Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-10-05
Robert MeFerin
Baritone TO Open
Artists Season

ItDDeft SlSF SEfiHg lftS young
baritone star Of the Metropolitan
Opera will open the 3sth Uniyer-
aity Artists Course with a re-
citAi In Northrop Auditorium a,
the University Of Minnesota.
Monday. October 8 at $50 p. m
Appearing in Northrop last
season with the Metropolitan
Opera as AmonaSro In Aida, Nc.
Ferr1n was the object OF praise by
the audience and critics alike.
McFerrin's dramatic step from
the ranks OF Iittle-known singers
10 a place on the roster Of the
Metropolitan Opera Company IL
u the cloth from which legends
are woven. Winner Of many schol.
arships and many contests, and
praised by critics for magnificent
performances with the New Eng,
land and National Negro Opera
CompanisL McFerrin received no
commercial encouragement and
little public recognition.
First A. Met
Then in the Spring Of 1858, he
entered the Metropolitan Audi
tions OF the Air Singing an amaz-
ing sequence OF the most taxing
baritone arias in the repertoire,
he was proclaimed a winner by
unanimous vote Of the judges. was
given a scholarship at the Kath-
ryn Long Opera Courses. six
weeks OF training usually reserved
for Metropolitan singers under
contract, and thus made American
musical history by becoming the
first Negro singer 10 be trained AT
the Metropolitan
Born In Mariana. Ark. one OF
eight children Of Baptist min
tster. McFerrin moved TO st
Louis with his family In 1885 when
his father became pastor of the
Kings Highway Baptist church.
The voice Of the young MCFerrin
was first discovered by his high
school music teacher. A. the com
pletion OF high school the young
baritone took up serious study In
Chicago, where he won the ChiCa-
go Musiciand competition
After military service in Manila
and Japan from 1912 10 1916. Nc.
Eerrtn returned 10 Chicago and a
/ year later went To New York
where he was brought TO the at
tentiou OF Boris GOldovSky lie
was promptly offered scholar.
ship In the Opera Department of
Tanglewood McFerr1n sang leads
IN Gluck'S "Iphegcnia in Taurus"
and In "Rigoletto' and GoldOvsky
had him repeat both roles profes-
sionally with the New England
Opera Company
Next McFcrrn appeared on
broadway in the revival OF The
Green Pastures" and was in
Kurt wcilrs Lost in the stars e"
Following the road tour OF Lost
In the Stars" McFerrin spent
year In concert work and appear,
ed IN various operate roles in
Washington with the National
Opera Company
Following the Metropolitan OPP
era Additions in 1888, McFcrrin
thought his actual debut would
be at least four years off lie
worked hard At the Metropolitan's
Kathryn Long School. put in a
season OF nationwide concerts and
orchestral appearances. and then
came the magnificent surprise
lie was asked 10 sign a contract
as a regular member OF the Metro
polttan Opera Company
Despite his success with tho
Met, McFcrrtn - still hard A.
work pcrfeCting his art a. a sing.
er Last season the young bari
ton faced the critical test ~
concert artist by presenting re-
citaI At New Works famous Town
Hail Critics " the five New York
daily papers wrote glowing trib-
utcs 20 the art ot the young BAR
tone
\ limited number Of season tie
kets for the Artists Course are
available at the Artists Course
Ticket office. los Northrup Audi
forum ~ the University.
Single tickets for the concert by
Robert MCFcrrin are available AZ
the Artists Course Ticket office
the Downtown Ticket office IN
Minneapolis and at Field SchlicES |
In ST Paul Ticket prices are 81
81 so. s. s. so and 81.
APPLICATION To WED