Evening star., 1933-12-14
Gladys Swarthout Replaces
Nine. Kappel as a Soloist
Metropolitan Contralto and Richard Crooks Share
First Program Of Mrs Townsend's
Musical Mornings.
By Alice Eversman.
NY disappointment which migt

NY disappointment which might +,
~ have been felt yesterday morn |
"A ing at the first Of Mrs. Law
1 y renee Townsend's musical
mornings at the Maydower on
that Mme Gertrude Kappel
Of the Metropolitan was Ill and would be
replaced by Gladys Swarthout. contralto,
also Of the Metropolitan, was Of short
duration. For Miss Swarthout won her
audience with the singing Of the hrst
number and on to the very end she
held the interest which increased in
enthusiasm the more she sang. She
shared the program with Richard
Crooks, who sang himself into the
hearts Of the Washington public last
year at one Of these musicales, and to-
getner, the two artists provided
morning Of pure lyricism rarely heard.
Miss Swarthout is called a contralto,
but the timbre Of her voice is neither
dark no heavy. It Is Of clear, mellow
quality, pleasantly rounded without be-
ing somber, and produced In the easiest
manner Imaginable. There were mo-
ments when one could realize that the
voice was fully capable Of filling the
largest auditorium, but on the whole she
kept 1t well within bounds in an effort
less way Of singing, passing through the
two registers Of her voice equally and
without change Of quality.
Several numbers Of her program stood
out graphically for the fine artistry OF
her Interpretation, In which her smooth
technique and well thought-out vocal
effects were warmed by sincere feeling.
Beginning with Haendefs "Iascio che
10 pianga," from "Rinaldo," IN which the
beautiful classic phrases were given with
infinite care, she added the charming
seventeenth century air Amor dormig-
Iona" by Barbara Strozzi, tnfusing 1t
with a ligntness that suited well voice
that was capable Of more dramatic ex-
preston.
This was best demonstrated in San
taliuuidos "TristeZZa crepuscolara, !"
which was the first number Of her sec
ond group, and in which she called on
the resources of her voice, yet ever with
that fine sense of proportion that never
exhausted its full reserve. Following
this with Respighi's "Pioggia," Strauss
'Traum durch die Daemmerug" and
Gel VITO" by Jocquin Min, she immersed
herself in the various moods OF the
songs to an unusual degree and by
means of this carried her audience with
her through the gayety or sentiment she
herself felt 50 convincingly.
In a group of English songs. Miss
Swarthout was less satisfying, her die
ton not so expert nor her feel for the
song so strong, The songs themselves
were Of the type most artists think
fitting to add after having chosen soul
satisfying ones from other languages,
although our song literature can also
boast more interesting ones than those
Miss Swarthout sang. The best Of this
selection was Jacques Wolfe's "The
Janitor's Boy" An added pleasure to
Miss Swarthout's singing were the
splendid accompaniment of Nils Nelson,
whose fine pianist qualities were en-
hanced by his thorough sympathy with
the singer in all she desired to do
There was no mistaking the sincerity
Of the applause which the audience
! eagerly accorded Miss swarthout and