The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-16

oSAAN@A go 80
of the Mendelssohn choir will bring
Edith Mason, the famous American
prima donna soprano of the Chi
cago Civic Opera Company, as the
guest artist of the concert.
Among the American selections to
be sung at this concert will be a
new 1ve-part chorus by James p.
Dunn especially dedicated to the
MendelSsohn choir of Indianapolis,
which will be given its first public
performance here. During the first
half Of the concert some of the old
~favoriteS sung before by the choir
will be presented by request.
Edith Mason, the distinguished
soloist of this concert, is the out
standing American prtrna donna So
prano Of the decade.
In a recent chat with Miss Mason,
lyric soprano of the Chicago Civic
Opera Company, she told something
of her early life, and how an Incl
dent was the motivating influence
that caused her to become a singer.
Probably there are hundreds Of
young girls in the United States to-
day who would make any sacrifice
to hear a performance of Miss Ma
son in the Chicago Civic Opera
Company, and it will be Of interest
to these to learn that not so many
years ago Edith Mason had the
same ambition anent another star,
namely Emmy Destinn, who was
called the greatest Nine. Butterfly
Of her time. When a girl she at
tended the famous Ogontz school in
Philadelphia, and even at that time
(She was IL years ODD she was i'm
bued with the idea Of excelling the
others in her class.
To reward her success her mother
decided to take the little girl to the
opera, which happened to be Mime.
Butterfly with Destinn and the IA
nous Caruso. Vague dreams that
had been floating through her head
materialized as she sat enthralled
in the SORROWS of the hapleSs But
terfiy, and then and there she made
up her mind that before she died
she also would sing Butterfly. Al
though she kept it a secret from
her mother, from that time her am
billions c~ryStaliZed into the n OF
becoming a singer in opera, and she
has made good her resolve.
Needless to go through the long
process by which she arrived, but
today the name of Edith Mason Is
known throughout the world. She
has sv~r in most Of the principal
opera houses in Europe and Amer
lea, and the critics have exhausted
their vocabularies in telling Of the
beauty Of her voice. The opera that
was the means Of her career, Mime.
Butterfly, is one of those in which
she exceils, and for which naturally
she has an extreme fondness. Those
that have been fortunate enough to
hear her in this role will never for
get the sonorous sweetness Of the
entrance music for Butterfly, or the
wonderful ID" IN Alt with which
Miss Mason finishes her entrance
phrase. She is a shining example
of what the American girl can at
tain to when she makes up her mind
to do so.
Two recitals will be given next
week by the Metropolitan School Of
Music. The first will be Tuesday
at the central building Butler uni
versity, unoer the direction Of
Adolph Schellschmidt. On the pro-
gram are:
Allegro con brio, Op. /, No. g..
Finale-"PreStissimo."
Marguerite, Bilio. Virginia [~eyenberger,
Edith Garrison.
Allegro Scherzando. Larghetto con motto
Moderate.
margarine Billo, Virginia Leyenberger,
Mildred Allen.