The Washington times., 1921-01-26
.GLUCK HAS MAGIC
IN SIMPLE SONGS
Artist Better In Second Group.
Zimbalist Gives Feast for
Techincians.

Certain names In the music world
have q sort of magic that brings
masses OF music lovers to hear their
music message. Such was the Joint
recital given yesterday afternoon at
Polls Thester by Alma Gluck and
Efrem zimbalist, when soprano and
vioiinist nlied the theater to cspac-
ity. with one of the largest stage
audiences of the season for this con-
cert OF the Second Philharmonic
Course presented by Mrs. Wilson
Greene.
Alma Gluck has a certain warmth
and magnetism that puts particular
charm into her songs, and her alive
rhythm when she impulsively sways
a. she sings-though other singers
could not use IL so safely-brings
vitality to her interpretations that
Is a part Of her personal self.
NOT IN BEST OF VOICE.
Yesterday Nine. Gluck was not In
the best OF voice. so that II was not
until she reached her second group
of songs. the Russian and French
songs. that the real Alma Gluck
came forth. Tenderness she has,
shown In the Russian Cradle Song of
Zimbalist. and she made much of the
Paladilhe Psyche" which Is a lovely
thing. But in Rachmanioff's great
song. "The Answer" tightness Of
throat. that brought Wilderness to
the voice. somewhat hampered it's
fullness, as II did in Brahms The
Message"
But songs are messages, and in a
simple appeal to the beautiful, Mime.
(.Inck m nresaiVa fandnrnasa int n
that little encore song. "A Perfect
Prayer" and gave delightfully."- the
Garry Me Back TO OF Virginie,"
"The Little Gray Home In the West"
and Sing Me to Sleep" which capt.
waited her audience. even IL the cru
dite find them obtrusive in a classic
program The diction OF Alma Gluck
Is q model. whether she is giving
the pure joyousness in Haydn and
Mozart, or that little prayer begin
ming Dear Lord" She was ably ac-
companied by Miss Eleanor Scheib.
ZINBALIsT A CLAssICIsT.
Efrem Zimbalist makes one feel the
chaste and perfect form OF the classic
composers. He gave the Mozart Con-
certo. q major. in a manner that
brought authority to his freedom of
bow and variety Of expression. The
TWO cadenzas were In part creations
of Mr.. Zimbalist, who as composer
brought folk songs out of Russia both
in a song. given by his gifted wife,
and in the Russian dance" that he
played for encore. with it's deep
voiced wall and it's tempestuous
dance.
The gypsy strain in music for
violin, that East Europe quality. came
suddenly into being with Mr.. Zimbal-
list at the close of the Carmen"
fantasy-Bizet-Sar Mr.. Zimbal-
list rather etherealized. in it's varia-
lions, the temperamental story of
Carmen" making II violinistic in
the "Habanera," and disclosing it's
abandon and lure only at the final
strains. He played also a Drigo
waltz
AS joint artists, this unusual couple
are mated in music as well as in life.
When they gave together the Saint
Saens lie Bonheur," the opening
part. with voice and violin alone, was
singularly sympathetic and very
lovely. the richness of Massenet's
"Elegie" contrasting with the senti-
ment and sweetness of Fiddle and
l." Mr.. Balaban at the piano for Mr..
Zimbalist was a clean-cut, apprecia-
tive interpreter.
JESSIE MacBRIDE.