Evening star., 1947-12-01
by Alice Eversmon

Capt. William H. Miller. tenor, re-
turned to the Phillips Gallery yes
terday afternoon for song recital
that was enjoyed by discriminate
| ing audience. The program did not
list anything startling in the way
of unfamiliar works but it was the
manner in which Capt. Miller pre-
sented it that was of paramount in
terest. There was hardly number
that was not embellished by know
ing vocal usage and by. penetrat-
ing interpretive sense.
The exceptional appealing quality
of Capt. Miller's voice makes it dis
! tinctive among tenors. 1t can carry
dramatic import but more often is
captivating in its sweetness. He has
an easy emission that is present also
in the high tones yet, at intervals,
there creeps in harsh, pointed tim
ore that is wholly unnecessary con-
sidering the uniformly smooth and
we'll placed production. These
formed little spots that stood out
strongly because Of the very fine
work that was done moment before
or a moment after.
The gems of the program were the
three French songs. Faures Les
Roses d'Ispahan," Szluc's Clair de
Lune" and Fourdrain's "L'Oasis.' He
sang them with exquisite under
standing, catching the subtle nu-
ances of tonal coloring and of phrase
timing in such a way as to make
them perfect representatives of the
more difficult phases of vocal art.
Cimara "Fiocca la Neve," which he
chose to sing in English. and the
aria Non piangere Liu" from Puc-
cinis ''Tursndot," sung in Italian
we're other beautifully delivered
numbers in this outstanding group
His diction in French and
Italian is so clear and his feeling
for the individual styles so correct
that the two songs in German,
Strauss "Morgen" and Marks Hat
dich lie Liebe beruehrt.' were dis
appointment The lyric quality Of
his voice is better suited to the
italian and French and neither his
German diction or interpretive
understanding could equal what
went before He was much more
at home vocally in Alfvens "Skogen
solver" where again he could en-
ploy the soft and flexible tone that
is so expressive.
An arrangement by Arnold Bax
of a 18th century Christmas carol
was of breadth and power to form
a splendid closing number for the
first group which listed further
Comfort Ye" and Every Valley
from Handel's The Messiah" and
Thomsons There Was a Knight
in Bethlehem" The modern form
given the carol makes it dramatic
work and Capt. Miller's voice in 1t
took on an operatic calibre. There
were other moments when one
could realize the potentialities of
the singer in a larger field but. at
the same time, there are few tenors
who can put the same velvetiness
and sentiment into a simple song
Further instances of his skill in
this direction were to be found in
the English group consisting of
Truselle's "I Prithee Send Me Back
My Heart" Barber's The Daisies, u
Warren's Snow Towards Evening"
Critics The Lament of Ian the
Proud" and Carpenters Light" 1t
was a recital in which vocal beauty
and artistic concept charmed the
audience to warm applause.
Tomasow, Galloway Give Program.
Jan Tomasow. violinist, and Paul
| Galloway, pianist, collaborated In
presenting the Sunday night pro-
gram in the National Gallery OF
Art giving highly finished perform
ances of sharply diversified works
These consisted of Vivaldi's Suite
in A major" and Mozart's Sonata
in E fiat major. K. 481,'' in the first
half of the program, and Hinde-
miJh's Sonata in E" with Debussy S
Sonata in G minor" in the second
portion.
The varied demands of the Mo-
zart Sonata from its short but lovely
first movement through the more
strongly stated and more profound
second to the brilliant variations
of the last were fully realized by
both artists. Although the greater
burden lies in the piano. with the
violin assuming an obligato part
frequently, Mr.. Tomasow gave a
finely etched performance. Mr.. CAL
laway's delivery of the complicated
piano portion was mastery in the
elasticity of shadings and the easy
fiuency of his technical proficiency
Innately his pianistic style is not
so vel! suited to Mozart although
this is counter balanced by his
musicianship.
Hlndemith's Sonata" Offered
more appropriate opportunities fol-
the use Of his large tone and sweep
ing delivery. The austere note that
underlines this music is warmed by
genuine feeling that is not senti-
ment but rather deep comprehen-
sion. There is candor in it also anc
in delineating these qualities thu
artists were in rare artistic accord
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