Evening star., 1949-11-30
By Alice Eversmon

Gladys SWartnouCS song re-
cital in Constitution Hall last
night was one of the most satisfy
ing the popular mezzo- soprano
has given here. She had a filled
house, to which she is accustomed,
and part of the proceeds will goI
to the Building Fund of the Col
lege of st. Catherine in st. Paul,
MINI. The Washington Chapter
of the Alumnae Association Of the
college sponsored the concert,
which was presented under Pat
rick Hayes management.
It is not necessary to speak OF
the technical artistry that goes
into a recital by Miss Swarthout,
for that is not only generally
known but one is guaranteed
careful thought in this direction
by long acquaintance with the
singers ideals. 1t is rather her
interpretive powers that her ad-
mirers enjoy and which seem toI
become finer with eacn appear
ance. All of her selections have
warm blood in them, no matter
how unpretentious they may be.
It will be found that most of them
are unfamiliar, but in q moment
they have been taken to the heart
because Miss Swarthout presents
them to her audience from the
heart.
There was nothing f1ashy or Of
quick appeal in the entire pro-
gram. It was of rather intimate
character and Miss Swarthout
made no bid for special favor by
q number of high notes or by dar-
ing pyrotechnics. From begin
ming to end, she sang, warmly and
eloquently, arias from the old
masters, songs in Spanish and
italian, and introduced q group
of new works by contemporary
American composers. They were
all choice selections, many OF
them too long overlooked by other
singers.
The Spanish group was. per-
haps, the finest interpreted al
though such a distinction is diff
ficult to make considering the
general excellence of the perform
ance. But that odd quality in
Miss Swarthout's voice, which
once was a decided break into
chest tones, pointed up the char
acter of these songs in q special
manner. The dividing line be-
tween the chest and middle reg
listers is not so pronounced as
formerly and the change comes
naturally.
, It was wonderfully effective In
Pittaluga's Romance de Solita'
and again in Obradors' Con
Amores." From Canteloube's
fine. Songs of the Auvergne. u
which Miss Swarthout first made
known here, was chosen the
haunting "Bailero" and the con-
trasting "Malurous Quo UnoI
Fenno." To measure the quality
of her art, it would be necessary
to hear her sing Sadero's "F'a
la mana Bambin' as she did last
night. Softly intoned. with beau
tiful infections, it was gem.
In the opening group OF ariasl
from Handel and Rossini's works,
together with Paesiello's mel Cor
Piu Non Me Sento," there was
some huskiness in the voice as
though traces of a cold remained.
Miss Swarthout felt the chilliness
of the. stage and return for the
next group with a scarf around her
shoulders. In spite Of this mall
aise, the numbers were given with
great refinement Of style and the
same regard for the meaning Of
the text as she showed through
out. Per Lui Che Adoro," from
Rossini's 'LItaliana in Algeri,"
offered many bravura passages
which were sung lightly and
hexibly.
The very finely attuned accom-
paniments that Gibner King pro-
vided added considerably to the |
polished character of the recital.