St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-12-12
Young Singer Has
Mefeoric Rise In
Concern Circles

Betty Allen, the young mezzo-
soprano who win sing the role Of
Mary in the Minneapolis premiere
Of RerlioE's Il" Enhance du Christ
with the Minneapolis Symphony
Orchestra Friday night December
10 az Northrup Auditorium was
born in a small town near Youngs-
town, Ohio.
She is considered the most prom
Using Of young Negro-American
female singers.
Years OF intense preparation be-
gan with a language scholarship
at WHEREFORE College In Ohio, a
music scholarship at the Hartford
School % Music In Connecticut,
and then special voice studies with
the inimitable Sarah Peck More
as well as coaching with Paul
ulanowslSy, These were years dur
ing which countless minor ap.
pearances gave Miss Aliens voice
the time and maturity II required
to achieve SIS full magnificence,
The dramatic things In Betty
Aliens career happened recently,
and fast. They started In 1851
when Leonard Bernstein picked
her as soloist In his Jeremiah"
symphony
Then she sang the Messiah"
with the Hartford Symphony, and.
In 1852, Virgil Thomson chose her
for the major role Of st, Theresa
in his and Gertrude Stems opera
-Four Saints in Three Acts" The
opera had a Broadway run and
went on to Paris; Miss Aliens
st. Theresa, praised in New York,
was a sensation in Paris. on her
homecoming she found engage
ments waiting.
Miss Allen was the choice Of
Fritz Mailer for soloist with the
Hartford Symphony in the Verdi
Requiem" The critics called her
performance completely superla-
tive" She appeared at Lewissohn
Stadium and at the New York
City Center, and she won the
Marian Anderson Award,
Before leaving for her great
North African tour In 1854. Miss
Allen appeared with the Boston
Symphony under Charles Munich AZ
soloist IN Honeggers Ia DansC
des Morts" The success OF this
program in Boston merited IFS
reception in Carnegie Hall, and
earned new plaudlts for Miss Al
len. The North African tour was
followed by reengaRements in
France and then Miss Aliens first
appearances In Italy. Miss Allen,
in 1865, went again to France her
3l-concert tour Of the previous
year having been expanded to a
Milan, Florence, and the other
italian cities. A career Of interna-
tional scope was carved for her.
During Miss Aliens busy l056-57
season. her brilliant tour OF the
United States and Canada was
highlighted by her New York de-
but In the title role Of Honegger's
judith" With this Town Hail
performance, she emerged to the
true greatness predicted for her
both here and abroad.
New and repeated successes have
built Betty Aliens worldwide rep
utatlon during 1888. The focal
point Of her transcontinental &C
tivities. following an extraordinar
lily successful Canadian tour, found
Miss Allen as soloist with the
Pittsburgh Symphony, and in a
New York Town Hall recital on
January 9Th, one Of at least three
major New York appearances this
season.
Fridays concert which begins
at $50 pm. viii feature three
other soloists the Manchester Col
lege Choir. directed by Ian Morton.
Tickets may be purchased at
the Downtown Ticket office In
Minneapolis or Field-schlick in 81.
Pau or at Northrup Auditorium
box office.