Evening star., 1940-12-19

number served to bring out another
The concert was sponsored by the
Gertrude Clarke Whittall Founda-
ton and was the opening event Of
the series, commemorating the 18th
anniversary of the proclamation Of
the thirteenth amendment to the
Constitution, which will feature
artists and music Of the Negro race.
7 There is in Miss Maynor's voice
an extraordinary sweetness which
rises throughout the range un-
spoiled and bell-like. In an interval
from low to high note the luscious,
full evenness of It and the purity
of quality is SO striking as to give
the impression of sounds never
heard before. It pours forth with
naturalness and freedom almost dis
claiming the artistry of her pro-
duction and of her Interpretation,
yet the very first phrase she sang
was sufi1cient to realize that here
was a singer not only gifted as to
voice but with high appreciation
of the end to which 1t should be
used.
Handels 20 Sleep. Why Dost Thou
Leave Me?" her opening number,
was of exquisite beauty. The vocal
color melted into the words with
caressing effect, while the words
themselves took on new meaning as
expressed in the soft tender floating
tone. At the other extreme from
this lovely classic was the aria,
"Depuis lie jour-" from Charpentier'
Louise" and as the penetrating
sweetness Of the pianissimo in the
final "Ah, je suis hereuse" swelled
to an exultant forte, the crowded
auditorium broke into a frenzy of
applause and cheers, excited and
thrilled beyond measure.
Miss Maynor is mistress of all the
fine points Of technical control, but
this is q secondary consideration
beside her power Of absorption in
the very essence Of what she sings,
her ability to give changing hues to
her tones and the deep, sincere emo
ton which she is capable Of project
ing. Occasionally, in forte passages,
the voice is inclined to a slight shrill-
ness and her diction Is not always
the clearest, but the long, superbly
sustained phrases and the beauty of
tone when held in restraint Is more
than sufficient compensation. She
is by nature greatly gifted, but she
has made Of herself q superlative
artist, one with few equals.
Her program further included
Beethoven's der Kuss" and "Ade-
laide," Schumann's 'Du bist vie
eine Blume," Brahms Meme Liebe
ist gruen," Strauss 'Wiegenlied" and
"Wie soften wir geheim sic halten,
Debussy,s Beau Soir," Bizet's
"Adieux de rhotesse arabe," Dett's
my Day." Coleridge-Taylor's "She
Rested by the Broken Brook" and
Thou Art Risen" and q group of
Negro spirituals. AS encore after
the second Strauss song she gave
Schubert's ave Maria" with most
reverential feeling. Arpad Sander,
at the piano, seconded the artist
in all that she did.
It was unfortunate that this con-
cert conceded with q program by
the National Symphony at Consti-
tuition Hall for q desire to hear both
made it necessary to shorten the
stay at the library, and to miss =
good part Of the interesting pro-
gram given by the Symphony. DR..
Kinder had already led the Sym
phony in q performance of the VI
valdi-Bach Concerto" and Chad
wick's "Noel," and Joseph Szigeti,
violinist, soloist with the orchestra,
had played the Tartini Concerto
in D Minor" when we arrived.
It was possible to hear, in the
orchestral version Mary Howe's
lovely STARS" which Miksa Merson
programmed in his piano recital
a week ago. With the range of
tonal color and more pronounced
effects which the orchestra permits,
its delicacy and charm were further
enhanced. The composer was called