The Garden Island. [volume] (Lihue, Kauai, H.T.) 1902-current, 1922-05-16
Schwarz Concert
A Rare Treat

TIE lip 1Op tutdttI iiudy CF-
ening, eagerly anticipating the rare
pleasure before them For the fame
OF Josef Schwarz, as an artist of
distinction had penetrated even to
this end of the world where good
music is a rare treat. The conven-
tional scene of the theater was GOV.
cred with a profusion of yellow ard
gold hemorachalis, the bright day
lily which was introduced to the
islands several years ago by Mrs.
Hans Isenberg. Delicate blue aga
panthus was interspersed among the
great clusters of gold. 1t was to Mrs
Isenberg that Kauai owes the very
unexpected privilege Of hearing so
great an artist, for as her guest
Mr.. Schwarz had consented to give
concert, the proceeds OF which
should be at her disposal. Truly 1t
was princely gift both of beauty
and usefulness. The crowded house
brought in proceeds to the amount
of 500 which, is to be shared by the
Hui Aloha and the Young Women's
Christian Association of Kauai. With
one half the Hawaiian ladies OF
the Hui Aloha plan to renovate the
little Hawaiian church at Nawiliwili
with the other the Girl Reserves of
the Y. w. c. A. will equip their
summer camp, dream at last come
true. The graciousness Of the don
ors will long be remembered by
many grateful beneficiaries.
Yet even more poignantly, per.
haps, will the large audience of
Friday night recall the magnificent
voice which poured out, unstinted,
in wave upon wave of sound. With
the very able and sympathetic as
sistance of Alexander Smallens at
the piano, Mr.. Schwarz began, test
ing out his audience a little at first,
with the dignified and sonorous
"Arioso' of Handel. In the Verdi
aria which followed, the artist show
ed great range and depth of feeling
which appealed to the audience. But
it remained for the first selection
in English, Dream in the Twilight"
by Richard Strauss, to bring audi
ence and artist into close sympathy.
To the great delight Of the listen
ers, this selection was repeated.
This whole group of four songs, two
by Strauss and two by Schubert,
has met with spontaneous enthusi-
asm among the Honolulu reviewers
and true it Is that they were sung
with exceptional feeling and sym
pathy. Offenbach's Mirror Song
from "The Tales of Hoffman,"
technical and brilliant, was likewise
rendered, In its beautiful head tones
particularly, with complete ease and
command.
One should then have been pre-
no hpi1liannn
of the urusual group of Russian songs
which closed the program. But il
seemed as If the human voice could
command no further resources. Yet
in Russian atmosphere the great
volume Of sound and feeling seemed
completely at home. The second
"Over the Steppe" by Gretchani
noff. seemed perfectly suited to the
singers resonance and power. The
final selection, THE Flea" by Nous
sorgski, was essentially dramatic
and afforded the artist an unexecel
led opportunity to display his un
usual ability as an actor-rOllickinl
at first with gay laugh. then grad
ually growing more and more sin
lister and bitter, until the fina
laugh became a sneer.
II was truly gorgeous program
Its crowning glory, however, re
mains yet to be mentioned Fo
some time the artist merely fel
about the soul of his audience
ii were soul to which he coul
speak Gradually, the appreciation
of his listeners became unmstakt
able, until very storm of applaus
greeted the end of the program
Nor would 1t be stilled before tn
accompanist announced the first eI
core, the prologue from Pagliacc
Every wish was fulfilled in it's beat
tiful Interpretation, artistic in il
repressed emotion, yet SO gloriousl
swelling forth at the end, exhibitin
astounding flexibility of voice an
tone. Huge applause greeted thi
selection which perhaps during tn
whole wonderful evening was tn
favOrite. Nothing daunted. the al
plause continued. And when Mr.
Schwarz, the artists wife, wa
seen to beckon to her husband I
return for second encore, deligf
knew no bounds. The audience wa
captured. Stately, tall, with. iron gra
hair, mobile, expressive features
and OF majestic stage presence, tn
beloved artist, captivated in turn b
the spontaniety of his listeners. a
peared yet again. Each seemed
play up to the other with increasin
delight. And the Joy was unfeigne
. when, with lavish hand. the singt
flung out first one operate selectiC
and then another, Pagliacci, La F
vorita, Hamlet. These princely gif
seemed too good to be true FloN
ers had been showered upon Il
singer by girl ushers, huge lei
roses from the Hui Aloha, and a
other lei and flowers hurried dow
the long aisle by young Girl Reser
es who had charge OF the usherin
And so at last there WAS mutu
understanding and appreciation.
great artist had sung himself in
the hearts of his hearers, even
Rachmaninoff had written for hin
II am no prophet speak to hear
NIrith Iya bn