Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-02-02
Baritone
Is Heardin
Debut
Steven Kennedy
Pleasing in
Recital
BY ALICE EvERsMAN.


A young American baritone,
Steven Kennedy, made his debut in
this city last evening at the Shore
hame Hotel in q recital sponsored
by Musical Artists Of America, H. M.
Upton, manager. Sincere in his
musical intentions and gifted with
a fine voice, the young artist has
also a pleasing stage presence, and
the combination assured him sue
cess.
Having evidently chosen a pro-
gram of preferred songs Of his rep
ertoire, he sang them under the
guidance Of understanding and
feeling. Some of his numbers, such
as VOLTS ''Du bist so Jung" and
Schubert,s "Du bist die Ruh," lyrical
and tender in style, brought out the
best qualities in his voice. Inclined,
in dramatic moments, to spread
ing of vocal focus in these more re-
strained songs, the natural purity OF
his voice came forth unhindered.
The evidence of his real talent, plus
good vocal technique, could be ap-
preciated best at these times.
His personal response to stronger
emotionaliSm, as in the aria vision
Fugitive" from Massenet's "Herod-
iade,' disturbed the even flow of
his tone and the forcefulness of his
upper register. Mr.. Kennedy has
the necessary temperament to make
his singing interesting, and his
manner of fitting the tone quality
to the meaning of a word showed
his intelligent appreciation Of good
song delivery. The faults Of over
emphasis that crept in at other
times under emotional stress should
not be difficult to eliminate.
For the first numbers of his we'll
planned program he chose Torelli's
"Tu Lo Sal" and Good Fellows Be
Merry" from Bach's Peasant Can
tata." Following this came a we'll
balanced group including Schubert's
"Du bist die Ruh," Brahms Bot
schaft," VOLTS "Du bist so Jung"
and Strauss "Zuegnung." After the
intermission Mr.. Kennedy devoted
himself to English songs. with sew
eral less familiar ones in the list.
Encores were given as a matter Of
fact, considering how much the
audience liked him.
RENO Luoma, at the piano, played
a finely balanced accompaniment,
his rich tone and sympathetic sup
port adding considerably to the
success of the recital.
Everett Stevens In Recital.
At the same time, Everett Stevens,
young Washington pianist, who
not so long ago revealed his talent
for composition and ensemble play
ing, was once more enjoyed last
night in q formal piano recital at
Pierce Hall, which climaxed his re-
cent concert tour. in North Carolina.
A program of standard works con-
sisted Of Mozart's Fantasia in D
Minor" Beethoven's Sonata in E
Major. OPP. 109," Brahms "Intermez1
in B Minor, E Minor, c Major and
Rhapsody in E Flat Major" all Of
whichshelong togopus 1l9, Chopin's
'Barcarolle," Debussy's "Bruyeres"
and LES Collines d'Anacapri," with
LISTS Hungarian Rhapsody No.
IL" as a concluding number.
In the compositions presented, Mr..
Stevens gave ample evidence of his
excellent schooling and his fluent,
well developed technique. There is
something very sturdy and solid
about his playing. His security gives
one sense Of ease, which adds in
terest to his performance. For the
present, Mozart and Beethoven seem
to take precedence in Mr.. Stevens
affection, since he imbues their
music with profounder analyses and
style. The subtleties of Debussy,
often expressed in his titles, such as
"Bruyeres" or Lies Collines dana
capri" can hardly be adequately
translated into sounds, unless an
exhaustive study Of tone color and
effect has been made. There are
many hidden beauties in Brahms
polyphonies often difficult to con-
troll and to understand, yet to an
ambitious student they offer a vast
field for conquest. Mr.. Stevens had
a friendly audience which listened
to his program with rapt attention
and rewarded him with a generous
applause.