Evening star., 1933-05-10

'" Il 3 concert OF the Rubin
s.3ia Club, which took place last
evening at the Willard Hotel,
i had as soloist, Emily Roosevelt,
dramatic soprano. In one num-
Der the club was also assisted by VIII
The hall was beautifully decorated with
flowers and q large and responsive au-
dience welcomed the singers.
The greater part Of the singing fell
to Miss Roosevelt, who won instant IA
vor by her gracious personality. While
not . singer Of startling characteristics,
she pleased by the simplicity and sin
cerity with which she gave Of her best
and the fine musicianship which per-
vaded all her interpretations. The lower
register Of her voice was particularly
attractive being round and full with q
warm quality that had something Of .
personal appeal in it. From technical
standpoint, she seemed more comfort
able In this register and did her best
work when relieved Of the necessity OF
staying upon the heights. It was the
feeling not only of ease but of natural
ness In this portion Of her voice that
made the designation Of dramatic So
prano seem a misnomer. When called
upon to demonstrate her dramatic de-
livery, as in the "Hymne au Soleil" and
sDich theure Halle" her singing be-
came labored and insecure and lacked
the polish that infused her rendering
Of Handel's Aria di Poppea." Sibella's
Mon no Parole" and Widor's "Contem-
plation" with artistry and feeling.
In response to the applause which
followed her singing Of the aria, "Dich
theure Halle" from "Tannhauser," Miss
Roosevelt gave Rogers Maria Wieg-
IL, M "A
group OF English songs were excellent
display pieces for tone and certain vo-
cal effects that usually catch the fancy
of an audience. As compositions, how
ever, with the exception of Ernest
Charles Clouds" they were merely
music inspired by mediocre verse set to
an unnecessarily complicated accom-
panement. After Hageman's me Com
pany Along" Miss Roosevelt sang an
encore for the benefit Of the club mem
bers
The prize composition for womens
voices. "Sing Ho to Spring., by LOUIS
Victor Saar, which won the Rubinstein
Club award in 1925, had q soprano OBJ
ligato sung by Miss Roosevelt wnlcn
proved so successful that 1t had 70 De
repeated in part. In the CLUBS nnai ma!
number, "Chanson Provencale. by Den
Acoua- -ShelIey. another effective obh-
cato brought out Miss Roosevelts voice
to q glorious finish on a beautlfully
placed high note. -.
The finest singing which the club olo
was in the two contrasting numbers
Schuberts ITO Music" arranged by
Saar. and Hopkins Indian Summer,
dedicated to the club. In the Shubert
song, william Shanahan's mellow tenor
carried the well-known melody While
the club sang a well-arranged and
softly-sung accompaniment. T h
smoothly-blended voices fitted the
smoothly flowing harmony and were
real tribute to the art they represented
Mr.. Shanahan could have been heard
with pleasure in more numbers, and
the repetition of the choral was sum-
cient to arouse the wish to hear him
again In soil.
Claude Robson, director Of the club,
gained several splendid climaxes IN the
Indian Summer" which were devel-
oped with care and showed the power
full tone quality Of which the club is
capable. The pitch was truer In this
than in the "Bois Epais" Of Lully, where
the sustained phrases grew a little
heavy. The program was opened by