Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-29
Music in Richmond
Edited by John George Harris
American Opera.

American opera.
With AMBROSE Thomas's tuneful
opera, "Mignon." as its initial Offering.
the Society Of American Singers opened
its 1918 season at the Park Thcatcr,
New York, on Monday evening last. An
orchestra of thirty-siX musicians. di-
rectcd by Richard liagcman. and
chorus of forty voices. furnished the
background for Il performance given
entirely by singers OF American de-
scent. many of them already famous,
others making their first appearance
on this, to them, momcntous, oc-
casion
Before an audience embracing the
elect of New Hork's musical world.
a cast of undoubted ability sang tho
brilliant score. and furnished the
abundant humor essential to the Opera
Comiquc for Americans. as the season
is styled. The Society OF American
Singers is n step in the direction of
American Musical Independence. as one
publication phrases its slogan. Or
ganizcd about three years ago. one sue
cessful season has been given. that of
1917. Two classes of members. the
first OF the best known American
singers who have made for themselves
places of distinction aud who are will
ing to cooperate idea listically: the
second class Of buyers of stock TO sup
port the venture. No salaries are re-
given. Truly. an ideal arrangement
On this. the opening night. Maggie
Tcytc. rs Mignon. held the leading
place. with John Iland a Utah tenor.
liam Mcistcr: Ruth Miller as phillinc
and Henri Scott as Lotario. Sung
wholly in English and to Il text largely
revised by the singers themselves Eng
lish diction was vin,,icatcd: words were
understood and in the work OF such
singers as Tcyte and Scott. the dia-
i"gue was clarity itself not as in
Mona" of Henry Parker. and in the
Pine OF Peace" by Converse. at the
production of each OF which New York
critics ravcd at tn" nonabilty of the
audience to understand the text: CON
trari- wise in Mi-non. the English die
ton was complimcntcd
IL was pleasure To hear Miss Tcytc
ana Mr.. scott in their roles and their
OF inc cas-, were not so successful, Mr..
Hand. while manly figure and adj
cnuatc in many respects for the part
disclosing faulty vocal method for
which he was soundly abused hv the
critics: Miss Miller was passabln in nor
rnic, though handling the coloratura
phrases admirably The conducting Of
ME- itaCeman was notably good. and
tn" famous overture was n delight.
one saw among those in tho audi
r rncr Geraldine Farrar. David Bisrhan.
iced Miller Nevada Van Der V"er. DE
IhE nroia. Rafael piaZ and Thomas
m" 'nf"rS noth or whom were in Rich
mond at the recent festival Gamma
nine. OF tn" Chicago Onora was pres-
ent. as many othe DISTINGUISHED must
clans al this and other cities. Applause
was loud and inSiStcnt. and recalls were
numerous. Huge baskets of flowers
We're handed UP TO the artists. and the
"'TT5% TICS so Of The evening was genial;
through eight weeks. during which
Tho. Daughter of.the Regiment Car
men m"m an" M, G TN familiar and new
Mt. l,aih"r. tho business manager Of the
society. that upon tho success Of tho
tour through other cities. Would It
were posshl" to have Richmond in
cludcd in such II tour.
New York, September a
Novelty Suggested by Mr. Powell
Some years ago, when John Powell
was in London on ono Of his visits
there, he was al the Erard ware
rooms. whore the original piano which
was played by Chopin was kept and
treasured. While Mr.. Powell was look
IN ing over The piano and trying it out.
would be extremely Interesting to give
an entire chopin recital, using the
identical instrument upon which the
great master had given his own re-
citais. Forthwith, like the man OF ac-
tion that he is. the project was i'm
ediatGly placed before the managers
of the Erard company. Whcrcupon oh
Jcctions were raiscd-thc piano would
need TO be renovated, it must he wholly
or partly rcStrunS. IL must be given
attention in other particulars. They
did not wish to change the instrument
from the condition in which il was
when chopin played il, as must be done
10 put !! INTO present concert form.
Mr.. Powell told them that when Chopin
played ii. IL WAS undoubtedly in good
tune. nor was there a defective sound
board; in other words. by putting it
into shape. they would he more nearly
making il just as Chopin played it,
The managers could not see this so
the concert never was given. II was