Evening star., 1952-01-21
News Of Music
Gladys Swothout Brings New Poise
To Exciting, Rewording Concert
By Alice Eversmon

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By Alice Eversmon
] Gladys Swarthout gave one ol
her most rewarding concerts yes.
terday afternoon in Constitution
Hall, and that is setting record
Each time the noted Metropolitan
Opera mezzo- soprano has SUNG
here, her programs have been ex-
citingly new, her interpretations
polished in the extreme, and hel
voice usually most lustrous. All
these were present yesterday but
in addition, there was a sense
of greater relaxation and a conse-
quent gain in poise.
Although no reflection of /,
was visible in her singing, Miss
Swarthout formerly worked hare
and with bodily tension that
while giving vitality to her per-
formance, nevertheless was to be
felt. Yesterday this had disap-
Ipeared and she sang simply and
feelingly, her voice flowing easily
and with unremitting appeal, II
| put a special stamp on this re-
cital, permitting her listeners te
luXuriate in the melting quality
of her tones and to share her fine
ly wrought interpretations in q
personal way. There was no dra-
matization. no pointed effects; nc
flashy display. Just beautiful
warmly inspired singing.
Most Enterprising Singer.
Miss Swarthout has always been
one of the most interesting singers
before the public today and, GER
tainly, the most enterprising
Every season she brings new
treasures to her public. She puts
to shame other singers who con-
tent themselves with the we'll
worn literature. Handel anC
Haydn served her for the first
group. She sang the formers
"V'adoro pupille" from "Giulie
Cesare," and "Un cenno leggia-
dretto" from "Serse," del mic
core" from Haydn's "Orfeo," anc
his "Mermaid's Song" with beau
tiful style and emotional punctua-
ton.
The set Of Spanish songs suit
! Miss Swarthout's voice uncom-
monty well. The curious break in
the lower register which she has
never been able to rectify be-
comes very expressive in a num-
ber such as Villa-Lobos' "Modin-
ha." A traditional Spanish "Bo.
llero" proved to be especially
charming as were the two Gra-
nados songs, the lively Eel Majo
Discreto," and the darker hued
Gel Mirar de la maja."
Gives Gist of Opera.
The joining of excerpts from
! Thomas "Mignon" to form a
large scaled concert piece had its
advantages and disadvantages
While the moods were woven to-
gether skillfully, changes of key
and piano interludes were some
thing of a distraction. 1t could
however, be adopted more often in
concert programs to give the gist
of the music Of an opera for one
character. The concluding group
was devoted to songs by contem-
porary American composers, writ
ten especially for Miss Swartlis
out and most of them still in
manuscript. Celius Dougherty's
1.-THE Serenader" and THE K'E,s
were less effective numbers than
John Jacob Niles 81 Never Had
But One Love" and Clara Ed
wards "a Love Song"
Eugene Bossart. at the piano.
showed himself an excellent SOLO
ist as well as an accompanist. He
played brilliantly and with au-
thority Weber's Perpetual Mo-
tion," and LISTS Hungarian
Rhapsody No. H." as solos and
provided exceptional accompani-
ments for the singer. Miss Swath-
out began to comply with the
many requests by singing the
"Seguidilla" from Carmen" and
Poulenc's Lies Chemins d'Amour, .
as encores before the intermiSsion
and as many as possible at the
end of the program. Tonight al
q. Miss Swarthout and Mr. Bos.
sart will repeat the entire program
for the servicemen at Bethesda
Naval Hospital.
The concert was presented by
the Patrick Hayes Bureau which
brings Joseph Szigeti for a violin
recital tomorrow at 800 pm. in
LiSner Auditorium. The place was
erroneously listed on the music
page of The Sunday Star as Con.
stitution Hall.