Evening star., 1937-04-05
Nelson Eddy
Given Great
Reception
Screen, Radio Star
Acclaimed by Packed
Constitution Hall.
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.

N AUDIENCE which filled
n every possible corner of Con-
~ stitution Hall welcomed Mel
4 a son Eddy rapturously at MS
recital yesterday afternoon and could
hardly wait for the baritone TO nnlsh
a number to give vent to its admlra-
ton. This final concert OF Dorothy
Hodgkin Dorseys series was bril-
liant climax in point of attendance
and of continuous enthusiasm, Tor
there was not a blase concert-goer
present and many who let pass other
artists OF the season turned out for
the glamorous screen and radio
singer. Mr.. Eddy responded whole
heartedlv to the ovation and gave as
MANY encores as was humanity pos
sible, lifting his listeners to sort
of frenzy of delight as the bond be-
tween them grew more personal as
the program progressed.
This generosity on Mr.. Eddys part
was all the more commendable since
yesterdays concert was only his Sec
ond appearance since his recent ILL
ness, which neceSsitated the cancel
Ing of all public work for the past
month. Traces of his lndlsposltlon
could be heard in the tonal quality,
especially in the upper register, but
otherwise the singer seemed to enjoy
his program and the eight encores
equally as much as did his audience.
Pleasing Personality.
Mr.. Eddy is the fortunate possessor
of a personality which reaches across
from the stage to make individual
contact with his listeners. He is genial
and friendly, with every desire to give
his best, His voice is a glorious organ
beautifully produced, in utmost tree
doom and richly resonant through
out. His diction is so clear as to
allow full enjoyment of the text and
is equally excellent in French and
German. In the type of program and
In the manner of projecting it he has
made great strides over last year,
fairly presenting a claim for more
serious artistic consideration.
AS vet he has not quite reached
the goal, although in view OF the
success of yesterdays recital this
statement may be challenged. But an
artist interpreting program such as
Mr.. Eddy presented must be judged
from a more exacting standpoint than
that of personal appeal Granted
that he has every requirement to
make him one of the greatest singers
of the day, he nevertheless has not
as vet reached his full Development
Voice Tuned to One Color.
What is most lacking in MI. Eddy S
Interpretation is finesse and mobility
His manner of bringing out an idea
is still cumbersome and minus that
psychical insight needed to create
the drama, for instance, in Dargo-
n1izhsky's The Old Corporal and
the sublty of some of the other Rus
sian numbers he gave. The voice,
too, is tuned to one color, and fine
though this color may be, it Is not
sufficient to cover all interpretatlve
demands.
Some of the finest numbers Mr..
Eddy sang yesterday, in which the
evenly spun tones were supported
On al lIlGS4ld uold DlCdelA 1OoAAuH
ton, were Lully's "Bois Epais," the
scene, "Gloire a Wanna" from Fevrier's S
opera, "Monna Wanna; Tschaikow-
sky's None But the Lonely Heart" and
Fleischmann's "Fruehlingsreigen." A
setting of Der Tod, das ist die kuehle
Nacht," by his accompanist, Theodore
Paxson, although slightly reminiscent
of that of Brahms, was a beautiful
number which Mr.. Eddy sang beauti-
fully. The numerous encores con-
cluded with Sweet Mystery of Life, "
after which Mr. Eddy escaped being
mobbed by some enthusiastic young
girls only by quick intervention of
the halls attendants. For his final
bow of acknowledgment he was ac-
companied by sturdy policeman as
bodyguard.
Theodore PaXson, accompanist,
added considerably to the pleasure
of the afternoon by his renditions of
the lovely "Chaconne" by Handel
and Scarlatti's "Capriccio in E Ma jor," !"
followed by Lecuonas "Malaguena"
as encore. Yesterdays concert was
unique in that there was not a
single pair of idle hands in the hall
at the conclusion of each number,
all doing their part to make the
echoes ring in approval Of their
3avorite.