The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-04-15
1900 HEAR GALLI-CURCI
Largest Audience Since Nor1ica's Con-
cert-Sings Old Fayorites.

CcTt-S1ngS OiQ~ aJOf1teS.
Four thousand persons crowded the
city auditorium last night to hear the
world famous coloratura soprano voice
of Madame Amelia Gallf-Curci. Eager
listeners from Topeka and from all
parts of Kansas SO filled the building,
that more than $50 were seated on the
stage, giving the singer scarcely
enough room to find her way thru to
present herself and her beautiful
voice for their enjoyment.
No concert audience ever gathered
in Topeka has been larger than that
of last night with the possible excep-
ton of the audience which greeted
Nordica in this city nearly twenty
years ago.
Despite the unwieldly size of the
audience. a hush of rapt and pleasur-
able expectancy fell upon the four
thousand as the hour arrived for the
appearance of the celebrity. Deafen-
ing applause broke forth when the
singer. with her brilliant poise and
quantity charming manner made her
bow to Topeka and sang caro- Mic
Ben" in old Italian. The indescrib-
ably clear and bird-like tones were
applauded again and again, with re-
peated and generous encores by the
singer. until she graciously closed the
concert with the singing of Home,
Sweet Home" to her own accompani-
ment.
To many the most delightful part
| of the program was the singing of old
fashioned songs in English, which the
prima donna had understandingly
chosen for her encores, including
! "Swanee River" which so delighted
her listeners that they were loath to
cease the applause which greeted the
first few measures of the song. Loves
Old Sweet Song" Robin Adair" and
Annie Laurie" were not less enjoy
able. Altho the singing of the English
words of the old songs would have
been more appreciated by many if it
had been minus the peculiar foreign
accent of the singer, there was much
feeling and pleasing Interpretation in
the rendition that left little to be de-
sired.
A special favorite in the program
was in the singing of La Capinera'
(The Wren) by Benedict with flute
accompaniment. So birdlike and close
! ly resembling the flute tones is the
voice of Cali Curci that in more than
one passage of the song her voice
seemed merged with the flute notes.
Variety of the program proved the
fleXibility of the artists voice, shown
in the passing from the brilliancy of
caro- Nome from "Rigoletto" to the
soft, melancholy sweetness of "Crepu-
scule' (Twilight) by Massenet; with
the vivacious and difficult Spanish
song "Clavelitos." the capricious rem
dition of THE Little Damozel," the
dreamy composition. 1.-The Little Bells
of Sevilla," written by her accompan-
list, Homer Samuels, to the Shadow
Song" from "Dinorah," the difficult
closing number.
Manuel Berenguer, with his golden
flute, gave a solo number, Chaminade
Concerto in d. which was well re-
ceived and encored, and his flute ac-
compartments added much to the eve
ning's enjoyment. The flawless work
of Homer Samuels. pianist, was as I'M
assuming as it was pleasing.
Managers for great artists have
been watching the results of the con-
cert series in Topeka this winter, and
the success of the course assures great
artists for Topeka next year. Prof. H.
j. Dotterweich, manager of the series,
announced on the programs of last
lights concert that among the arsists
he promises the city next year are
Alma Gluck, soprano, and Efrem
Zimbalist, violinist, in joint recital;
Sophie Breslau, contralto; Yolanda
Nero, Hungarian pianist; Olive Kline,
American soprano, and the New York
Chamber Music society. NJ. ". r.