Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-31
CHARMING anna CASE
CAPT!vATEs AUDIENCE
Noted Lyric Soprano Opens Rich
mond's Musical Season With
Song Recital.
HER PHRAsING is PERFECTION
"roup OF Numbers Discloscs Breadth
or Style Which Is Regarded rs
Acme OF Artistic Singing-2,OO0
Greet Her.

Inc musical season In Richmond was
auspiciously opened at the city Audi
,orium last evening by Anna Case.
G tyrlc Soprano in song recital, with
CHARLES Gilbert Spross at the piano.
An audience Of fully 1000 was aroused
TO the greatest enthusiasm by her won
derful voice and her rnatchless art. the
applause amounting at times TO Il gem
uinc ovation. From her first note in
the Sgambati Folk Song 20 the last
tone in Mr.. Sprosss "Will o. the Wisp."
MISS Case held the audience completely
under her control.
Anna Case is without doub, one of
the most popular vocalists before the
pubic to-day and ii is freely prophc-
sled that she will soon lead in the
esteem OF music loving folk This was
amply attested last evening IL. the
demonstrations of delight and cn.hus-
asm which greeted her from her first
appearance. If there is another singer
who can stir an audience as Miss Case
did with her Battle Hymn Of the
republic. we do not know who.it is.
or extraordinary personal beauty and
attractivencss and possessing n vocal
organ OF splendid warmth and color
and OF n cil-balanccd quality through
out Miss Case sings with II complete
command of her vocal resources. Her
phrasing Is perfection itself; her enun-
citation is Of such unusual clarity that
hardly n word was missed: n pure
lyrical art she is without superior
Her opening group of songs disclosed
breadth of style which was the acme
OF artistic singing. Her sustained
legato and smooth portamcntu made
this group the best artistically of the
evenings program.
GENEROUS IN RESPONSE
TO MANY ENCoRES
Her "Separazionc." OF Sganbati. in
italian. was beautifully done; tho
lithuanian Song" of Chopin. "a more
familiar number. was likewise most
artistic selection. while the Weber
cavatina from the "Frcischutz" was un-
doubtedy her best offering OF the en-
tire program. II is in singing Of this
style that Miss Case exceis. and in
which the hes, qualities OF her voice
and art are apparent
In her manner. Miss Case is charm
itself. responding 10 cncores with gen
erous grace, in one instance sitting
down al the piano with the remark.
This is Il little song which ! composed
myself very early one morning" the
song proving TO be a patriotic num-
Der with the words recurring. Amer
lea, America, Land of tho Brave" This
song was received with every evidence
OF appreciation.
II is. perhaps. reGrcttable that Miss
Case should have found i, necessary
to confnc herself TO her written cop-
or the words Of her songs. since some
thing OF freedom of style is sacrificed
thereby; this. however. il not unusual
among prima donnas, who in opera have
Inc promptcr constantly at hand. In
justice TO the artist however (, mus,
be said that sh. discarded these in
songs where acti,n seemed TO be re-
CURED entering into the Scandinavian
and Swedish folk songs with entire
abandon.
DISPLAYS TEMPERAMENT
IN SCANDINAVIAS SONGS
three French onGs Of varied STYLES
Il The Holmes Noel" was II quiet selcc-
ton, daintily sung: OF decided contras,
was the Bizet Clemson" BRIGHT and
brilliant. while the Screnade Fran
caise carried a suggestion of Spanish
castanets. The Kuli..stcin number
was delightful little selection
AS an encore TO this group Miss Case
gave the "Suwanee River" the an
nouncement Of which by the piano
proved the signal for appreciative az
plause second encore brought out
a bright and dashing composition hv
Mr.. Spross. Come down. Laughing
Strcamlet." which was equally enjoy
able.
A group OF piano numbers by Mr.
1 Spross embraced 4 Nocturnc BY Cut y
melodic by RaChmaminon. suggesting
in some parts the famous prelude bv
the same composer. and the Etude
Hereiquc by Lcschctizky Mr. Spross
was handicapped in his numbers by the
parlor grand and while he succeeded
in obtaining splendid effects vet II
was evident that much more exertion
than usual was required. Mr.. Spross
responded u insistcnt applause with
a composition of his own for the lef,
hand. This was greatly ycnjoyed and
u commended
Miss Cases next appearance brought
out group of Scandinavian folk songs
IN which she displayed considerable
TEMPERAMENT. The "SloEen Sover' was
In bic pastoral style. quiet and media
tive; the "Willebukken" CThc Lamb
KIM was explained hy Miss Case os
an invitation to the lamb to thrive aud
progress, In order that his skin might
be used as fur and his flesh for food
This morbid Interpretation does not
begin to convey the charm and bright
ness OF the song.
FOUR NEW SONGS ny
Il AMERICAN COMPOSERS
ID The Dams Ropte Felen" was de-
~ scriptive song. Illustrative OF a native
81 folk dance. in which several charac-
y tors were represented with dialogue.
Hiss. Case entered into these songs
who1e-heartcdly, and from the last
one might have stepped into the char
Il acter of Carmen" without change of
manner or expression. Her encore to
4 this group was a Swedish folk song
4 known as the "Dalpolska." also illus
trative of a native dance. this one a
barn frolic.
In her closing group Miss Case pre-
= scented four songs by American
composers Remembrance" by Mac
Farlane, was full of the atmosphere
suggested by the title; Dawn" by
Pearl Curran, a splendid number. well
suited to Miss Case. in that it gave her
high tone at the end. to which her
4 voice responded effectively; in the
Hindu sumber Song" of Harriet