South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-12

travel on an express train and look
out of the window you see many
things. but most OF them so super
ticially that they make no special
That's the experience
most unframed listeners have when
they go 10 an opera or concert. The
music just races past their ears aud
few details are remembered. Is it
wonder. when you reflect that in
an opera there may be a million
notes2
Now here Is where the muslca!
critic can make himself useful. Ere
quent hearing having made him
thoroughly familiar with most op-
eras and concert pieces. he has the
opportunity TO dwell knowingly and
lovingly on beautiful details. In
writing OF Carmen. for instance. he
can advise the nearer TO watch par
ticularly for the glorious music of
the love melody sung successfully by
Escamilla and Carmen, just before
he enters the bull ring; or for a
dozen other gems.
After a Wagner performance In
which Jean de Reske had the part
Of Tristan. the critic could dwell ad-
miringly on many details. but par
ucularly on the tenor's utterance
Of the word Isolde in the last bar
he sings. 1T was most wonderful"
wrote a London critic: mot merely
affecting as the despairing and ador-
ing cry OF a dying man thinking Of
In
more than that. In II one hears not
only love. but death. 1t is the mys-
terious whispering utterance OF a
spirit already far away. as if the
soul, having started on its dark
journey. were compelled by its old
and beautiful earthly passion 10
pause and 10 look back down the
shadowy vista 10 the garden OF the
world that IL had left, TO the wom-
an that 1t had left, perhaps forever,
and 20 send down the distance one
last cry OF farewell. one last dim
murmur OF love. spectral. magical
already with the wonder OF another
world. Such an effect as this Is ut
terly beyond the reach of any one
who isanot a great artist. II is thrill
Ing in It's ina ginative beauty. II
opens the gates as poetry does
sometimes and shows US a faint
vision Of a far-away eternity"
In thus dwelling lovingly on a
single bar in Wagners wonderful
tragedy. what does the musical crit
&C. do? He rejoices the heart OF the
great singer who is glad 10 be so
thoroughly appreciated. and is en-
couraged by this praise 70 bestow
the same amount OF soul-work on
other pregnant measures. He re-
jo.,es the sympathetic listener who
felt as moved as the critic was, but
usually is unable 10 express his feel
inEs as glibly in words; aud. fur
thermore. the critic. by his elthu
siastic comments. makes others
eager 20 hear an opera. a single
measure Of which has such an ocean
OF meaning-thus helping along the
survival OF the fttest in the opera
houses.
Pupils OF Miss Hazel Harris.
voice instructor at the South Bend
. conservatory appeared in a well
balanced and artistically executed
( program al a recital held Thursday
night IN the conservatory audito-
rum. The pupils were assisted very
ably by the Anacamera Glee club.
the FIRST Methodist choir OF Mish-
awake and the male quartet OF the
Mishawaka Methodist church.
In spite OF the fact that summer
brings a dearth OF musical attrac
tons. there are several treats N
store for music lovers. IN the near
future. One OF the really merttor-
as features will be a recital under
Doe -ueplces OF the Barbara Fritchie
So, OF the Army and Navy union
t.ch Will .ake place June -. Three
wen known artists will round out a
weil Planned program. Miss Sonya
Nedvedieff. Russian soprano. Sig
nor Philip Sevasta, harpist and Lee
Cronican. pianist. Will contribute
their well qualified gifts for the
evenings entertainment.
At the Brunswick shop last week
two new popular records. Yankee"
and 'Pining" proved favorite sell