Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-09
MCCORMACK DELIGHTS
AN IMMENSE AUDIENCE
Metropolitan Opera House
Crowded to Hear Irish Tenor
in Fine Program

John Mccormack proved last evening at
the Metropolitan Opera House that both his
power TO attract n capacity audience and his
ABILITY TO please that audience to the utmost
have not waned with the passing of the
years. Not only was every seat in the huge
auditorium taken. but there were about $50
persons seated on the stage, while back Of
the orchestra circle they stood five rows
deep. The approval which the vast audience
manifested toward the soloist and his asso-
ciate. Mr.. McBeath, was in full keeping with
It's size.
Mr.. McCormack's sweet. sympathetic
voice. his style and his charm in lyric singing
are so well known as to make extended COM
ment superNuous. The program opened with
an aria. ITO Alcestc." from "Alceste." one
OF the many-forgotten operas Of Handel. II
gave Mr.. Mccormack an opportunity to dis
play his vocal technique. the only work on
the program calling for this style of singing,
and in which he showed himself 10 be as
thoroughly at home az in the pure lyric form.
His next was a group OF four modern
songs. La Procession" of Cesar Franck;
mo. Whom Love" of Tschaiknwsky 4:
Loves Secret by Rantock, and The Star"
Of Saint-Saens, the last an especially beauti-
full song. although all were admirably
adapted to the voice and method or the
singer. They were so cordially received that
Mr.. Mccormack was obliged 70 grant two
encores. Dear Old Pal of Mine and "Roses
OF Picardy.'
After the intermiSsion Mr.. Mccormack
sang four songs OF the class In which he Is
easily the leading singer on the American
concert platform. the Irish folk-song. These
were Down by the Sally Garden" the
Light o. the Moon" The
Whistle and Uni BAUM" They were ad-
mirably chosen with regard to diversity of
sentiment and were sung with a Skin IN
which art and racial feeling played equal
parts. The group was rapturousIy received
by. the audience. and Mr.. Mccormack re-
sponded with three encores, all OF the same
type--"Dee-oo-lc-a," Mother Machree' and
"Macushla." The second of these. one OF the
most effective numbers of the evening was
sung to that portion of the audience which
occupied stage seats.
The closing group also comprised four
songs. the first "Thine Eyes Still Shine be-
ing composed by Edwin Schneider, Mr.. Nc
Cormack's accompanist. The song is an
excellent one. with an elaborate and express
sivc accompan imcnt. and Mt It's close MT.
Mccormack gracefully shared the honors
with its composer. Vt the end OF the tour
songs the audience showed no disposition 70
leave, and Mr.. Mccormack gave an encore,
The American Flag
II is no easy matter 20 share a program
MS a fellow soloist with John Mccormack. hut
Donald McRcath, tho viollnist, acquitted HIM
self admirably. His selections were We"
chosen, in symrathetic accord with Mr.. Nc
Cormack's numbers. being mclodious rather
than technical His tone is sweet, intonation
excellent, and everything was played In the
best of taste. Mr.. McBeath appeared In the
uniform Of the Canadian aviation corps, In
which he has served for the last two years
was Obliged 20 respond to his second APP
pearance with two encores and did MS tuli
share in making the concert the success II
proved to be.