Evening star., 1933-01-26

Dan Gridley Soloist
With Eubinstein Club.
HE first concert Of the season OF
the Rubinstein Club, Claude
Robeson directing. was given last
evening at the Willard Hotel. The
club had as soloist the well-known
tenor, Dan Gridley. and was assisted
In the choral numbers by Edith
White, contralto, and Dorothy Sea-
mans, violiniSt.
The chorus made an attractive
picture in pastel colors against a
playground OF green. The voices
balance we'll in quality of sound with
the sopranos having a range that
makes light Of high tones whether
sung loudly or softly. The singing
OF the "Reve Angelique" of Rubin
stein, arranged by Gaines. was a
mastery showing Of tonal contrasts
and was interpreted with sensitive
1eeIlng and reverence. Edith Whites
mellow contralto imbued the solos
with fine sentiment, to which the
SOFT strains of the violin Obj. igato
contributed large share. The num-
per was repeated in part after pro-
longed applause.
The religious character Of the first
group by Gabert, and the Spanish
rhythm and vivacity of the songs
by William Lester were equally well
sung with proper regard for the at
moSphere of each. The last num-
Der, "Nymphs and Shepherds" by
Vlbbard, in which the violin obbli-
cato was again played by Miss Sea-
mans was followed by final encore.
Ihe lyric tenor of Dan Gridlev
filled the hall with resonant sound
tnat never lost its velvet quality.
his complete absorption in the varied
sentiment Of his numbers gave his
oenVery OF them a poignant effect.
ana the response Of the audience
showed how well he had made their
meaning clear. The dramatic aria
from andrea Chenier, I'm Di ALA
EURO SpaZio," rose to an unusual
cLmax and Mr.. Gridley'S voice por-
trayed It's emotion with a hint of
Tears IN the moving phrases.
he mad chosen a group of inter-
esting songs in Italian and German.
beginning with Torelli's beautiful
Iu 10 Saf' and having two compo-
Sltions by Richard Trunk. "Nacht-
gesang" and "Fruhlingssonne. in
winch the different moods provided
a good contrast. He followed his
English with several encores. one of
which was sung especially for the
members OF the chorus and another
exclusively for the gentlemen present.
The accompaniment for both the
chorus and Mr.. Gridley was PLAYED
by Mrs. Adele Robinson Bush.
A. E.
Deiphine Desio, Cellist,
In Church Recital.
DELPHINE DESIO. cellist. gave
recital last evening in the
Mount Vernon Place Methodist Epis-
copal Church before a large audi
ence MISS Desio. who has studied
and accomplished what she has with
Ihe hahdlcap of blindness, plays with
rlch warm tone of good size and
excellent technic. She played
varied program including works Of
the classics, the moderns and the
writers OF compositions in the liohte-
VEN. Preceding each number Miss
Deslo gave a short sketch c. the
composer. with his dates and attain
ments. and her playing showed u1-
derstanding of the music With
well-developed rhythm and we'll
finished phrases
Miss Desio is the daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. Salvatore Desio of this
city. and is deep student. studying
through the Braille system in
Baltimore school for the blind
where she prepared to enter college.
She gave up her college course to
devote herself to her music and
after entering the Combs Conserva-
tory in Philadelphia. where no blind
student was admitted before. she
completed the prescribed courye for
four years in three and won hcnor-
able mention for her sonata COM
position among 80 contestants.
Sara Becker, at the piano. proved
herself an able accompanies. play
ng for Miss Desio with sympathy
lno good support. Her sClcs also
we're we'll done. showing singing
one and simple technic. K.B.