Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-10-30
BRASLAU GETS
HIGH PRAISE
Famous Contralto To
Sing Here Nov. rs
At Auditorium

Sophie B~raslau, who is 60 appear
NJ the junior college auditorium here
Nov. 20 under the auspices Of the
Brownsville Concert Bureau, has re-
ceived consistently l~audatory press
notices from all parts of the nation.
Critics seem to vie in creating
phrases with which to describe the
voice and personality of this famous
contralto. "The Caruso of contral-
Ios," the "Schumann-Heink of the
OUNCE generation" with an art like
that Of Chaliapin, Ruffo, Bori n
Pavlowa," some have put it. And, ac-
cording to others, her voice IS like a
"%cello," "an orchestra" a cathedral
Of sound" a "Peony," celestial
choir" a Rembrandt" or an or
gan" The late James G. Huneker
summed it up in just two words; "A
gorgeous contralto."
The following group OF notices are
chosen at random from many ike
them, according to those sponsoring
the concert, and indicate the general
reaction TO a Braslau concert on the
part Of the music critics.
W. j. Henderson, in the New YORK
Sun: an voice and temperament
she is pre-eminent. The voice, IN
deed, is one Of the few truly great
instruments Of our time, a magniil-
cent, low contralto. with lustrous
depths of color and beauty
which lends intensity to every pas
sionate utterance.'
Pitts Sanborn, in the New YORK
Telegram: "Miss Braslau's extraor-
binary voice is like a thread OF pure
gold blazing in purple depths.
Adolph Weissmann, in the Berlin
Mittags: "a phenomenal contralto!
There are few voices like II m the
world. Ii is a genuine contralto with
"a seemingly unending upper register.
In addition, this singer IS a rare type
and in her interpretations her intel
ligence is euualled by her emotions.
Her personality is very striking. She
is in fact. an amazing creature
Ernest Newman, in h London
Times: "Sophie Braslau's voice IS a
fine one, rich and powerful IN us
louder moments and at once beauti-
full and penetrating in the mezzo
voice, and she has great variety Of
style. She has also a sense Of intel
lectual humor that, If ! dare say so,
one does not often meet with IN
women. Very few women. | am sure,
could sing Moussorgsky's satirieal
song, The Classicist' as she did"
II. T. Parker, in the Boston Tran
scripts: erich of voice, keen OF mus
scal mind, quick with feeling, warm
with projecting imagination-a vivid
and risen figure in American con-
cert halls"
Chicago Herald and Examiner:
IShe gave a stunning program full OF
~stupendous vocal difficulties but she
was absolute mistress Of tho situa'
ton and gave a remarkable exhibit
ton Of virtuoso singing"
Detroit Free Press: Whenever
Sophie Braslau chooses to return to
Detroit for another song recital she
will be welcomed by everyone of the
ardent admirers who greeted her on
this occasion and by many more to
whom the thorough delight Of the re-
cital is related"
Cleveland Plain Dealer: Miss
Rraslau's voice is a thing Of beauty
and a Joy forever. II was rs gorgeous
as ever yesterday, as luscious Of tim.
bre as vibrant, as full-throated Of
volume. Braslau is a live wire and
the possessor Of a singularly viva
cious personality.
Washington Post: "No phrase is
current TO donate a mode of singing
comparable to impressionism in paint
ing or free verse in poetry, yet So
phie Barslau singing yesterday aft
ernoon demonstrated that something
IN her vocal Interpretation. Bras
lau's remarkable vocal organ. deli
cscy of expression, and range Of pro-
gram made her appearance a note
worthy event"