The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-12-14
ITALIAN CONCERT
AT HIGH SCHOOL
ATTRACTS MANY


programs to be given by the Musical
and Dramatic club of the high school
was rendered last evening. The pro-
gram was selected from the works of
noted Italian composers. The audience
was not a large one, though of most
discriminating character, who gave
! the closest and most appreciative at
tention to every one of the unusual
numbers.
The first selection, an overture, Tan
credi by ROssini is little higher than
| the usual class of music selected by a
| high school orchestra. The selection
as carried through was a revelation in
tone. Their work will, from a general
standpoint, bear comparison with the
| best. Now the music is heard drifting
along, then countless beating, throb-
bling chords drive along in a spirit of
sheer joy. Free running staccotas of
the violins, and a final ensemble close
this wonderful number.
| Miss Marion Daw then favored the
| audience with paper on the works of
| ROssini and Donizetti. Her paper de-
| SCl NSS hlSu VI dlSC, IL was DIlSl, dc
| curate and to the point. Don1zetti, the
cosmopolitan nature Of the man is seen
in the themes he chose In all his work
there is a graphicness and great in
dividuality. The melody of all his
operas is highly Italian and conse-
quently pretty. In 1885 he produced
Lucia De LammermOOr. 1t was hailed
with enthusiasm and delight by the
music loving public. 1t has remained
ever since the most popular of the
composers operas. In it is some of the
most beautiful music written
Rossini is credited as being one of
the brightest musical luminaries of
the nineteenth century Rossini in
1912 produced Tancredi at the age of
twenty and gave to music lovers some
thing entirely new and vital in opera
written in a popular vein. The music
of Rossini is emotional, melodious and
Of unrestrained sweetness with pathos
and theatricals throughout
The next number, a baritone solo
from the Barber of Seville" played on
a photograph, with story of the set
scribed by this young promising artist
herself.
1.-THE Barber of Seville is a comic
opera in two parts. The text was
written by Sterbini, a Roman poet,
and the music by Rossinr. Rossini's
opera is a marvel of rapid compost
| ton, having been composed in about
| fifteen days. The composer had agreed
| to write two operas for the Roman
carnival of 1916, the first of which
was produced December &c, 1915, and
| on that day he was told that the sec
ond would be required on January 20,
| 1916 He agreed to have it completed
although he did not even know what
the subject was. The libretto was CIV
Ell to him by Sterbini in sections and
he wrote the music, as fast as the
| verses were furnished. While the opera
did not achieve an instantaneous sue
cess, it gradually found favor with
Opera-lOyerS on account of its bright
ness and the manner in which the hui
NOR of its action is reflected in the.
music
Miss King also described the Largo
al Factatum as sung by the great ar
fist Ruffo. 'Ruffo, in his rendition of
this song, proves himself possessed of
an admirable sense Of humor, and this
with his powerful and flexible voice,
enables him to attack this difficult
! solo in the true opera-bOuffe vein. The
1 result is as fine a performance of the
Largo as one would wish to hear
The extreme difficulties are made a
vehicle for the display of the baritone's
ample vocal resources which sweep
everything before them. He is indeed a
little free with the text, and sings
snatches of the accompaniment out of
sheer bravado. This rendition is
fine example of how the music of this
air should be sung"
The piano duet, william Tell" by
Rossini, by Misses Ruth Grams and
Lois Werner is a masterpiece of per-
| lection as played. The opera was writ
ten to the libretto taken from Schil-
| ler's drama Of the same name. To
many it represents still the ideal of
French grand opera and was hailed
| ny IuoIl DIS Tie greatest musical event
Of the nineteenth century The piano
duet with its trumpet call, it's free
dom and the great melodic beauty of
it's music was done full justice by the
players.
The sextette from Lucia di Lam
mermoor," Donizette, as sung by the
great Victor quartet was the treat of
the evening. The sextette begins in the
second scene Of act two 1t is the most
dramatic piece of music ever written;
| with its great climax it is so well
fitted to this particular scene that
critics are obliged to admit it's ex-
! IRENE melody.
Miss Lorna VOigt told the story of
its setting in an inimitable manner.
! The plot Of Lucia is founded on Sir
| Walter SCOTS novel, "The Bride of
Lammermoor. 1t is an opera in three
acts with a text by Salvador Cammer-
ano, the music by Donizetti.
Messrs. Paul Collins and R. A. Buell.
accompanied by Miss Ruth Grams, ia
VOrad tho audipDca m3rp two uioJi,, co