Evening star., 1933-05-17

tri { CT Columbia Federation OF
Women's Clubs at the Mayf1ower
i Hotel yesterday was the occasion
CT the first appearance in WASH
ington of Emma Redell, celebrated opera
star. since her return from triumphal
tour of Soviet Russia. Sharing the pro-
gram with Miss Redell was Justin Law
rie, tenor of the Foundry Methodist
Church, who was assisted at the piano
by Mrs Lawrie Mildred Kolb Schuitze
played for Miss Redell.
The guest of honor was Mrs. Frank
lin Roosevelt, whose short but signifl-
cant address to the women of the
country brought forth prolonged ap-
plause. The large ball room of the
hotel was tastefully draped with flags
while the $50 guests were seated at
flower ladened tables. After the intro
ductory speech of Mrs. Harvey w. WI
lev, president of the District Federation,
and the stirring talk of Mrs. Roosevelt,
greetings were expressed by Mrs. Edgar
B. Merritt, General Federation Director
of the D. c. Federation Of Womens
Clubs and a response given by Mrs. Eu-
gene B. Lawson, first vice president OF
the General Federation.
Mrs. Wiley then introduced Miss Re-
dell, who began her program with
Liza's aria from Tschaikowsky's "Pique
Dame" sung in Russian. For funda-
mental loveliness Of vocal quality. few
singers heard in Washington this Win
ter can equal Miss Redell Her voice
is luscious and full, produced with
case. and reveling in perfect legato
which was more noteworthy than the
dramatic ability which is said to have
won her fame. When call was made
on this dramatic power. the voice lost
its distinguishing color and became just
another good voice The same can be
said of her singing in the higher reg
lister which was much more labored and
more harshly brought out than the
lower tones with a corresponding sac
rifice of tonal beauty. A group Of Eng
lish songs were delightfully."- chosen for
melody and contrast, but Miss Redells
poor diction rendered the words unin-
telligible This was decidedly pity for
she sang them with thoughtful care and
deep feeling which proved what a fine
artist she is. 1t would be pleasure to
hear her in recital where she confined
herself to a program that gave full play
to her lovely, lyric tones and the rich
sentiment she gave glimpses OF yester-
day. Replacing the last number OF her
group with the "Visi darte" aria from
Tosca, she was recalled several times
by the enthusiastic applause until she
added Mrs. eBach's The Years at the
Spring" which had been intended for
the closing number Of that group. Many
beautiful flowers added welcome home
to the enthusiastic greeting extended
Miss Redell by the audience.
timber which is capable of much more
bravura singing than his program yes
terday permitted. In fact, considering
the vast literature at singers disposal.
it was net happy selection of num-
bers either as to sentiment or their
musical interest. O'Haras Forward
to Christ" is good song. but there are
many more Of this type better suited
to yesterdays audience Also LwofS 5
"Old Russian Hymn" could not be &C.
tached from its national character be-
cause the words God Save America
had been set to 1t and with so many
songs in which Mr.. Lawries voice
would be more than usually effective,
it was to Je regretted that these two
numbers should have been chosen. His
voice is colored with quality usually
connected with Italian tenors and
therefore appealing and lyrical and
smoothly given out He did all that
was possible with his songs putting
energy and vim into the O'Hara num-
Der and singing Lwoff's hymn with
much sentiment He returned several
times in response to the applause and
could have given more than the one
encore Keep on Hoping" had the
broadcasting time permitted.
THE Washington Choral Society gave
its May Festival Concert last eve
ming at the Central Community Center
under the leadership of Louis A. Pot
ter. The choral group was accom-
panied by Gertrude Nash, pianist. and
Walter Nash. organist. and had as
assisting artists the Washington String
Quartet and a chamber orchestra COM
posed of members of the National SYM
phony.
Mr. Potter proved himself a skilled
conductor of orchesta as we'll as of
chorus and, in the two opening num-
bers, prelude du Deluge," by Saint
Saens and Corelli's "Pastorale," gave
attention to careful shading and dy-
manic effects. The volume of sound
was augmented by the combined use of
ably to the quality Of sound as we'll
In the last group, comprising Moussorg-
sky's "Chanson Russo" and Iwanow's
Procession of the Sargar." they played
with freedom and abondon, working up
to an inspiring climax. With a little
more power in the string section to
counterbalance the heavier brasses,
this small orchestra should be valu-
able asset to the musical undertakings
in the city.
The Bach cantata, THE Four Sea-
sons" was one in which the union of
singers and music was ideally effected
The fresh, unrestrained vocal color,
which characterizes the chorus. inter-
prets exactly this most happy of Bach's
chorals Revealing as it does. the true,
free-fowing of his inspiration. 1t needs
a correspondingly spontaneous singing,
such as the chorus gave last night, to
bring out its beauty. The contrasting
choral, sung unaccompanied, was par
ticularly well done with infinite care
for the deep. religious feeling, which
Bach has introduced so f1ttingly into
this song Of rejoicing.
The chorus sings naturally and with
harmonious tone quality. They are ex-