The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-07
MARY GARDEN WINS
 BIRMINGHAM HEART

Mary Garden first won the hearts of her audience at the Jefferson theatre last night by her graciousness and then en- tlralled them by her superb gifts as an artist. Her appearance was an excep- tionally brilliant event in the list of "All- Star Concerts" presented by Mrs. Rich ard F. Johnston and Mrs. Orline Arnold Shipnan. No prirna donna who has ever visited Birmingham has succeeded in im- parting such a delightful air of infor- 'mality and cordiality to a concert which reached such heights of artistic excel lence.
 Miss Garden has long been distin- g1lished iby her dramatic power, quality which differentiates her from nearly all the great singers of the present time. She could not sing without acting. Whether sine is singing an operatic se- lection or a simple ballad, she lives the song and that is one of her greatest claims to distinction Personality IS a term that has don't yoeman service in writing of stage celebrities, but it is a quality which Miss Garden possesses in prodiga.l abundance She radiates Vi- tality. Without that marvellous gown of so many mirrors without jewels and even without the glamor of a great name it is easy to conceive of simply clah, unknown Mary Garden, dominating any audience by her glorious zest in life and the apparent pleasure it gives her to sing.
 Miss Garden was in the best of form last night and as mentioned before, sine was the most obliging prima donna that one could wish to see and hear. From the-time she stepped on the stage to sing her first number, it was evident that she wished to please and no demands would tax her patience. As result she re- cno a1 n e<nNir1R some exquisite little songs including the in- mortal Coming Thro' the Rye and sev- era1 others not quite so we'll known 10 the generality, which were charming. Sentiment hunor and the airiest fancy were blended in these ballads, every one of which Miss Garden sang with the most delightful artistry and grace
 Beginning with an air from Fevrier s "Gismonda,' Miss Garden followed the printed programme, but the audience was so insistent in it's requests for encores that the printed numbers formed but small part of the entertainment. Her rendition of ''Donde Lieta" from La Bo- heme." and Barthelmey's 'Triste Ritor- 'ao'' was superb. Her glorious voice and dramatic instinct made every one of her grand opera selections notable. Camille Erlangers "Lever de Soeil:' two lighter pieces by Hahn, "The Swing and My Ship and r. dainty conception of child hood, lullaby from Joceiyn, with cello, and an air from Louise" com pleted the formal programme
 There have been few artists in Bir- mingham who have made more friends ir so short a space of time as Miss Gar den. Judging from the smiles of rec ognition and the way in which she bowed or waved her hand to persons seated in boxes or on the orchestra floor, she was by no means among strangers It is good to behold a prima donna who is so free from staginess and chill aloofness. As an American product, she knows what is expected of her and though a great artist, she is American from the tips of her toes to her halo of Titan hair.
 The tslrFoortng artists were quite worthy of the singer. Gutia Casini played the cello in niasterly style. His pro- gramme was not too classical, but brought out his fine abilities as a mu- sician. His Chopin nocturne revealed rare skill. However, MT. Casini created an awkward pause by not being ready to appear when the time came to accom- pany Miss Garden in the lullaby from "Jocelyn.' A little drumming of her gloved fingers on the piano and a ges- ture of inpatience may have been mis- taken for a touch of ''temperament,'' but she laughed it off in good d-huonored fashion and obligingly placed his chair. Isaac Van Grove. the pianist, was a 1 flawfess accompanist.