Evening star., 1938-12-13


to offer that they in no way in.
fringed on each others domain.
In Mr.. Nicholson the musical
world has gained great singer
whose voice has a beauty of timbre
not to be found among hundreds of
baritones. When he opened the pro-
gram with Haendel's "Wher'er You
Walk" this noble song was given
most finished delivery where the
moving warmth of his tone was
matched by the finished production
Of every phrase. Although of not
especially heavy volume. the voice is
so free and full of feeling that it
can give out the very essence of
song with rich effect. But Mr..
Nicholson is definitely lyric singer
and the two arias which he next
gave, even the Evening Star" from
"Tannhauser," did not carry the
operatic stamp.
Joined with the aria from Tam
hauser" was the I'll lacerato spirito"
from Verdi's Simon Boccanegra,"
which is also not beyond a lyric
baritone's reach, but in spite of Mr..
Nicholson's beautiful singing of them
both, they did not hold that special
tang which a more robust baritone
would give to them. It was a pity,
considering the rare quality of his
performance of the Haendel number,
that he did not continue in this vein
in the succeeding group. AS encore,
he gave the Prologue to 'Pagliacci,"
which further proved how little his
natural endowment places him in
the operate class. It is to be hoped
that this very fine singer can be
heard again in a full program of
songs for he has real intuition for
the stressing of delicate nuances and
a glorious voice with which to ex-
press them.
The young Hungarian violinist,
Mr.. Virovai, who recently conquered
the New York public, was next heard
and Immediately registered the fact
that here is an artist, fully mature
In spite of his youth, and already
in position to challenge the stand
ing of the few great exponents of
this instrument.
But before speaking of the char
acter Of Mr.. Virovai's playing, it is
worth depressing to comment on the
behavior of the audience after his
first number. Utterly ignoring the
dictates of common courtesy, it
broke out into such a chatter as
II the program was ended and
social hour begun. The young man,
probably never accustomed to such
an experience, waited quietly for
the noise to subside so that he could
continue, but it was a long minute
before silence could be restored.
Such an exhibition of bad manners
IS shocking. It Is disrespectful to
the artist and belittling to art. It
must astonish visiting artist con-
siderably, to say the least, who has
prepared himself to give of his best,
to meet with such rudeness. It
seems a pity that playing for an
audience which represents the So
cial elite of the Nations Capital,
he should carry away the remem-
brance Of their lack of courtesy.
Mr.. Virovai is completely the ar
tist, so thoroughly stepped in his
artistry that he was able to over
look the queer attitude of his lis
teners. One could search in vain
Tor violinist who is more polished
or more animated by a deep musical
feeling than this young man Just
setting forth to win public approval
His tone is not large, but fine and
sweet. There are apparently no
technical difficulties existing for
him and when any are present he
meets them with swift and flash
ing touch. But 1t is more the SEN
sitive and delicate manner In which
he colors his playing that Is ex-
traordinary and which springs from
really great talent.
OF the rarest beauty was his
playing Of the Beethoven "Ro-
nance in @" and the Goldmark
"Air." while the more brilliant
allegro" BY Fiocco and the taxing
Paganini Caprice No. 2" substi-
tuted for the number Is pro.
grammed. were given with clarity
and dash. yet without loss OF poise
Kubays Scenes de II Cxarda" and
the De Falla -Kreisler "Danse Es-
pAgnole." an encore. allowed q
sparkling display Of his sure and
fluent technique,
The lovely voice o. Richard Crooks
1aM,nated ths preoSaM, heWevee.
~ thie DoDalaS toaoe ~ oooAe