The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WILMETTE LIFE March 22, 1929 Music News . and Events Miss Kathryn Witwer, lyric soprano, and opera favorite, called "the adopted daughter of a city," who will be remembered in recent news as the protegl' of Gary, Ind., will present the Spring concert at the Wilmette Woman's club Tuesday evening, April 9. Miss Witwer, has been called the Cinderella of the musical world. Coming to Chicago seven years ago, to gain a musical education, she found it neces sary to work ber way through as so many young Am erican s do. Being ambitious she found a position as stenographer and secretary, and the story of her rise from that humble beginning reads like a fairy tale indeed, even though it is only the story of hard w01:k and meritorious achic,·ement. In 1926 Miss \Vitwer made her first important public appearance, as soloist with the Chicago Symphony orchestra. The appearance wa'5 the prize offered in the Arti·sts contest held annually by the society of American Musicians. Many fine young artists were entered and to be declared the winner in the final contest, was one of Miss Vvitwer's first great triumphs and proYcd a pmmise of future achievements. Following appearances before outstanding music organizations throughout the country, Miss Witwer at length won an audition with the Chicago Civic Opera company and was engaged to sing such notable roles as Micaela in "Carmen," and Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet." She has appeared in casts with such stars as Mary Garden, Fen1and Ans·seau, and Don Jose. So remarkable were her performances as to merit repetitions before "sold out" houses. Recently Miss \Vitwer has been on concert tour in Europe where she has been continuing her studies. The Spring concert will be the final evening activity in the \Voman'·3 club of \:Vilmette. Miss Kathryn Witwer Display Splendid Talent in "Pinafore" Production to Give Concert at By Critic Wilmette Club.House That New Trier high school has several singers of . rare promise was demonstrated at the student presentation of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, "Pinafore," last Friday and Saturday evenings. Lottie Kuenkele, who is considered a very promising coloratura ·soprano, played and sang !he part of Josephine, the captain'.s daughter, with extreme grace and charm. Bob Daggy, who had the part of the hero sailor, has a .splendid tenor voice, and he played his part with understanding and fine technique. A great deal can be ~aid for the Boys' Glee club as the chorus, for its work was out'standing for its composition and tone, and showed the result of long-, diligent practice and the splendid directorship of Mrs. Marion E. Cotton. The Girls' Glee club, which has not the prominence in the opera as the boys' chorus, was nevertheless notable for its clear tone and splendid coherence. Clifton Darlin g, in th e role of Sir Joseph Porter, proved a popular figure in his comedy sketch, as did Patricia Goodhue, as Little Buttercup. V\ illiam Gibson , as Captain Corcoran, made an imposing and dignified captain, and the characterization of .the terrible Dick Deadeye, by Robert Brown, was very good indeed. The Bos'n, played by John Betak, was extremely well done, the part being conscienciously and sincerely performed. Janet Hughes, as Cousin Hebe, was equally fine, and she has a sweet voice that carried · well above the chorus. The school orchestra, aho under the direction of Mrs. Cotton, gave splendid support to the singing. Assisting Mrs . Cotton in the production were Miss Elizabeth Stanwood, director of dramatics; Miss Agnes Biesmeir, director of dancing; and Mrs. Ada Tille Allen and Eugene Dressler, teachers of voice. The stage settings, costumes, and lighting effects all added a great deal to the succes·s of the operetta. · · Sings at Club !.,..__ _ _ _ _ _ __.... 'I Demand for Opera Seats Breaks All Records, Report Howard Preston of Wilmette, p:::>pular baritone who has achieved a wide reputation for hi·s operatic work with the Chicago Civic Opera, at Ravinia , and with other companies will give a recital at the music hour in the Shawnee Country club lounge Sunday afternoon, March 24. Other notable artists to be heard on these Sunday afternoon programs are B. Fred Wise, American tenor, and .William N. Hughes, pianist. Mr. Wise will give the program on Easter Sunday, March 31, while Mr. Hughes presents a recital Sunday, April 14. tour, thereby becoming well known throughout the country. Barrere, in addition to being the leading flute player in the country was also an experienced conductor when he undertook the formation of the Little Symphony. Before coming to this country, while he was still in France, he organized the Societe Moderne d'Instruments a Vent, which gave concerts regularly. It created such an impression that it was subsidized bv the French Government. Walter Damrosch brought Barre're to the United States in 1905 as first flutist of his orchestra and Barrere served in this capacity for twenty-two years. "Il Re," a new opera by Gwrdano, whose "Andrea Chenier," is loved by opera goers, was given its recet1 t premiere at La Scala in Milan. Toscanini conducted -so successfully that there were numerous curtain calls for the compaser and Forzano, librettist. "11 Re" consists of three acts, "Appearances," "Illusion," and "Moral." It is concerned with the infatuation of a miller's daughter, Rosalina, (sung by Toti Dal Monte) for the great King, who sees that she is properly di-sillusioned with himself, so that she may be content to .marry her rustic lover, Colombello. The setting is in the seventeenth century. GIVE JOINT RECITAL Giordana Opera Thrills Audiences at La. Scala Barrere Symphony Gtves concert tn K ent·1WOr th A pr. J4 George Barrere, founder and conductor of the Little Symphony orchestra which will appear in concert Sunday afternoon April 14, at the Kenilworth assembly hall, was the first to organize such a musical group. His idea has proved so popular that other little symphonies have sprung up in various parts of the country. The concert is given under auspices of the ~~~~h Shore Chamber Music associaIt was in 1914, as leading flute player of the renowned New York Symphony orchestra, that Mr. Barrere began gathering together a group of musicians in the same orchestra. The Little Symphony was formed, its musicians keeping their affiliation with the larger orchestra, but giving concerts as a smaller group when their services were not required at performances of the New York Symphony. The Little Symphony immediately won the interest of both critics and public. Its unique size enabled it to attempt more ambitious works than the old chamber ensembles and yet maintain an atmosphere of greater intimacy than the large symphony orchestras. Every year since its organization it has not only given concerts in New York but has also gone on Senior Music Club Hears Selections by Sam Thaviu The Senior Music club of New Trier High school met Thursday of thi·s week at the home of Rose Feiman in Wilmette, Mis~ Feiman and her brother, Sam Thaviu, a professional violinist who has played with the Chicago Symphony orchestra, furnished the entire program. Nina Mesirow Minchin, pianist, and Irene Pavloska, mezzo soprano, are to be heard in a joint recital Sunday afternoon, March 24, at The Playhouse. Bertha Ott, Inc., is sponsoring this program. REVIVE "LUISA ·MILLER" Probable revivals and novelties for the Metropolitan Opera company's next season are rumored to be Verdi's "Luisa Miller," Puccini's "Girl of the ..Golden West," and a ·premiere ()f Montemezzi's "La Nava." Madame J eritza, who is likely to be "The Girl," has been presented with a cow-girl's costume for the part, the gift of a Californian. HELEN KOCH RECITAL Helen Koch, pianist, will appear in recital Sunday afternoon, March 24, at the Studebaker theater under direction of Bertha Ott, Inc. BORI ON RADIO Lucrezia Bori, well known soprano, wiD sing over the Atwater Kent radio Jaow:.,..tQmorrow evening. '. The Chicago Civic Opera company entered the second month of subscription sale for the first season in the new Civic Opera House, Wacker Drive at Madison street, with all records of preceding seasons shattered so far that they will be forgoten. · Thus far all sales have been arranged and assignments made by mail or telephone, the sales force not yet having undertaken its campaign . But despite this fact, more seats already have been sold this year in the section of the main floor than were sold when the subscription sale for the 1928-29 season closed last October. The actual sale of tickets as of March 1, 1929, exceeded the sale of the same date last year by more than 70 per cent. "This increa ed interest in season tickets for Chicago 1 s own opera is one of the best indications that a new era in music has da·wned in America," comments Opera Topics organ of the CiYic Opera Company. "There are greater reasons today than ever why all should resolve now to become more familiar v..·ith the great works of opera during the comi'ng seaS!tm of the Chicago Civic opera. "] ust as science and invention ha ye progressed, so has the American taste reached the point at which good music is coming to be regarded as indispensable to a \vell ordered life. : M usic, after all, is a primal instinct in man. and whether it is produced in the jungle from a drum of serpent's skin or by the most highly trained operatic ensemble, it brings a personal satisfaction that the person who has neglected the art has never known. "Especially has opera come to be regarded in a new light by thousands. People are rapidly discovering that there is no mystery about it-that it is not meant for highly trained musicians alone. The plea, "I don't understand opera," is no longer valid, for the same elemental principles underlie the greatest works that are found in the so-called 11 lighter music." One who appreciates music at all cannot help appreciating opera, especially " ·hen given on the tremendous scale and with the perfection that is possible with the Chicago Civic Opera Companv. "Time was when one who declared his love for grand opera was suspected of posing: but that has gone out with the ancient idea that it was effeminate for a ho~r to learn to play the piano. "Today opera has become . a commodity as well as an art, and its appreciation is not only a mark of fine sensibilities but of a mind alert to the tendencies of the age. Never before have the opera and the operatic artist been such a sub. i ect of intelligent dis· cussion among all classes. America is making musical history, and with the increasing demand for good music Ameticans, as with everything else, will be satisfied with nothing but the be!'t. "Manv factors have been at work in the country's development to a new musical era. The improved radio. the improved phonograph and phonagraphic records have done much to prove that good music it not inaccessible to persons untutored in the art. But above all, such effort as has been displayed by the Chicago Civic 09era Company has brought about an awakenin!! to the beauties of opera: and the removal of the citv's shrine of music from .the historic Auditorium Theater to the new opera house at Wa..-ker Drive and Madison street signalizes the development of a new Period."