The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-24
MADAM AIDA GIVES SPLENDID SONG RECITAL. Well Balanced Program Con- tained Many New Selec-
 tiOnS. MISS BALLARD
 FINE ACCOAIPANIST Metropolitan Star Ch arm s Large and Apprecia-
 tive Audience.

Ut Is most refreshing to attend a eoncert at which a program is given that is out of the beaten track where tho numbers are not the same that have been heard over and over again. Madame Frances Aida of the Metropolitan Opera House charmed and delighted Q most appreciaIVe audience at the Casino last evening an one of the series of Steinert con certs. Her program was unusual and refreshtng---a1 of the songs eX- Qutsite and particularly well suited to the singers voice.
 Added to complete artistry, finished technique, and wide interpretatiVe powers, Madame Aida has most at 1ractive personality. Her charm en- deared lner at once to her hearers. She has rather 0 wider tone range khan the average soprano and in the lower register there Is distinct con- tralto quality, rich and mellow. The beE-like clarity of the high notes is pure soprano and like the lower had 3. richness and warmth sometimes ab- sent from a sopranos high register.
 Madame Alda's diction is a delight to hear, for tn each language, and she made use of several, every word was enunciated with 8 clarity most re- freshing. Particularly lovely were the Swedish song, Jag Befver'; the Fin nisn Cradle song, ''Kehtolaulau" and the 'tChanson Norvegienne," all three of which were new to the great ma- Jor1ty of her audience. Each was dis tinct1y characteristic and splendidly interpreted. The tonal power and at the same time the beauty of her voice were specially noticeable in '"The Star" by Rogers It might be called simple song, but at the same time is one of the sort that demands an artist of the highest type to sing it.
 She sang several war songs, one "-Somewhere in France" written for and dedicated to Madame Aida It is dramatic and full of pathos. The war song that pleased the most was "fKhald Lad" She sang is splendidly and so appreciative was her audience that in response to the insistent ap- plause the singer graciousiy repeated it Madame Aida gave several en- cores, the loveliest of which was tDawn.''
 Miss Erin Ballard was Madame A1da's accompanist, and a pianist of ability as well, She opened tine pro gram with MacDowell's 'Polonaise' executed in a masterly manner. Hel technique is excellent and she pro. duced a. splendid tone from the in. strument. Later on in the program she gave Mosowskis Air de Ballet and for an encore played a. selection Soh Ia1 SIn oct1t touch. As an accompanist Miss Bal lard was equally good, and through out the long and difficult program played entirely without notes. Seldom if ever has so fine an .accompanis been heard here.
 The program which was opened b! the singing of a verse of 'The Sta Spangled Banner" by Madame Ald was as follows:
 "Polonaise," Mcdowell; Miss Fri Ballard.
 (a) "AmerilII," Caccini; (b) "Je n suis qu'une Bergere," Philidor; (c 'My Lovely Celia" Munro; (d) 9Th Lass With the Delicate Hair" Dr Arne; Madame Ada.
 (a) Jag lefver," (swedish) Meri kanto; (b) 'Kektolaulau," (Finnish Jarneveldt; Co Somewhere i France (written for and dedicated t Mme. Alda) May Hartmann; Cd 'Chanson Norvegienne," Fourdrain Ce) Gavotte from "Manon," Massenet Madame Aldl-
 Air de Ballet" Moszkowslli; Mis- Ballard.
 Aria: "Un Bel DI," from Madam
 
 (a) "The Star" Rogers; (b) ". Khaki Lad" Aylward; (c) "Whe the Boys Como Home" Oley Speaks (d) An Open Secret" Woodman Madame Ada