Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-01-16
AYHOUSE AND SCREEN ARE OFFERING THIS WE
MICHEL BONrS DEBUT
HAS CRITICAL AUDIENCE
Slav Tenor Makes First Appearance
Here in Variety of Songs--Doro
thy Goldsmith Assists

Michel Bonl billed in advance as the
"distinguished Russian tenor" and charac-
terIzed as having had wide operate expert
cnce In italy, made what was apparently
his first considerable public appearance in
this city last night at witherspoon Han.
Doubtless IL will he the last for q period,
since the singer. although he has certain
natural endowments aud acquired posses
sions was not able to move the audience
out Of the apathy with which his very irst
numbers were received.
The truth Is. that Philadelphia Is very
sophisticated city musicallN II tH expert
cnced and knowing for fully fifty years It
has very dcfcnsible arguments 10 claim the
title Of metropolitan In music. as IN many
other activities and an artist no matter
how successful and praised In the provinces.
even Of a land that has the glamour OF
abroad cannot expect oven the quasi
metropolitan acclaim which Philadelphia
may justly he said to confer Tor parochlal
merits. no matter how supcrlativc in de-
gree for their kind
Mr. Boni had tho misfortune TO face one
Of the most critical and informed audi
cnCcs that Philadelphia can assemble, Tor
tho membership cards Of the Young Mems
Hebrew Association were accepted for en-
trance to the hall and MIR Bonts program,
whilc not directly under tho societys aus
piCes. was on it's musical schedule for the
evening. When Ii is recalled that TINS
organization first introduced TO Philadel-
phia. at its invitation concerts, such artists
as Kathleen Parlow, Efrem Hlmbalst Alma
GluclS, Dr. Ludwig Wuellner Frank Gittcl-
son and only a week ago. Nine. Elizabeth
Gutman. the musical attitudes and oXpeCta-
tionS Of it's members VIII be readily real
lied. They were hardly met by MIR Boni,
who, although lie sang earnestly did not
Cnptivate the car by the luscious tones for
which much Is forgiven tenor, and did not
fire the imagination by conveying to the
hcarer the emotion OF the song or the drama
Of the aria
There was not communication, much loss
communion. Here is Mr.. Boni's oppor-
tunty to win the sympathy OF his audi
ence by development Of his rosonanccs
along the lines demanded by the intelligent
and reasonable American public He
should take vocal stock should realize on
his assets and should discard faults and
replenish deficits. His chief virtues arc
earnestness and sincerity. For another. he
has some instinct FOR the theatrical appeal
IN opera airs. lie has "A varied and good
repertoire. lie prOnOunCes clearly
These things should count Countervatl-
inE them are forced production, in which
every tone Is the result Of an obvious effort
Il pronounced Nibrato that may he artistic
In some centers, but not here, where it
dtstresses, and a tendency to slur instead
OF gaining n general legatu.
MIR. Boni sang French. Italian. German
and Russian groups. In the last he seemed
most at home He was given superb piano
support by William Sylvano Thunder The
assisting artist was the young PHILADELPHIA
pianist. Dorothy Goldsmith who played
some Chopin gracefully and gave a GROUP
Of show" numbers with vgor and effect
iveness. w. r. NJ