The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-02-07
ZINKA MILANOV
 HEARDLAST NIGHT
Dramatic Soprano Gave Splendid Performance in
 Final Concert

Zinka Milanov, dramatic soprano of the Metropolitan Opera, sang in Waterbury last night, presenting several groups of songs admirably suited to her rich and well controlled voice. Here style and grace in singing were matched by compos- ed and conservative manner. She was assisted at the piano by Richard Wilens as accompanist. who also offered set of pieces by Schu- mann and Paganini Skillfully ar ranged by him for the piano. The concert last night, the last of the Fine Arts Series of the season Spon- sored by the Mattatuck Musical Art society, was a fitting close to the seasons offerings, one of great dig nity and beauty and which was ap- preciated by all attending.
 Madame Milanov, a native oi Jugoslavia, opened with three old Italian songs which she followed with three German songs, closing that portion of her program with Puccinis aria "Vissi d'arte" from his opera "Tosca." Singing with fine musical intelligence and splendid diction her first three Ital- ian songs were carefully phrased These songs were "Intorno all idol mic" by Marc Antonio Cesti, monk who lived in the l7th century, which was not so familiar to the writer as the next two by Pergolesi and FranceSo Durante. respectively, and the songs, "Se tu mani, SC sospiri," and "Danza, danza fan" ciulla gentile". Mime. Milanov's dic- ton was excellent in these songs as 1t was in the three lovely ones that followed.
 Her German group included "Wid- mung" by Robert Schumann, and two by Richard Strauss, "Allersee- len" and "Zueignung" These three were nicely suited to Mime. Mila- nov's vocal resources which she was careful to use with the restraint and intelligence of the finished musician. Her 'Tosca" aria was successfully done in all respects. Mime. Milanov was careful not to overWork her passages calling for full voice volume. She tapered of well to a beautiful pianiSsimo but when the occasion demanded sang her fortissimo with an amazing capacity for grandness of tone, which was marked in the two arias that closed her program.
 Previous to the final ariaS she gave three poignant songs of the old country, one by the Bohemian composer, Antonin Dvorak, "Pisen Rusalky Mesiku (Song to the Moon); the other two of her native Jugoslavia sung in that language Sch Dus Dan (All Souls Day)' and "Pastirica (The Shepherdess) by Blagoye Bersa and Joseph Pavch' ich respectively. The three were beau tifully done as were her two flna numbers, heavy ones for the cloSt of her considerable program. Her' she sang first, the rich-toned Pace pace, mic Dio," from Verdl,s "LA Forza del Destino,' 'and then "Vo la sapete" from Mascagni's "Caval- leria Rusticana." She gave both o1 these a notable interpretation, hel voice here reaching great heights In her arias and in the other songs on her program Mime. Milanov had splendid support from her accom- paniSt, Richard WilenS, who played his three solo numbers with fine style. The first two of these were classed as Two Vocal Duos, and were his own arrangements for piano of Robert Schumann's If I Were a Bird" and "Springtime". He next played Caprice No. 20, also transcribed by him for piano from the Nicolo Paganini compost tion. All three were delightful piano pieces, q little removed from the general run of piano presentations.
 Mime Milanov offered an encore piece called Little Jak Horner," {" which was pleasingly sung. The concert last night was at the Wa terbury Womcns club auditorium.
 NM