Evening star., 1938-01-26
Rubinstein
Club Gives
Concert
Dignity Marks
Program of
Singing.
By ALICE EVERSMAN.

| ny ALASE Et tENSMAN.
~HE first concert of the season
by the Rubinstein Club took
place last evening in the ball.
L room of the Willard Hotel,
with the usual large audience which
always patronizes this long-estab-
lished group present. Two soloists
assisted In the program, John Rock
wood, baritone, and Sylvia Never,
harpist. Mr.. lockwood being ac-
companied by Herbert Goode at the
piano. The accompanist for the club
is Adele Robinson Bush, while Claude
Robson is the director.
The background Of palms and the
well-placed lighting brought out the
colorful picture which the chorus
made. The yearly concerts Of the
club are not only programs given
with dignity, but are we'll arranged
to please the eyes Of the listeners
also. The work of this club has ex-
tended over long period Of years
and given occasion to many to fulfill
their desire for serious singing Its
many friends form an appreciative
public, which gives testimony Of their
enjoyment freely.
Last evening the Rubinstein num-
ber, with which every concert opens,
was THE Water Nymph." with con-
tralto solo by Edith White accom-
panied by the piano and Miss Meyer
on the harp. The composition is
we'll suited to the choral character
of the club, which. under Mr.. Robe
sons careful direction. achieved
harmony in well modulated tonal
color. Mrs. White sustained the solo
measures with vocal warmth, particu-
larly in the lower register OF her
voice.
The program further featured ar
rangements from works by two great
contemporaries Of Rubinstein, Nous
| sorgsky and Tschaikowsky. From
"Bori. Godunov" was taken the duet
and the chorus OF the "Maidens Of
Sandomir" from the third act. and q
prayer transcribed for wOmen's chorus
by Crist and Roepper. From a song
by TschaikoWsky and from his String
Quartet. Op. H." and h.s opera. The
Snow Maiden" Samuel Richards
Gaines had made a choral psraphrase
which was given with harp accom-
paniment. Another Russian COM
poser, Gretchaninof1, was represented
by choral arrangement Of his song
On the Steppe." Fitting In with this
Russian program was Sinding's
"Windrose," transcribed by Bement.
The clubs singing of the first groups
was somewhat lacking in the broad
ness Of phrasing and security Of
attack required for the full depctment
OF the music, although the delightful
Sindlng song had to be repeated. In
the Tschaikowsky excerpts, the tonal
| quality OF the club came out more
successfully, with the blending Of the
voices smoother and the spirit OF the
music more outspokenly portrayed.
Each soloist on the program scored
personal triumph. Mr.. lockwood
has large and warmly tinted voice,
/ which Is at It's best in more restrained
passages. When more dramatically
moved, the placement OF the tones Is
not SO well maintained, although there
Is sufficient resonance to make such
numbers as Handel's "Dank sci Bir.
Herr Rachmaninofis Dropping
Corn and Holmes 'Au Pays" resound
to the farthest corners Of the hall. A
group Of ballads and the Vision Fusi-
tive from Massenets "Herodiade"
completed his program Recalled after
each appearance, Mr.. lockwood gave
several encores.
The charm and artistry of Miss
Meyers playing found a splendid me-
dlum OF expression in q group of three
numbers by Carlos Salzedo, Mirage"
"Chanson dams la Mutt" and -Four
Snort Stories in Music" Her supreme
fuency In the technique of her instru-
ment and her feeling for color and
mood are outstanding points of her
art. A short explanation of certain
effects which she made added to tn.
understanding Of the audience which
showed enthusiastic appreciation. By
request she gave "Minuet," by Mo-
zart, as encore.