECOND 6f, THE
COOK CONCERTS
"A Large and Appreciative Audience
Hears Trio Of Artists at
the Congregational
Church.
EVERYBODY is DELIGHTED
Some Exceptional Violin and Piano
Playing as well as Vocal
Solo Work.
DELIGHTED
EVERYBODY

To the minds Of many, the second
number of the Cook concert course,
given Friday night at, the Congre-
gational church, was the best yet.
The main auditorium of the church
was almost entirely filled with APP
preciative listeners. The concert,
one of the C. w. Best Artist series,
was given by Frances Allan Wheel
err, BARITONE, Lois Brown, pianiste,
and Winston Wilkinson, violinist.
Mr. Wheeler, the baritone, was
suffering with a severe cold and for
that reason substituted thei Torea-
dor Song from Carmen for the Aria
from I'm Balla in Maschera, of Yer
dis. In spite of his handicap, Mr..
Wheeler gave ample evidence of the
great voice he possesses, both in his
Opening number and in the group Of
three numbers auper's Drive"
by Homer; "Ah Love But Day."
by Mrs. Beach, and in magnificent
solo by Homer-''Junglings Abzug
in den Kreig." In this his voice was
perhaps the best and his interpreta-
ton of the Youths Departure for the
War left nothing to be desired.
Webster City has heard some great
baritones but none possessing high
er quality of tone than Mr.. Wheeler.
His closing number on the program
was Sword of Ferrara,' by Bull
lard, and was a splendid medium for
the voice of the baritone. Mr..
Wheeler responded to no encores on
account of his indisposition but af-
ter the concert, while a guest for a
time at the Elks' club, he graciously
sang "Swanee River in q flawless
manner, and those who had the OPP
portunity of hearing the melting
tones of this favorite old song will
never forget it.
Upon Mr.. Wheeler's recent ap-
perance in Mason City, the audience
were SO delighted with his singing
that he was at once engaged for a
re-appearance there next spring,
with the Choral club of $50 voices,
in the title role of an oratorio.
Miss Brown as pianist and accom-
PIANIST ranks high, and it is not SUI
perlative to say that the audience
was delighted with her work at the
piano. Her first number by Chopin,
"Ballade in G Minor was tre-
mendous thing and the interpreta-
tion did the selection full justice.
Miss Brown plays with power and
with expression as a soloist, and as
accompanist for both Mr.. Wheeler
and Mr.. Wilkinson, completely eff
faced herself, which is the highest
praise to be given an accompanist.
In the fourth number on the pro-
gram, couplet of solos, Noe
turne" (for the left hand alone) and
Dance of the Elves" by Sapellnik-
off, her playing was flawless. In the
second part the fairies danced across
the keyboard like a sweep of wind
through raindrops, SO velvety was
her touch. AS a response to the en-
core given her, Miss Brown then
gave Melody of Moskowski's, a
delightful short number. Her last
solo, "Rigoletto Paraphrase, by
Verdi, with List arrangement, was
exquisitely rendered and the old OPP
era favorite appeared in new dress.
The tones evoked by Miss Browns
musical touch, fall upon the ear so
daintily and so agreeably that in all
numbers she proves herself the true
artistic.
Mr.. Wilkinson, the young violin
list. was a delightful surprise to the
audience. Those among the listen
ers who had heard Fritz Kreisler,
thought Wilkinson superior to that
noted violinist. Added to ability
and acknowledged genius, the young
nan is the posseSsor of winning
personality and charm of manner
which captivated the audience. His
first number, Romance" and Fin
| ale. la Zingara," By Wieniawski,
was unexcelled in fiaesse, while the
Indian Sketches by Burleigh were
each scenes of perfection in~Indian
life. They made one think of small
bits of-Indian embroidery beadwork,
fawless as to execution and OF
matchless beauty. From a Wig
wam' was perhaps the most beauti-
| full of these five sketches. Mr.. Will
kinson in encore to this, gave
''Swanee River" and his harmonics
were superb. The siKery tones
drawn from the human voiced vio-
lin were dreams of perfection. His