Evening star., 1940-07-27

at
Water Gate
Lolita Valdez
And Magnan Also
Heard at Recital
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.


ideally suited for recitals, as shown
last evening when Joseph Ben
tonelli, tenor: Lolita Valdez, So
prano, and Charles Magnan, COM
| poser pianist, united their efforts in
pleasing program. The artists were
presented by the Civic Grand Opera
Association and the proceeds of the
concert went to the furthering of
proposed opera season next VIM
ter. Well arranged palms added to
the effectiveness of the stage setting
and in spite of the SultrineSs of
the weather that must have affected
the singers. the program was pre-
Sented with dignity.
Having won Nationwide atten-
ton by one of those fortunate
chances that sometimes open the
doors of the Metropolitan Opera
quite unexpectedly to singers, Mr..
Bentonelli has added to his fame
by successful concert tours. His sew
eral appearances in this city have
won him large group Of admirers
who turned out in force to hear him
last evening His voice is an excel
lent one and he sings with ease and
artistry. Three arias. followed by
two more as encores, showed him at
! his best, his voice gaining In fresh
ness and power in spite Of the tax
ing character Of these works.
Beginning his program with three
classic numbers Scarlattis "Gia il
sole dal Gange.' Lully's "Au clair
de Ia lune" and l7th century air,
When Dull Care" he demonstrated
his ability in sustaining the pure,
severe hines OF this type of song
From his operate repertoire he gave
| two rarely heard ariaS, the "1nvO-
cation to Nature" from Massenet's s
"Werther" and Donna non yidi
mai from Puccini's 'Manon Les
caut,' adding. among his encores,
lie Reve" from Massenets "Manon."
The famed Flower Song" from
Carmen" was perhaps the most
outstanding in vocal color. the high
tones ringing free and clear. His
second encore was the aria from
the third act of "TOSca.'
Dressed in her native Mexican
costume, Miss Valdez sang group
Of Latin American songs in most
cOlOrful fashion. In range, tlnbre
and power her voice is exceptional
yet a Shrillness of tone and lack
of color variety make 1t less well
suited to the numbers of her first
group, which included Hahns Isl
mes vers Avaient des Allies" Delibes'
Les Files des CadiZ," Charles
When I Have Sung MY Song and
the I'm bel d. aria from Nine.
Butterfly In several measures Of
the latter, she broke the even flow
OF eighth and sixteenth notes by
changing their value, liberty that
in no way added to the effective
ness of this Well-knOWn aria.
Her vivacious delivery OF the
songs In Spanish and the express
siveness OF her voice in this more
natural medium brought generous
applause and Miss Valdez gave sew
eral encores including the ever
popular "Estrellita."
On the shoulders of Mr.. Magnan
rested the heaviest tasks of the
evening for, besides accompanying
the singers, he was heard as solo,
ist in three of his own compost
tions, two being given after a sue
cessful performance of his Fan
tasie Symphonique." This work,
which seems primarily designed for
technical piowess, was brilliantly
played by the composer, whose bra
vura style could do 1t justice. Short
in length, it could benefit by an Or
chestral background which was
probably intended for 1t, since 1t was
first conceived as a concerto. A
clever little number in which two OF
the dwarfs from Snow White" were
musically pictured and in contrast
ing mood, ITO My Mother" were
then played at the very evident wish
OF the audience to hear more.
The program finished with group
Of songs by living composers sung
by Mr.. Bentonelli, but the strain of
giving a heavy program in the
torrid atmosphere Of the shell
brought a slight letdown of energy
In their presentation. The concert
was thoroughly enjoyed by good
sized audience and the experiment
OF recital giving In surroundings es-
pecisliy designed for symphonic
music was 4 great success.