Evening star., 1951-04-12
By Alice Eversmon

4AS NOA0AAAC d44O 4C11S tAA Va JI4C
applause greeting Helen Thigpen,
soprano. at Howard University
last night testified to the popular
ity Of this Washington born art
list. Her song recital in Rankin
Chapel brought to an end the
winter concert series of the uni.
versity, where Miss Thigpen had
her first vocal training. Study
with famous teachers in New York
and concert career of renown has
placed her among the leading.
singers Of her race.
Last Sunday she presented a
program in New York, together
with the Juilliard String Quartet
and many of the numbers sung
then were listed on her recital
program last night: Among these
was Peggy Glanville-Hicks' PRO
files from China" a cycle consist
ing Of five songs. A group of
classics was first offered, followed
by three Of Hugo VOLTS songs.
Miss Thigpen has a voice of
large range and arresting power
when needed and, although the
quality from nature is not espe-
cially sweet, she has been schooled
to attain a wide range of artistic
effects with 1t. Sometimes the
tone in softer passages was unsup-
ported by the breath and often
too pointed in the higher reg
lister. Yet in as light and dainty
a song as Durante's "Danza,
Danza. fanciulla GENTLE" her f1ex-
ible delivery was very charming
Purcell's Not All My Torments"
took her into lower range, where
her tones achieved a richness and
depth not present formerly.
VOLTS "Auf elm alteS Bid, +"
'Nimmersatte Liebe" and "Neue
Lieme" were sung with rare feel
ing and with finely designed
nuances. In works such as these,
her musical approach was most
polished and both the sentiment
and the style brought out the best
points of her art. She was enthu-
siastically applauded after each,
her accompanist. David Allen,
sharing some of the acclaim with
her. The program list ended with
five numbers by Howard Swan
son following two each by Berlioz
and Chausson.
Fiesta Concert Given.
The flags of the 81 republics of
this hemisphere formed a back
ground on the stage of Constitu-
tion Hall last night for the Pan
American Fiesta sponsored by the
American Newspaper Womenis
Club. The relocated Marine Band
Orchestra, under the direction of
Assistant Leader Albert Schoepper,
started the program off with
spirited delivery of the Overture
to Gomez famed opera, III Gaur-
any" The Bands gifted marimba
soloist, Charles Owen, gave a bril-
liant performance on that instru-
ment of Dinicu's "Hora Staccato," :"
which Jascha Heifetz, in his ar
rangement of it for violin, has
made popular.
Lucia Roman Heitmann, Chill
can singer and guitarist, known
as Carmen Rivas on her record
ings, and her composer pianist
husband, Donate Roman Heitman,
gave two of their speciality num-
bers before the feature OF the
evening, the presentation of the
princesses, chosen from 20 of
the nations, and the crowning of
Gladys Mora of Uruguay as queen
by DR.. Guillermo Sevilla -Sacasa
Ambassador of Nicaragua.
The remainder of the program
was Latin American in character,
with the distinguished Mexican
composer. Nine. Maria Grever, in
charge. From her wheelchair,
Nine. Grever spoke in intimate
fashion to the audience, telling of
her compositions that were to be
heard and the artists presenting
them. The expert piano team
Federico Kramer and Marienka
Michna. played her "Mariachi
Serenade," and the Mexican tenor
Chucho Martinez, who came from
Mexico especially for this program
sang "Volvere" and "Asi."
A new Mexican soprano, Eu-
genia Ortuna, was introduced in
"Saudade" and Twilight in
Spain" and Lii Martinez of Cuba
showed a sweet, light soprano, in
"Picara" and cay Que Bueno.
The only North American on the
program was Jon Norbert, bari
tone, who has learned to put into
his fine voice thoroughly Latin
warmth. He sang Grever's La
mento Gitano" and "Jurame."
The most pronounced success OF
the evening was scored by Maria
Teresa Acuna, dancer from Puerto
Rico, whose grace and lightness ir
intricate foot work was enhanced
by her skill with castanets. Mr.
Kramer gave as piano solo, Villa
Lobos' "Polichinela," and Trio