The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-11-08

nuered, Is WHAT tnc Iii-SiliCo al z
..v,ug this morning after hearing
Nary Garden, the first woman d.
,.c,or of the Chicago Opera COM
..nv in her concert last evening
:, Augustana gymnasium. Mary
cas- everything that was to be ex-
,.c,ed-and not soon will the COM
.unity forget the distinction of
having had Miss Garden in concert
auring the time she was at the
head of Chicago opera Theatres
are still thrilled with the distinc-
aim of having had been chosen for
o,a NJ the four concerts which this
,,obablv best known woman in the
ror,d chose to give this season.
last night she finished her short
,our and hurried back TO Chicago
N devote her time to promoting
onera. which season opens in Chi
ca9o next Monday night.
The concert last night was ev-
ervthing to be desired. Probably
uover before had Garden been
sreeted by so many first nighters"
az waited for her appearance after
the opening number by Bruno
Ste,ndeI cellist, and the accompa-
nist Isaac Van Grove. Everyone
anticipated something wonderful.
and we're curiously anxious 10 see
and hear. When she stepped out
on the platform, there was a st1f1ed
oasn from the crowd-they had eX-
nected a stunning parsonage, put
not nearly so keen one! rev
women of such prominence are aple
m create such a curious expectancy
and completely satisfy 1t as olo
Garden. wonderful bearing, stun
ming gown. famous ropes OF pearls,
tade bracelets. and unusual or
anqe colored hair'-(Mary herselt
calls il that for lack of a WORD
which exactly describes it-she
made her impression, and then be-
gan to sing
There was not so much as a sus-
picjon of a trace of the cold winch
kent Miss Garden from fllllng ner
concert date here last MONDAY
night An entire week of rest and
saving for the tri-city appearance
worked wonders, and the clear. not
too strong. yet full voice as shown
in the first number. "Arloso" leo
Delibes), stood out Deauti1uiiy
against the background OF the deep
toned cello and remarkable piano
accomuaniment. Hearing her for
the first time, the writer was great
" surprised at the beautiful. sort
tonal qualities which are so ap-
parent in her voice. After expect,
ing TO hear Zones of heavily full
nature, it was a rare gratlfcatlon
IN find that the noted Mary Garden
had a voice full of sweetness sell
dom to be found in one who mas
sung the heavy roles required ID
the opera. Sometimes the work
was rarely brilliant, and again II
was lust the satisfying, easily I'M
derstood Interpretation OF numbers
which were more or less familiar
to the audience. Seldom does st
noted an operate singer chose
such human numbers to lntersperse
between heavier numbers Hei
program was as versatile as mel
Interpretation thereof. and we who
heard it liked both.
Realistic Touch to "Carmen.
Following the first group of mum
hers the Arioso and "Triste Rltor
no" Orchard Barthelemy), MIS-
Garden was called back on tn
stage many times, and finally sh'
gave a selection from Carmen
Nothing could have satisfied NOR
than this encore. Her luminou
personality, which is the dazzling
feature OF her work, stood GU
plainly. and all regretted not haV
ing heard Miss Garden when sh'
sang Carmen" A notable touci
was added in the clinking OF IN
Jade bracelets which encircled III
singers arm at a most opportun
time. reminding Of the castanet
which are associated with In
opera.
One could fairly see the delicat
Mimi OF La Boheme' as Mary Gar
den sang "DOnde Lieta" from TN
Puccini opera Here again tn
sweet. almost delicate ike tone
were shown. No wonder critic
have found her voice so hard u
= describe. when 1t contains suci
wide range OF expression, VARYING
colors and deucate shad1ngs
Comm Through the Rye was III
encore, and little English song
second.
Two numbers in French and TIVE
English songs by Reynaldo Ham
composed the next group given b!
Miss Garden. Lever de Solell, D.
Camille Erlanger, was the first, ant
here the peculiar timbre ana re
serve power was shown. Sne wa
charming when she sang the Lul
laby from "Jocelyn" tGodard) u
cello accompan iment, and gave
demonstration of operate interpre
tation seldom used by singers wneI
they appear here. In fact, more
dramatic suggestions were uset
during the entire evening thar
have ever been used before. one
could easily see why Garden ha:
been the Unprecedented success IL
opera.
The Swing" and My Ship anC
L we're the English numbers. anC
another quality OF the singer
enunciation-was displayed. Inoss
IN the remotest corner of the TOT
balcony were able to understand
every word of the songs-catch the
swing Of the first sung to accom-
paniment which fairly pictured tht
smooth ascensions and descenslon:
o. the swing.
Even though Miss Garden lef'
Scotland, the land of her birth. a
@ he age of six years, one could tel
she was a born Scotch lassie wheI
she sang Somebody" as an encore