Evening star., 1947-03-17


night that an exceptional talent was
presented to it in the radio debut
Of Margaret Truman. Singing with
the Detroit Symphony under the
direction of Karl Krueger, her lovely
soprano voice was heard across the
nation for the first time. Pure and
appealing in timbre, it came over the
air waves with assurance in Padilla's
"Cielito Lindo," the aria, "Charmant
Oiseau" from David's ia Perle du
Bresil' and the beloved song. THE
Last Rose of Summer" The f1ex1-
bility of Miss Truman's voice in the
agility passages of the aria, where
her runs were clear and true, has
the natural elasticity that argues
well for an operate career.
The measure OF her TALENT went
deeper however. Tt lay in the warmth
and expressiveness of her tones,
such as few singers today can claim,
and the genuine feeling that gave
them propulsion. Already she has
style as in the spirited delivery OF
the Spanish song and the broad, well
planned phrases of the aria but 1t
was in the simple melody OF 1.-The
Last Rose of Summer" that her
special singers gift was revealed.
Her voice is of wide range and well
schooled In breath control and
phrasing. It's quality reaches the
heart. an asset not to be learned.
The daughter of President and Mrs.
Truman won the big heart OF the
American people last night who Will
follow with unabating interest the
unfolding of career that can be
definitely hers and which began SO
auspiciously with her SUCCESSFUL
radio appearance.
Zimbalist Starred with Symphony.
The National Symphony added
another fine performance to Its llst
with the afternoon concert IN Con-
stitution Hall. 1t starred Efrem llm-
balist who appeared in the triple
role of violin soloist, conductor ana
composer. The body of the program
was given over to. Mr. Zimbalist, in
troduced by the orchestra's playing
Of the Couperin- -Milhaud Overture
TO La Sultane" and closed by Blzets
'I. 'Arlesienne Suite" Mllhauds ar
rangement of Couperin's charming
work was first played in Washington
in 1914 in the manuscript form which
the composer dedicated to the con-
ductor, Vladimir Golschman, who
suggested it and who gave 1t It's
world premiere. 1t remains a noble
addition to symphonic literature by
the spice given its classic simplicity
by Milhauds particular style.
In choosing Saint-Saens' "Con-
certo No. g." Mr.. Zimbalist had an
opportunity to show a remarkably
sweet tone especially in the An
dantino. While not large or of varied
color. it sang with fine effect in the
cantabile passages. 1t lent itself less
to the more brilliant and dramatic
requirements of the remainder OF
the Concerto which lacked vivaclty
and clarity in delivery. These quail
ties came more to the fore in his
own American Rhapsody when
the baton was given him to direct
lit. AS conductor, he gave a
spirited reading to the well-con-
structed Rhapsody" with its basis
of familiar tunes. While these
gleam forth at intervals through the
work, they are used with discretion
for the weaving of an orchestral
pattern in which the color prism is
Iingeniously devised. A Russian in
f1uence is apparent at times but this
gives added richness to the orches-
.tral tone.
DR.. Hans Kinder supported the
artist with marked skill in the per-
formance of the Concerto" never
allowing the orchestra to over
shadow the soloist The several di-
visions of the Bizet Suite were also
marked by refinement in style which
took into account, at the same time,
the descriptive qualities and the
temperamental elan of, the work.
The varied program gave pro-
nounced pleasure to large audi
ence.
Benefit Concert for Italian Relief.
A benefit concert sponsored by
the Washington Committee for
American Relief in Italy was given
in the Statler Hotel last night by
Vivian Della Chiesa, soprano; Giu-
seppe De Luca, baritone, and Mario
Braggiotti, pianist. This was the first
appearance here in many years of
Mr.. De Luca, who retired from the
Metropolitan Opera in 1885 and has
only recently returned from Italy
IN songs and arias he proved that
the grand manner of singing is still
part of his art. If the voice is less
supple and secure than in the hey
dey of his fame, it is capable of a
variety of nuance which the artist
used to good effect in the aria from
BelIini's II Puritani," Tosti's "Voi
Dormite Signora" and Gargiulos
"Ninna Mamma"
The brilliant pianism Of Mr.. Brag-
giotti, which fully bore out his bill