The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-05-27
GREAT MUSICAL EVENT
Large and Satisfied Audi
ence At kato Theatre
PROGRAM WAS PLEASING
Enthusiastic Reception Given
Famous Grand Opera Singer
. BY Home People
JAMES DAVIES, MUSICAL CRITIC,
MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE

MlnnSSOld II 10 AAA'S
homer; for the nightingale is song
bird with an exceedingly limited
arrange of expression; there is no lin
it to Miss acbeth's art, and the more
one hears her, in either concert or
opera, the stronger grows the con-
viction that she has by no means
reached the pinnacle of her fame.
At the opening of the past concert
season Miss Macbeth sang with the
Minneapolis Symphony orchestra and
her appearance was welcomed Dy
both critics and public alike with &C
clamation. Her singing then was IN
keeping with the standards she estap-
lished years ago as CONSCIENTIOUS
hard working intelligent vocalist; put
last night after the most strenuous
season in her career Miss MACBETH S
appearance here in her own home
town established a new standard OF
excellence Her voice was more JUS :
trous, the simplicity and beauty OF
her vocal ar more impressive, anu
her versatility as an Interpreter OF
songs more distinctive.
The true artist is not content with
the present; but always aims toward
greater perfection, and Miss MacDein
brought home, and gave the very best
2 to the splendid audience that greeteo
! her last night. Whether in the sim
the Lilac Tree" the weird realism
! of Farley's The North Wind" the
EXQUISITE sentiment of the fine Mac
sDcweI "Slumber Song" one OF the
very best American songs, by the
way; or in songs with more exotic
flavor like the interesting Russian
Folk Song "Kalinka;" the two French
YeuX' by Massenet and LIE Pap1llon,
Fourdrain; there was evident the SUI
preme art of one of the most gifted
singers on this continent.
a natural question arises whenever
"a great public favorite wins new sue
cesses How is it accomplished? Great
art is merely the expression of inf :
mite care in the presentation OF detail.
The reason why so many singers fail.
who have great natural gifts, lies in
the fact that they have relied too
much on their gifts and too little upon
hard, persistent labor. For time a
beautiful voice will hold the. public;
but making voice alone the beginning
and the end Of all things singer soon
passes into the discard.
Florence Macbeth is a great artist
because she is a great worker, cap
able Of taking infinite plans with the
most Insignificant number on her
programs. The ability to convey to
her hearers the poetic picture that
exists in her own mind, even in such
a trivial little piece as the Cuckoo
Clock" or to give versimilitude to
the famous Norwegian Echo Song,
Kun Kyra," is a real test of great
ness.
In no selection on the programs was
the individuality of the singer more
in evidence than in the Hageman
Ill Dol
8 naise" from "Mignon." Both of these
songs have been heard repeatedly this
season, and one naturally expects a
certain similarity of Interpretation
and yet they were different, simply
because Of the personal element.
No singer in the country compares
with Miss Macbeth in the interpreta
excelsis, and the naive coquetry with
which she imbues the Hageman song
clothes it with elements of attractive
ness unlike any other singer.
=, In short Miss Macbeth Is highly
7 intelligent, sincere, painstaking ar
2 list, with great natural gifts that have
been supplemented by a wonderful
now in the front rank Of singers in
this country, and will travel still fur
Their. Her work last night was aided
In significant fashion by the splen
did Accomplishments. played with mu-
steal taste and skill by George Rob
erts.
1t is impossible to speak in too high
terms Of the work the Orpheus clui
has done and is doing for the cause
of music in this city Since their ap-
pearance in Minneapolis last yeal
there has been distinct advance along
legitimate musical lines. The mer
sing now with even greater fiexibility
Of expression; they attack with fine
precision; their phrasing bespeak!
the right kind of training. Some o.
them might contribute more by put.
ting more of themselves into theil
singing. A good balance of tone ha!
been achieved and best of all from
the standpoint of sincere musician
ship the selections they presented
were of exceptional quality. The bes
number they gave was the chorus b!
Schultz: Forest Harps" with H.
Lloyd singing the tenor solo. There
was a splendid opportunity in thi!
number for the finest kind of chora
exposition and the men rose to thu
occasion with admirable spirit. Blu
not alone in this were there many
mendation; consummate care wa!
exercised in each piece.
Delightful were "Wynken, Blynker
and Nod" and wild Bird Serenade'
and the stirring "Sextette" from ''Lu
cha" in which Miss Macbeth sang the
obligato solos. Her Rose" by Coomb!
gave Mr.. Shoemaker an opportunity tt
display the qualities of his fine bari
tone voice and both he and Mr.. Lloyt
won laurels by their artistic singing
of Swear in This Hour" from Verdi's
Fora del Destino."
J. c. Kendall, H. J. Lloyd, r. ]
Wherry. G. w. Shoemaker and G. B
Butts took the individual parts in the
Sextstte admirably and Mrs w. NJ
Taylor in her capacity as club accom-
PIANIST played with helpful and eff
cient taste and skill
To Mrs. H. A. Patterson belongs
the credit for bringing the Orpheus
club to it's present efficient state o.
perfection. She has established higf
ideals toward which she is workins
! with consistency and ability. The clui
( Is one of the very best in the state
4 at the present time and is bound t.
improve.
It might be added that when Miss
! Macbeth tires of the concert stage
! there will be found place for her az
an effective public speaker. The hap