San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-28

palate tickled advocates of our much
Wanted musical discrimination to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
So, for its progressiveness and its
staunch determination to accomDfis5
real musical things, the Society of
| the Friends of 'Iusic deserves far
more praise than it is likely 70 get
| for having given the first performance
in this country of the Hans Pfitzner
romantic cantata, Won Deutscher
Seele. 1t cost the society something
like $4,000: but what a satisfaction
that recent Carnegie Hall representa-
ton must have been. Not that the
general public which heard the work
cared for 1.-THE music was far too
profound, too elusively modern, to ex-
pect any such outcome. The musi-
clans were the ones who grasped the
Importance of the composition, and
who appreciated what splendid artis-
tic heights were attained by the So
ciety of the Friends of Music Chorus,
the Metro ,.o,itan Opera Orchestra,
and the soloists under the con-
ductorship of Arthur Bodanzky.
The composition is in two parts :,
The first devoted to "Man and Ma
ture," the second to "Life and Song"
1t is set to some maxims by Joseph
Won Eichendorff, and is a sort of
continuous song-picture with orches-
trail interludes. No brief comment
can do justice to the scheme and
content of this work. 1t is of such
large and deep mould that even
far-reaching imagination can only
apprehend its proportions at first
hearing.
Bodanzky did a splendid piece of
conducting. And the chorus Zone of
the best we have heard-credit
Stephen Townsend for this, he is a
MASTERY was as plant and as re-
sponsive as though it had sung the
notes over a period of years. Eliza
beth Rethberg, soprano; Nine.
Charles Cahier, contralto; Orville
Harold, tenor: and Paul Bender,
basso, were the soloists. The women
commanded specially our admiration.
So does Mrs. c. L. ID. Lanier, presi
dent of the society, to whom a real
debt is due for the presentation of
this cantata.
A Singing Baritone.
If he is not careful John Charles
Thomas is likely to become a great
artist. He seems TO be headed in that
direction. We remember him, orig
inally, as a member of Winter Gar
den company, not so many years
back; and then as n featured comic
opera baritone. Two seasons ago
Thomas became ambitious. and he
now seems to have been justified in
entertaining such desire.
The recital he gave in Aeolian Hall
a few afternoons ago presented him
in an altogether favorable light. Last
season this singer dwelt so continu-
ously upon a facile mezza-voce that
his interpretations lacked contrast.
At his most recent New York appear
ance Thomas "cut loose" now and
again, with highly effective results.
1t was artistic singing that he pro-
vided for the enthusiastic audience
which listened to n program made to
suit musicians and music lovers.
Never before had the Thomas voice
sounded so warm or appeared to pos
sess such a variety of color. Another
few years and John Charles Thomas
should-if he withstand in a pre-
eminent position. incidentally, it
may be inter asting to know that he
is an American.
Copyright. 1923. BY P. V. r. Key
Beautiful Roseawn Cemetery. not
graveyard. a beautiful. well kept
burial park. Crockett 16SS.-(Adv.)