Evening star., 1937-05-07
Interstate
Chorus Is
Applauded
Male Singers Exhibit
Splendid Technique
in Concert.
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.

The Interstate Male Chorus was
heard last evening in its Spring concert
at the department auditorium under
the skillful direction Of Clyde B. Atch-
ison, conductor of the chorus. The
hall was filled to capacity with an
enthusiastic audience whose enjoy
ment of the chorus singing was assured
by the amplifiers to improve the lin
tied acoustical properties of the hall.
The soloist was Ina Holtzscheiter,
soprano, who was accompanied by
Marjorie Davis.
AS has been the case at all concerts
by this outstanding organization, the
program contained many unusual
numbers varied by old favorites. The
crisp diction. clean tonal attacks and
fine phrasing of the singers were
pleasure to hear and provided frame
in which the inner meaning of the text
was finely worked out. The vocal
quality of the group as a whole is
mellow and true, while now and then
an individual voice of outstanding
timber showed the caliber of which
the group is composed. The singers
are alert. in the matter of phrasing
and whole -heartedly concentrated on
maintaining the spirit of each COM
position. They are excellently trained
and responsive to every indication of
the director.
Mood Changes Sharply.
Difference of mood in the arrange
ment Of the sequence Of numbers
sustained the interest and put the
powers of the chorus to full test.
After Cigars Land of Hope and
Glory the exquisite Thou Art
Repose." by Schubert, was given with
pure and beautifully harmonized
pianissimo that floated forth with
unreetrained loveliness. Somewhat
on the same order but with more de-
votional intent was the fourteenth
century hymn to the Virgin, Con-
cordi Laetitia," arranged by Deems
Taylor.
The climax of the program and the
interpretive ability of the group was
the singing of cantata by Dudley
Buck, Chorus of Spirits and Hours"
with Ross Farrar as soloist. An intro
ductory solo, in which the lyric char
acter of Mr.. Farrar's wife was heard
to advantage, was answered by the
chorus in subdued tones, the dialogue
continuing until the upsurging melody
of the finale is reached. The text is
taken from the fourth act of Shelleys
''Prometheus Unbound"
Henschel's Morning Hymn" and a
not very satisfactory choral arrange
ment of Wolfe's Short min Bread"
the popular Little Princess" by
Padilla, and Foote's "An Irish Folk
song" were lighter numbers which led
to the conclusion of the program with
Humphrey Stewards Forging of the
Anchor" with Charles Wood in the
solo parts. One of the encores, The
Bells of st. Mary's," is worthy of spe-
cial mention for the simplicity with
which it was given and smooth blend
ing Of harmonies.
Miss HoltLscheiter Praised.
For her first number Miss Holtz-
scheiter chose Bizat's louvre ton
occur" which she sang with taste and
which was warmly received by the
audience Hagemans "At the Well"
Watts The Little Shepherds Song"
and Bantock's The Feast of Lam
terms" forming second group dis
played the easy hexibility of her voice,
the purity of tone and ease of produc-
ton. There is refinement in her style
of presentation and her success was
pronounced with the public which she
generously acknowledged with encores.
Miss Davis, at the piano, proved her
self an excellent accompanist suiting
the volume of tone to the requirements
Of the various numbers.
Robert Feuerstein. accompanist for
the chorus, gave brilliant perform
ance and added much to the spirit OF
TIE concert.