The Ocala evening star., 1922-01-30
MISS HEMPEL'S VISIT TO OCALA
IN. NJ. NJ

IN. M. NJ
Through the untiring effort of Mr.
E. c. Bennett, of the Temple theater,
the music lovers of Ocala had the op-
portunity of being delighted with the
glorious voice and charming personal
ity of Miss Frieda Hempel, the world
famous soprano.
Miss Hempel, accompanied by her
husband, Mr.. William Kahn, of New
York city, Mr.. Conrad " Bos, pianist,
and Mr.. Louis P. Fritze, fiutist, arriv-
ed in Ocala from Gainesville on the
$3.50 train Friday afternoon. She was
met at the station by several 0cala
ladies who escorted her to her rooms
at the Harrington Hall hotel.
Miss Hempel's suite at the hotel
had previously been made bower of
flowers. Her reception room was ar
tistically decorated with. bignonia and
upon entering her bedroom beautiful
pink roses and purple f1owered vines
met the eye.
At $3.50 Friday evening every seat
in the Temple theater was taken and
the audience awaited with eagerness
the appearance of the most noted
artist who has appeared in Ocala in
many years. Deafening applause met
Miss Hempel as with Mr.. Bos she
crossed the stage to greet. her audi
ence.
During each number the audience
sat spellbound as a stribute to Miss
HempePs matchless art. Indeed, the
proverbial pin could easily have been
heard to drop. At the close of each
song, enthusiastic and long continued
applause followed and Miss Hempel
proved herself as generous as she is
beautiful and gifted by rendering sew.
eral encores. Each song on the pro-
gram was, indeed, precious gem of
art and it is difficult to mention one
without mentioning all. However, the
Herdsman's Song, generally known as
the Echo Song, will long stand out in
, the memory of those who heard it.
This song is of distinctly different
character than any other sung by
Miss Hempel during the evening. She
accompanied herself at the piano and
during the echoing did not use the
| piano to guide her at all. AS she
| breathed the last note of the song, her
hands struck chord on the piano,
thus showing how exquisitely true her
voice was even in most difficult
piece of music. The Virgins Lullaby
and the Blue Danube waltz, always a
favorite, were especially enjoyed. But
the best was reserved for the last. In
response to the applause which fol-
lowed Miss Hempel's last number,
and which refused to die down, Miss
Hempel returned and sang Home,
Sweet Home" with the most wonder
full simplicity and feeling. At the close
of this simple yet heart gripping
melody, there were few dry eyes in the
theater and those who hail from other
parts, went back in thought and heart
to their native state or land.
1 Miss HempePs voice, whether in
the difficult passages of Handeps
Cantata and Mozart's Aria or in the
simple lullabys and folk songs was
sweet, true and of purest quality, her
execution and technic were absolutely
perfect If the old Latin proverb,
cars est celare artem" (it is an art to
conceal an art) is to be credited, then
Miss Hempel is, indeed "a great artist
Surely, not the closest and keenest OBJ
server could see any effort on her part
as she stood before the audience in
her friendly and unaffected manner
and poured forth her golden gift OF
song. The writer has had the pleas
ure of hearing Miss Hempel before
and has also been privileged to hear
practically all the other great artists
of the present day and considers that
Miss Hempel has no superior in the
:. finish and perfection of her voice.
Mr.. Bos and Mr. Fritze also proved
themselves to be artists and their con-
tributions TO the program Were
thoroughly and enthusiastically appre.
ciated. They, too, were generous and
responded with encores to the pro.
: longed applause.
: The next morning Miss Hempel ane
her party were taken to Silvel
!, Springs by Mrs. T. p. Drake and Mrs
J. w. Dumas, accompanied by severa
other 0cala ladies. The entire part,
were delighted with the beauties o.
! Silver Springs and could not praise !
!, enough. Miss Hempel, who is ma
: tive of Leipsic. Saxony. but now al
j. i. American citizen, remarked again ant
f again upon the wonderful beautie.