Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-17
CoL0RFuI, APPEALING AND SATISFYING
CONCERT BY RUSSIAN CATHEDRAL SExTET

an appeal that is distinctly its own.
And when it is rendered by artists,
the keenest enjoyment is afforded.
Such was the case. when the Rus
sian Cathedral Sextette sang, We'd
nesday evening at the City Hall, be-
fore a good sized crowd. The ma
5ority Of the sextet are not
strangers to music lovers of Au-
gusta, az they have appeared here
before. They renewed the favorable
impressions previously made and
added new 1aurels. This time. the
presence of two women, Mime. Alex
andra Shlikevitch. coloratura- so
prano. and Mime. Jeniz Oganon.
assets to this talented aggregation.
The other members of the sextet
are Alexander vikinsky, TENOR.
Nicholas VasiIieff, tenor: Nicholas
Antonoff, baritone: Alexander KAN
diba. basso. And the pianist and ac-
companist was Harry E. Wilhelm.
They sang SO well because in many
cases. they sang their native tongue.
Mr.. Wilhelm, I'm the role of an
nouncer, added much hunor to the
situation. by his droll introductions
and his evident struggles with ex-
plantations. He explained, as the
audience readily discerned. that the
Russian Cathedral singers, do not
have the aid OF an instrument in
their native church singing, but
rather the bass notes of the singers
form ALMOST organ-like accompani-
ment for the singers. This was
found to be true in the chants of
Russian churches. which they first
sang I'm Church" (Tschaikowsky)
and ''Hear My Cry. Oh Lord"
(Arkhangelsky), psalm 1922, were
most adequate demonstrations of
this. The six voices blended as
though one person was playing upon
and the baritone holding the same
strain. 1t had every appearance of a
heavy churchly chord, pealing forth
from the pipes.
The sweet appealing notes of the
female voices. added much to the
singing. "Zazoolia" and THE Paint
err" were sung by the quartet, giving
splendid opportunity for the demon
strating of the four voices. Both
songs were styled humorous by the
introducer and such they appeared
to be. even though it Is doubtless IL
the audience understood 1t all. The
STATIONS of the singers in the course
of the numbers. were amusing.
N. Vasilieff sang. Aria, "Ah
Fuyez" from Manon, Massenet. His
clear tenor voice was shown to good
advantage in this classic. He was
obliged to respond to the encore, a
popular air, 1.-THE World is Wait
ing for the Sunrise" and he sang 1t
with pleasing grace.
Mr.. Wilhelm at the piano. In solo
parts. made the music teachers sit
up straight In their chairs and take
notice. While he had every appear
ance OF being the sympathetic, con-
scientious accompanist. alone at the
piano. he proved himself an artist
He played. Scherzo in f Minor. by
Mendelsohn. EN- route" GODDARD.
and "Staccato Etude," Friml. Tor
rents of notes poured fourth, under
the correct guidance of his touch.
mighty LAX n Rose" (Nexin) as
sung by Nine. Shlikevitch, aided by
the quintet, was n thing Of beauty.
liehts and shades. 1.-The Shades Of
Night" (Arhangelsky) was another
beautiful number, sung in the native
tongue.
A story about the mother who sang
to- her daughter. concerning 1.-THE
Red Sarafan," the Russian bridal
veil. in the native tongue. was
colorful offering and "kalinka" also
bv the sextet. was but another
demonstration of the talent and skill
of he singers.
"Ay Lew LIZ (Alleg. Finale. 4th
r Minor Symphony, by Tschaik,
was a pretty little description num-
Der. Four fellows go for walk and
they all say their girl Is the best.
De- a
are all talking about the same girl.
"Vanka Sanka" was another
amusing. description song. which the
Russian singers presented most
cleverly to their audience.
"Sea Gulls Cry" (Grodsky) was
duet by the soprano and the mezzo,
something highly pleasing to remem-
her. The coloratura has voice of
remarkable range and sweetness. as
well as power. The mezzO is pos
sessed Of deep rich tones and the
audience would have liked to have
heard her to better advantage.
whispering Hope" (Hathorne) was
their second duet number and it was
most enthusiastically received.
"when the King Went Forth to
War" (Koenepann), was grandly
sung by the baritone. His voice be-
spoke surprising volume ana Cepth.
The martial strains of the song
found ample expression in the bari
tones splendid rendition!
az song OF india" (Rimsky-
Korsakoff). quite different from the
Russian numbers. was next to the
last number on the program. 1t was
sung by the first tenor, accompanied
by the quintet and was one of the
beauties of the evening. It's far
step from Russia to India. but in
song. they were brought close to-
gether In their brightly colored ma
tive Russian holiday costume. the
singers presented a gay sight
And in closing. "Sextette from
Lucia" tDonizcttD. left the aud
fence with a feeling of satisfaction of
an evening well spent. The concert
was under the auspices of the Y. NJ.
c. A.. and they are to be congratu-
lated upon being the means of bring
ing such splendid entertainment in
to the city. now that the Citizens
entertainment Course is not active
this season.
The monthly business meeting OF
tho Jpternediate Christian EndCayor