Evening star., 1938-11-21
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.

by ALlCE EvEhSMANs O.
At a quarter to seven yesterday
evening in Constitution Hall, with
the lights dimmed to indicate clos
ing time, Lawrence Tibbett and his
accompanist, Stewart Willie, came
out for the last acknowledgment
of the unceasing applause of a de-
lighted audience. Since 4 o'clock he
had been singing continuously, with
the exception Of the internAssion
and a group Of piano numbers by
Mr.. Willie. The program was q long
and heavy one and there were II en-
cores and yet the public clamored
for more, stirred to the greatest
demonstration by the inclusion OF
many favorites among the added
numbers.
A Tibbett recital is always genial
affair, with hle artist giving gener-
ously of his best and seemingly never
reluctant to sing one more song. Ir
fact, he remarked after his first
group that so many requests were
sent in that he might as well begin
right away to fulfill them. But when
Mr.. Tibbett's tongue got mixed ur
in the pattering lines Of "The Lore
Chancellor's Nightmare" from
"Iolanthe," and he insisted on sing.
ing it until it went perfectly, the
bond of good fellowship was
strengthened by his clever turn Of
what would have disturbed less
poised artist. If it were possible tc
enjoy the program more, this little
incident contributed to it.
An Artist, but Not Sedate.
But more than anything else, the
fine art of this American baritone
enthralled his listeners. His mag.
nificent voice, capable Of every de.
gree of expressiveneSs, his seriou!
musicianship and his dramatic sense
are the paramount reasons for hi.
success. There is never a phrase
sung that has not been thoroughly
analyzed and the proper tone color
the finest musical conception ane
even the correct facial expression
brought to 1t. Nothing is haphazart
in his work. nothing overlooked ant
nothing left to chance
Nor is he such sedate artist tina
he cannot enjoy the fun in som'
of his rollicking numbers that hav'
become popular through his sing
ing of them. Almost as soon as yol
are stirred to the heart by his NOV
ing delivery of the aria, "Cortigiani
vii Razza Dannata," from "Rigo
letto,' or the tenderness of the oil
Irish melody, Has Sorrow TIL.
Young Days Shaded" you are laugh
ing at his amusing Interpretation
Of Hely Hutchinsons "Old Mothe
Hubbard" or Jacques Wolfe
"Betsy's Boy" Or you are trans
ported by his quick power of bridg
ing the distance between Warlock'
Good Ale" and the well-nigh per
feet presentation of Handel
"Where'er You Walk"
Brahms Group the Gem.
The gem of the program from tn
point of view of the character of tn
songs and his singing of them wa
the group including Brahms "De
Tod, das ist die kuehle Nacht,
Meme Liebe ist gruen," "Wir wan
delten" and VOLTS "Ewig." TIL
exquisite poetry of these songs IL
both text and music is so fine
thing to interpret that not man
singers risk them in a program de
signed to dazzle or bid for favor
But Mr.. Tibbett is student of tn
great song literature and never fail
to put a few Of the choice ones IL
every recital. At the same time
he will take such well-known song
as Tschaikowskys None but tn
Lonely Heart" and "Pilgrim's Song
and bring back all the beauty t
| these much-abused favorites.
Among the new numbers wer
Warren's wander Shoes" Harris
Moan" and the Negro folksone
"Hangman, Slack on de Line" ar
ranged by Harvey Enders. And t
the group of his popular encore