Evening star., 1947-11-30
PeerCe Among
Artists Aiding
VA Hospitals
By Alice Eversmpn

Jan Peerce, tenor of the Metro.
politan Opera who was selected to
open the season there this year, will
give a song recital tomorrow night
in Constitution Hall as artist on the
c. c. Cappel series. Having recently
celebrated his fifth anniversary with
the Metropolitan, he has undertaken
his eighth annual concert tour be-
sides continuing his radio, recording
and motion picture activities. This
past summer his latest picture.
Something in the Wind starring
Deanna Durbin, was filmed, follow
ing which he went to Mexico City
for q debut In the famous Palacio
de Bellas Artes. Although native
New Yorker, his mastery Of the
italian operatic style is so complete
as to deceive even Toscanini, who
tried vainly to find some trace OF
italian ancestry in Peerce to &C
count for his excellent diction.
Mr.. Peerce Is one Of the many art
lists to sign up for concerts IN the
Veteran Administration hospitals
throughout the country. Already a
hundred celebrities have offered
their services for this worthy cause.
the latest being Lily Pons and Andre
Kostelanetz. The concerts are being
arranged by the Hospitalized Vet
Grams Music Service, and this new
department called Artists Hospital
Programs has Jean Tennyson as ma
tional chairman. The stars are
drawn from opera, musical comedy.
the concert stage, radio and motion
pictures and the list Of names rep
resents thousands of dollars in box
office appeal.
4 Privilege for Artists.
The plan of this special program
is concerned with hospitals in rural
and outlying districts. These are
so of from the beaten track that
good music does not often reach
them except by radio. The per-
sonal appearance of glamorous stars
in these far-away places can be
comfort and morale builder of great
value. The celebrities such as Pa
trice Munsel, Iturbi, Eleanor Steber.
Leopold Stokowski, Jennie Tourel
Rise Stevens, jeanette Mcdonald
and Gladys Swarthout, from the
higher entertainment bracket, and
those from other fields, have felt 1t
a privilege to give of their art for
those so isolated from 1t,
Whenever a concert star appears
in any city, arrangements are made
to take him to some of these hos
pitfalls for perhaps an hours pro-
gram. Sometimes these are sand
wiched in between train times or
trips are made back and forth be-
tween concert dates. Besides audi
torium appearances in the hospitals.
the artists 60 into the wards to en-
tertain bedridden patients. They
receive no money for this but their
transportation is taken care OF
usually by individuals who donate
their car and take the time to shep-
herd the artists to their destina.
tions. The list of those who gladly
give their services in this way Is
growing daily.
Started as a Violinist.
Mr.. Peerce began his musical ca
reer as a violinist, doing little
7 singing on the side whenever pos
sible. 1t YVES not long before his
voice began to attract attention and
he himself decided on concentrat'
ing on a vocal career. He was
brought to the notice Of Ernc
Rapee and for many years sang in
Radio City Music Hall and on the
Sunday broadcasts. : He was chosen
by Toscanini as guest artist In
Busoni's "Rondo Arlecchino' In
1898 and later sang in Toscaninis S
performances of Beethoven's Ninth
Symphony" and Verdi's Requiem.
In 1899 he gave his first New York
recital and last spring took the
tenor lead in the much pablicized
broadcast of Verdi's la TraWata'
under Toscanini's direction.