The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-03-12


the weekend, noise, fading and
interferences of ali sorts being
present now and then particular
Iy Sunday evening. The Saturday
reception was fair from most sec.
lions and Sunday very poor, every
where.
Richard Crooks, tenor of the
Atwater Kent festivities last eve
ming, and the glee club of graduates
OF the New York University, which
sang Saturday night, provided the
most striking, programs for week
end loud speaker addicts. To this
might be added the tragic and al
most perfectly presented story of
Judas that formed the Biblical
drama last evening and sent listen
ers to bed in a rather terror
stricken state of mind. The poor
placement of this drama on the
program is the only thing that pre-.
vented it from being the really
great feature of the two evenings.
1t was production that any direc-
tor might be proud to claim as his
own, the best proof Of its greatness
ments were made and none was
necessary to impress every moment
of it vividly on the minds and
hearts OF those who listened.
The AtWater Kent tenor, rushed
into breach made in the program
by the illness Of Jeanne Gordon, the
Metropolitan Opera contralto, very
nearly carried listeners off their feet
with his well-nigh perfect singing.
Crooks provided an exhibition seldom
equaled before a micrOphone by sing
ing bits of practically every type of
music composed for a tenor. His
most striking efforts, however, were
his ballads and simple love songs.
To these he brought vocal equip
ment of rare quality, and into them
he put an intelligence of interpreta-
ton quite as rare and doubly as &C
ceptable to listeners.
ENGLISH BALLADS
PROGRAM FEATURES
Some years ago singers worshiped
at the shrine of so.calIed German
ieder-the wealth OF simple songs by
German composers. Crooks proved
with his program what wealth of
similar and more readily understand
able music and poetry there IS in
English. His voice and his tempera-
ment both appeared much better
suited to the lyric features than the
more stentorious dramatic moments
of his programme put more drama
In the former than in the latter and
sang them into the hearts Of his
listeners.
The New York singers who capti-
waited their audience were special
entertainers provided to while away
the moments the judges were de-
Gliding the intercollegiate Glee Club
contest which Dartmouth won, with
broadcast through WEAF and oc.
cupied most of the evening, provid-
ing excellent singing, none of which,
however, eQuaIed the special fea-
ture by the graduate body OF New
York University, one of the finest
trained mems chorus we've heard.
The New York Symphony concert
Saturday night was distinguished by
an exquisite Interpretation of Griegs
The Last Spring" composed for
and played by the string choir of the
orchestra. The production of
GYPSY Love" by the PhiIco COM
pany seemed to lack a bit in the
usual vim and abandon we are ac-
customed to in these performances.
George Maravea, the Greek bari
tone Of the WMAL program Satur-
day evening, provided listeners with
4 program in which one or two bal
lad numbers were well presented
with a pleasing voice. The other
features Of the Saturday and Sun
day programs were of the usual
standard, the Roxy afternoon con-
cert Sunday being a bit above the
average.