The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-04-06
SOPHIE BRASLAU GIVES SPLENDID
 CONCERT HERE
Enthusiastic Audien nc e Greeted Her At Park
 Theatre.
(BY M. R. S.l

Most enthusiastic was the audience that gathered at the Park theatre last evening to hear Sophie Braslau. contralto of the Metropolitan Grand Opera company and Salvatore de Ste fano, harpist. It is to be supposed that Stefano took the place of Deco gorza, who was heralded as being Miss Braslau's co-artist, but no explanatiOG was made as to the reason for the change. In justice to the two art ists that did appear it is only fair to say that Gogorza was not missed. The program was a splendid one and exceptionally well done.
 One of the most notable things about Miss BrasIau's work was the purity of her diction. She is the possessor of a gloriouSly rich, warm voice, and a fine range. In the up- per register the tones were crystal clear, yet carrying the richness and warmth in all it's strength and beauty, Her intonation was perfect and her artistry beautiful
 F1exibility she possesses to an un- usual degree for a contralto. Hef selections covered a wide range, de, ! manding an unusual amount of tecn> l nical and local equipment. In her
 
 nut from coloratura work to the broad, free, melodious and deeply colorful execution called for by Bee | thoven's wonderful Natures Adora- tion.'' It was, perhaps, in this last i selection that the audience obtained ] the first glimpse of the power and ! exquisite melody in her voice.
 Her second group opened with 8 Moussorgsky number "On the Dy- nepr." 1t has the wildness of the | Scopes and the people who inhabit 1 them. Sung with great feeling and l force, the response from her hearers was most appreciative. The 1asr | song of the four was 'tEili, Eli, ' | Schalitt, which Miss Braslau sang ir l Yiddish. It is a cry to God for aid i from a down-trodden people. It was 1 rendered with a true sense of dignity and dramatic power. At the con. l clusion of this group the applause 1 continued insistently until Miss Bras. 1au reappeared and playing her owr 1 accompaniment sang ''Habanera,' l MichaeIa's famous aria from Carmen It was given with splendid verve an6 as in all the other selections hel | tonal effects were superb.
 The last group was equally pleas ing. It is certainly a rare treat tc hear an artist of the calibre of Mis-. l Braslau. Her art is versatile anC many sided, all rounded into perfec l whole. It is so seldom an art>o l presents a program that gets ava, from the beaten path Its demand were unusual, but at no time wa | Miss Braslau unable to meet them al i splendidly. Certainly the must | lovers of this city owe a debt to M 1 Steinert & Sons for the chance af l forded this winter to hear the yer, l cream of the musical world.
 Salvatore de Stefano proved him l self an artist of equal repute an, well chosen to appear jointly witt
 Miss Braslau. He is very much mas | ter of his instrument. Hearing tn l wonderfully sweet music of the har1
 one feels inclined to wonder wh
 that instrument is not heard nor
 often. His selections were also ex
 cellently chosen and his receptio
 was most cordial. The work of Mis-
 Eleanor Scheib, as accompanist fo
 Miss Braslau added no little to tn
 pleasure of the evening.