The Washington times., 1921-05-04
MANA-zUCCA HEARD
|NF|NAL CONCERT
Pleasing Little Pianist Greatly
Appreciated at Last Of Rubin
stein Club Event.

Mana-zucca, the diminutive pianist
and writer OF many kinds OF music.
was the bright particular star at The
final concert OF the Rubinstein Club,
given last evening at the Masonic
Auditorium. The little Titan haired
artist was given a splendid ovation
after her playing of the first group n
her own compositions. The club also
gave number of choruses under tn cir
director, Claude Robson. Another
assisting artist was Christine Langen-
han. Bohemian soprano.
Nine. Mana-Zucca has a whirlwird
technique, AS a pianist and very
vivid imagination that makes her IN
terpretations full of character, with
modern tone effects. now crisply cut
and again sufYused with that quality
that we call impressionism in music.
She is essentially musical and pos
s.sses winning personality. Her
piano compositions, in her first group.
were a Sketch" OF original and
strongly typed characters in he
modern French manner, given like an
Improvisation.
Bizarre and fascinating was her
'Zouaves Drill" with its little gro
tesque figures, that took a freedom
OF execution to give in such va
riety. Her "Valse Brilliante" vas
subtle. rhythmic. with fire and execu-
ton. being Straussian in form. Fa-
cility and clever variations some.
what overbalanced the originality Of
her second group OF compositions.
The pianist has created. with a fas-
cinating caprice. works that are nv
for tunateIy reminiscent, making
them more clever than inspired
Yet there was nothIrg obvious In
her brilliant paraphrase of the theme
"Over There but she was tempted
into the commonplace in her "EtuCo''
development and in the modulations
of her "Wistaria." while the big
form OF her Poem" which might
have been an epic. sacrificed much to
the sheer brilliancy. OF the pianist.
Mana yucca, whose songs have
been much sung this winter. was rep
resented on the chorus program by
THE Star of Gold" sung by request,
and repeated through appreciation. 1t
was delightfully."- built, and excellent
and attractive choral work. given
with splendid climax by these sing
ers, brought a word OF thanks ana
praise from the composer, who said
she had never heard II so well given
The chorus opened it's program. as
lie it's custom, with a Rubinstein COM
position, THE Dew is Shining" They
gave their richest interpretations to
the Lieurance Indian sings. the Love
Song" being real "shoW" rendition.
with it's dynamic contrasts OF forte
and soft tones. and it's effect in the
several voices The 'Habaners" from
the ballet "Guerpica" by Paul Vidal
held second place for rendition, it's
type being clesr-cut, spirited, with
value in moduls ton and in tone color.
The Sibelius "Nalse Triste" and
Coleridge -Taylor chorus completed
their program. that Mr.. Robson held
in complete unity of tone. Mrs. How
ard Blandy at the piano was artistic
in her accomplishments.
Nine. Langenhap gave some un-
usual songs that she explained with
an intimate touch helpful to an audi
encc. In her soft work this soprano
Is artistic, the Lullaby" from tn.
Czech opera, The kiss Of Smetsna,
and a Russian song being agreeable
unsteady. She so forced her voice in
''Mignon" aria and in the Carmen
"Habanera" as to make them unmusical,
marring power of Interpretation
that Is good by an cxaggeratiou Of
tone. Florence Grandland assisted
her at the piano. %.
In closing its season, the RUBIN
stein Club announced broader plans
for the coming year. II Ia to be con-
graduated on bringing the young and
popular composer. Mana-Zucca, thus
adding to the long list OF important
artists 1T has introduced to WASH
ington.