Evening star. [volume], August 14, 1955, Page E-4, Image 87

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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E-4
THE SUNDAY STAR, Washington, D. C.
SINDAV. AUGUST 14.
NEWS OF MUSIC
Tanglewood Produces
Mozart 'Torso' Opera
By JAMES G. DEANE
LENOX. Mass.
An opera Mozart wrote 176
ve*rs ago was given appar
ently its first performance in
tbe United States last Monday
at Tanglewood, famous sum
mer home of the Boston
Symphony. It was a double
opera bill in which the Mozart
opus. "Zaide,” shared honors
with a new one-act opera by
tfcp American composer Louis
Mennini, “The Rope."
■*Zaide" is really an oper
atic torso. It was composed
by the 23-year-old Mozart in
1779 for a traveling company,
but was never quite completed.
anß apparently never per
formed during Mozarts life
time. It did not ever have a
name until a publisher finally
bestowed the present one in
1838.
The plot of “Zaide" belongs
to a category very popular in
Mozart's time. It deals with
a noble held pris
oner by a sultan, a
bAuteous favorite in the sul
tan’s harem, Zaide, and a
servant of the sultan. Allazim.
who is friendly to Zaide and
the prisoner. Allazim helps
the pair to flee but they are
captured and all three con
demned to death. As the torso
was left, this is the point at
which the opera ends.
Its incomplete state, coupled
with Mourt's later creation of
a fully formed and highly sue-'
ceaaful opera on a similar
theme, “Die Entfuehrung aus
dem Serall," is doubtless the
reason the opera has been
almost totally neglected.
Considerably Altered
As presented by students
of the opera department at
the Berkshire Music Center
Monday night “Zaide" was
considerably altered. The
original German libretto by
Johann Andreas Schachtner
was adapted into English by
Sarah Caldwell, a staff mem
ber at the center, and the
original two acts' were com
pressed into one.
Boris Goldovsky, the cen
ter’s well-known opera im
presario. pointed out in a brief
preliminary ,talk that “what
the original story was we don't
know.” He also explained, to
the audience's amusement,
that at dress rehearsal "we
playad the piece with a blood
thirsty pasha, but. tonight'
we're going to play with a
magnanimous pasha."
What the audience in
Tanglewood's rustic theater
saw and heard was a rather
static little sentimental play
with a happy ending coupled
with approximately an hour's
worth—something less than
the full length of the original
—of thoroughly charming
music.
Tanglewood’s student mu
sicians did commendably,
especially considering the siz
able revamping done even
after dress rehearsal. A young
dark-haired soprano named
Christina Cardillo sang very
prettily in the role of Zaide.
Other participants were Jef
ferson Morris and Howell Zu
llck. tenors, and McHenry
Boatwright, baritone. A dance
by three appropriately cos
tumed harem girls was inter
polated Into the proceedings
to good visual effect, even if
Mozart's music hardly seemed
quite sinuous enough for that
particular activity.
Hay* Provides Setting
A particularly attractive
seraglio setting of simplicity
was provided by David Hays.
The costuming was attractive,
and the student orchestra, led
by a young Israeli girl mu
sician, Aviva Einhorn. played
In away which would cause
envy among many profes
sional organizations.
The Mennini opera, first of a
series being specifically com
missioned for production at
Tanglewood by the Kousse
vltzky Foundation, which has
Its headquarters at the Li
brary of Congress, was quite a
different affair.
“The Rope," which is based
on the Eugene O’Neill one-act
play, is an Ironic and rather
stark character study. Men
nini, according to his own ex
planation, has attempted to
add some warmth in the mu
sic, asserting that “even in
ugliness there is beauty.”
To what extent he has suc
ceeded in both this task and
in writing music that is also
appealing there may be dis
agreement. Any one looking
for melody that is whistleable
will not find it, and one
listener carried away, alto
gether, a rather ill-defined
musical impression from the
opening performance. Outside
the theater—in other words,
qp a phonograph record—the
■core might have little mean
ing. But at least in the theater
it Contributed to the dramatic
focus, and to that extent it
must be counted a success.
The cast included Malcolm
Bernstein, Mary MacKenzie,
Lynn Detwiler and Stephen
Harbaohick. Mr. Harbachick
sang with particular forceful
ness. Mr. Hays also provided
art effective setting and light
ing here. Henry Janiec con
ducted.
Both operas, with largely
different casts, were repeated
on Tuesday night.
** * *
This summer has been pri
■
Choir Placement Bureau
Waihinoton. D L
SINGERS, DIRECTORS
ORGANISTS
Ploeed in Church Positions
Ur,. lerenlee C Ylnellne
SOOa Oonneetlait Av. MW
AO 4-ISSt HO. S-8542
marily a Beethoven season as
far as the Boston Symphony's
own concerts have been con
cerned. Last week end throngs
heard performances of the
Missa Solemnis, part of
“Fidelio," the fourth piano
concerto and two symphonies,
and through the season there
has been much of Beethoven’s
music in smaller forms.
The Missa • Solemnis, con
ducted by Leonard Bernstein,
was dedicated to the memory
of the late Tanglewood guid
ing spirit, Serge Koussevitzky,
and the young conductor added
to the reminiscent character
of the occasion by practically
carbon-copying many of the
mannerisms of his former
mentor, Occasionally, in his
enthusiasm, he added some of
his own, including some rather
distracting stamps on the
podium.
Adele Addison, Eunice Al
berts. David Lloyd and Mac
Morgan, all well known in
Washington, did excellently as
soloists and the student chor
isters sang with energy.
Margaret Harshaw, one con
tender for the Flagstad man
tle at the Metropolitan, joined
with Messrs. Lloyd. .Morgan,
Malcolm Bernstein and Arthur
Shoep and Miss Cardillo in
Act II of "Fidelio,” which was
given an absorbing perform
ance under the direction of
Charles Munch. Miss Harshaw
warmed to her task as she pro
ceeded. and by the second half
of the program, devoted to the
Immolation Scene and orches
tral excerpts from "Goettcr
daemmerung,” she proved her
growing command of the dra
matic repertoire. One accom
plishment was surmounting
occasional over-enthusiasm by
Mr. Munch in building orches
tral sonorities.
Eugene Istomin was soloist
in the fourth concerto, which
had to compete with one of
New England's thunderstorms.
** * *
Music abounds at this time
of yqpr not only at Tangle
wood but elsewhere in the
Berkshire hills. On Saturday
afternoon, the writer heard a
delightful concert of Mozart
and Schubert by Alexander
Schneider and George Schick
at nearby South Mountain,
across tiie Lenox line in Pitts
field. This is the center
founded by Mrs. Elizabeth
Sprague Coolidge.
The next day at another
musical center', Music Moun
tain in Falls Village. Conn.,
the Berkshire Quartet per
formed an all Beethoven pro
gram—Op. 8, No. 2, Op. 135
and the first of the Rasumouv
skys. Urico Rossi, D. Albert
Lazan. David Dawson and
Fritz Magg competed success
fully, here, with another thun
derstorm.
This afternoon, the Boston
players will have finished
earning their annual vacation
with a performance of Bee
thoven's Ninth, the 1955 Tan
glewood seasonal finale. But
music elsewhere will go on.
NOT MUCH MUSIC INVOLVED
Maybe $64,000 Question
Is a Good Will Setup
By DAY THORPE
When Geno Prato, the
Genoese shoemaker in New
York, Tuesday * quoted his
father "Basta e cosi,” declined
to attempt the $64,000 ques
tion, and took his $32,000
check along with the good
wishes of untold TV thou
sands. hefinished a chapter, or
footnote, in the history of
opera which bears little re
semblance to anything else In
the book.
Opera has probably seldom
if ever before been the focal
spot of so widespread simul
taneous Interest as it has been
during the - minutes the spot
light has played on the two
contestants answering oper
atic questions on the latest
high-finance television give
away show.
It can be left to the polls
and the advertising agencies
to say how many people watch
the show, but it seems certain
that the audience is larger
than it ever has been for
opera as a musical experience,
as theater, or as a social event.
It is easy to say cynically
that however good the show
Is, it could be twice as good if
the grand prize was $128,000.
but it is blindness to overlook
the skfll with which is ex
ploited the common man’s
fascination with the sudden
aggrandizement of an ordinary
good fellow to one who, rela
tively speaking, can talk terms
with Croesus.
The most notable feature of
these two operatic quizzes is
that never has music been a
factor. None of the questions
have had anything to do with
music, but rather with dates
of first performances, with the
simple relationships of char
acters, and similar exact but
unexciting details. No ques
tion of interest itself, no mat
ter how explicit the answer
Elamentory and Advancad
MUSIC LESSONS fr CLASSES
Children Adulti
PRE-COLLEGE MUSIC
SECTION
The Catholic University
of America
WuhlniUi 17. D.C,
DOWNTOWN DIVISION
18 25 18th st.. N.W.
MAIN C AMPUS
4th A Mfehltaa All. N.E.
Rtthlralion, Stplrmbtr 1-17
Phone: AP. 2-6000, fat. 433
jys ■hh ~ * >■
FOUR IN THE ‘MISSA SOLEMNIS’—The soloists in the Tanglewood perform
ance of Beethoven’s “Missa Solemnis” this season are all popular artists in Wash
ington, where they are frequently heard in recital, with the National Symphony
and with the Cathedral Choral Society. Shown with Leonard Bernstein, the
conductor, they are David Lloyd tenor; Eunice Alberts, alto; Adele Addison, so
prano, and Mac Morgan, bass.
TOPS IN 'POPS 1
Clancy Hayes Stars
On New Scobey LP
By 808 WILLIAMS
Good Time Jazz has just is
sued trie fourth album by the
great Bob Scobey Frisco Band.
However, this marks the first
time the group haa been pre
sented on a 12-inch LP. and to
top it off, 10 of the dozen
tunes feature the singing of
Clancy Hayes, who has no peer
in the field of Dixieland.
It’s an LP that will thrill
every devotee of the two-beat
style, as Scobey s trumpet. Bill
Napier's clarinet, Jack Buck's
trombone. Ernie Lewis’ piano,
Clancy's banjo and vocals.
Dick Lammi's bass, and Earl
Watkins' drums all blend into
a solid little group that lit
erally rocks the rafters.
Choice of selections is fine,
with the set containing "Battle
Hymn of the Republic.”
“Someday Sweetheart." "Par
sons. Kansas Blues.” “Memphis
Blues " “Down in Jungletown."
"Sweet Georgia Brown," “Beale
Street Blues," "Mobile,” “Care
less Love.” "Bill Bailey.”
“Strange Blues" and “Friend
less Blues.” The latter two
are performed as instrumental
numbers, showcasing the lonely
and haunting melody of each.
(Good Time Jazz L-12006*.
** * *
JUST RELEASED
Lee Gordon Singers—Gordon
would be. was asked, because
the attention of the audience
must be on the* human re
action of the candidate, or.
more basically, on whether he
gets the big dough.
Indeed, in one instance an
answer clearly in error was
accepted as correct. In an
other. a contestant voluntar
ily chose to embellish his
right answer, and there was
no comment made when his
information was inexact and
incomplete. The questions and
answers, even at many thou-
r\ -••••••••
..' PERFECT FOR APARTMENTS''.
Mmifm rented homes
™ ANY HOMES
• .
/r* ■
Speael UnHeepW senneder u»P* •" *•
any standard kitchen foace,.
\ • King-Size Capacity
m i t Held, a complete family sends# lor aifiht
m « | up te »« iMm*. «H •»
f~ I
• Completely Automatic
Pre-rietet, woshe., rinses end drie* last
set It, Hart it, end lareet hi
t
I • Roll-Around Convenience
II 1 Rolls te the tahle far U>adin 9 .. .Jo *•
t)nk l*r washing • • • •• coWntH W
N. Ilf ONI WIIK ONLY
Res. SJ7».M New sl99'^
GENERAL ELECTRONICS, INC
4513 WISCONSIN AVE. N.W.
Opposite Scars EM. 2-8300
Open Thursdays and Fridays 'till 9 P.M. r
| Singers have a smooth slicing
I In the pretty “Angel Bells.”
Pairing is a beautiful song of
I faith entitled "You Never Have
1 to Stand Alone.” on which
Murray Arnold's rich voice
takes the vocal spotlight, with
the vocal group lending able
support. (Marquee 45-1019'.
Ralph Young Ralph,
whose singing lacks warmth
at times, does the very pretty
title tune of Philco TV Play
house production. “A Room
in Paris." "Do Not Know,” an
other ballad, is done by Ralph
and a chorus on the reverse.
• Decca 9-29629 *
David Carroll “You’re
Here. My Love,” from Para
mount's “The Seven Little
Foys,” is a lovely ballad ably
warbled by Jerry Mercer and
chorus. The tuneful “The
Girl Upstairs,” from TC-F's
| “Seven Year Itch,” Is mostly
instrumental, with the chorus
used sparingly. (Mercury
| 70658x45.)
Hal Schaefer—Brilliant new
1 pianist, with bassist Joe Mon
; dragon and drummer Alvin
i Stroller, presents a terrific 12-
! inch LP of standards and two
originals. Especially fine are
! “I'll Remember April,” "You
Stepped Out of a Dream,” "I'm
Glad There Is St. Louis
' Blues," and the intriguing lm
sand dollars apiece, are of
j minor concern to everyone ex
■ cept the man with the prize
at stake. The master of cere
monies is chosen to represent
i the typical viewer, with his
j apparent knowledge of the
| subject ostentatiously limited
| to the card in his hand,
j Neither of the contestants in
j the field of opera (nor none
i in any other line of questions,
I believe* has been able to
withstand the tremendous
pressure to take his $16,000 or
$32,000 and go home without
. the risk of once again doub
! ling his stake. This touch of
i nature must make him kin
with the whole world of the
television audience.
It is an interesting specula
tion, however, how difficult
the last question—that mo
mentous query that can no
! provlsatiom that give new
life to "All The Thing* You
| Are.” Other tunes are "Thou
awell." “You Are Too Beauti
ful." "Between the Devil and
the Deep Blue Sea." "Have
You Met Miss Jones,” "The
Song Is You,” “Yes,” and
"Montevideo.” Hals style is
modem and uninhibited, and
at the same time solid swing
with a pronounced beat. (RCA
Victor LPM-1106).
David Rose—An excellent
arrangement of the lovely and
haunting theme of the TC-F
film "Love Is a Many-Splen
dored Thing.” in which Rose
I captures the Oriental flavor
|of the tune. The beautiful
"You and You Alone,” from the
Italian film "La Strada." is on
the reverse side. *MGM K
-30883.)
Jo Stafford, David Hughrs,
Mitch Miller Disc features
two tunes from Warner's “Mr.
Roberts" film. Topside is a
duet by Jo and David on the
! pretty "Let Me Hear You
Whisper." with Paul We*ton's
orchestra supplying the back
drop. Reverse side is Mitch
j Miller’s orchestra and chorus
on "Farewell.” (Columbia 4-
40542)
Gordon Jenkins—Upon first
hearing, "Young Ideas" im
presses as an awkward tune,
but repeated hearings reveals
its haunting melody and fine
lyrics, which are displayed by
Stuart Foster's sincere vocal.
"Ideas” is to be spotlighted
on the NBC-TV "Producer’#
Showcase" production of "The
King and Mrs. Candle” next
1 month. Reverse Is “Goodnight
longer be called the “$64 ques
tion"—would be. The show.
! which gives Its money away
for the good will of the audi
ence. would hesitate to ask a
question so extremely abitruse
and recondite that there would
be any feeling of “unfairness.”
Perhaps there is a secret de
*ire on the part of the spon
sor that a friendly and win
ning man like Mr. Prato, built
into a minor national figure
over several weeks, should win
his money and beam upon the
delighted customers.
If. for example, the little
Italian shoemaker has failed on
a question of Wagner or Berg,
subjects on which he may be
an expert, but ones not often
associated with Italian opera
lovers, the sponsor would have
felt the saving of $64,000 an
expensive economy.
Ik, h
HP. tflßßp- ■■ . '
STUDENTS IN THE BERKSHIRES—These Washintonians, students at the
Berkshire Music Center in Lenox, Mass., have an informal conference with
Thor Johnson, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony. They are Karin Peter
son, flute, of 5924 Thirty-first place N.W.; Judith Weinberg, piano, 3220 Albe
marle street, and Nancy Gardner, piano, of 6331 Western avenue.
Sweet Dreams,” a rather trite
tune with a country flavor;
It'* sung by unbilled soloists
and the chorus. (“X" 4X-0159)
The Crew Cuts—Neither side
contain* noteworthy material,
but the “Gum Drop” side is
preferable to th* other side,
“Present Arms.” (Mercury
70668x45)
Bobby Haekett Wonderful
12-inch LP presenting the
liquid trumpet artistry of Bob
by Haekett, with orchestra
conducted by Glenn Osser.
Album is entitled “In a Mellow
Mood," and the music is truly
that, as Bobby does a dozen
standards framed in two dif
ferent instrumental set-ups.
The rich stylings of a full or
chestra are used on “All
Through the Night,” "Stars in
My Eyes.” "Flamingo,” “You’re
My Thrill,” “Deep Night.” "In
a Sentimental Mood," "Care
free" and “Mood Indigo ” A
more intimate jazz mood is
created with the use of a small
rhythmic combo on "Get Out
Os Town,” “Rain.” "Serenade
In Blue” and "Lazy River.”
(Capitol T-575)
Art Mooney—" Twenty Tiny
Fingers," sung by The Clover
leafs. is a cute number that
might catch on. "A Happy
Song" has a vocal by the En
semble. *MGM K19039'
Bob Manning Bob’s rich
baritone voice, aided by a vo
cal group, was just made for
"Whose Heart Are You Break
ing Now” and “This is No
Laughing Matter,” a pretty
ballad that was a hit in 1941
vig the recordings of Glenn
Miller and Charlie Spivak.
(Capitol F3200*
Ginny Gibson—Ginny has a
cute item in “The Kissing
Danoe,” complete with sound
effect kisses and a Latin beat.
She has mated it with the
appealing ballad "My Heart
Goes A-Sailing." Sy Oliver’s
band gives able support on
both sides. (Decca 9-29617)
Ell M DEVE >.? PED
riLIYi p * inted
JUMBO SIZE PRINTS , 44*
* H tec ~lfi
I 3929 MINN. N.J.—HOI H N.E. , , mmm J
PROGRAMS OF THE WEEK
TODAY
UNITBD 9TATWB AIR FORCE BAND
i,t. Harry H. Meuter. conductor.
8oloist; Howard Ruff, baritone
Capitol Plata. 8 p.m Roman carnival
Ovorturt. Borllor. Prologue from Pat-'
lifted Leoncavallo; Toccata and Fugue. 1
Bach, The Bwan. Tschftlkowsky. i
Neapolitan Rhapaody. arr. Werle; Sun-;
set Strip Polka. Polange: The Craty'
Composer Werle; Selection* by. the j i
Singing Sergeants.
TOMORROW
UNITED BTATES NAVY BAND. Comdr
Charles Brrndler. conductor. Soloists 1
Harold Brasch. euphonium. Anthony:
Mitchei. clarinet Capitol Plaza *
pm Die Meistersinger Overture. Wag-'
ner Molly on the Shore. Grainger !
Parade of the Wooden Soldiers. Je&sel-
Oo’ild; La Coquette. Bellstedt; Gold
and Silver Waltz, Lehar. Schon Ros-!
marin, Kreisler; Uebeslied. Krelsler; j
Liebesfreud. Krelsler: Fantasy im-,
promptu. "Chopin; Faust Selection, t
Gounod
TUESDAY
UNITED STATES ARMY BAND. C»Dt i
Herbert Hnvnr. conductor Soloist*
Frank PorretU. teooi The Trumpet
Trio. Watergate. 8: MO pm. March:i
The Presidential Review. Hoyei Over
ture to Prince Igor. Borodin Adagio*
from Sonata for Violin and Continuo
Corelli; The Three Bluejackets. Wil-L
hams. Arizona infantry. Hoyer. Mis- 1
yiMippi Suite. Orofe; Capias di ml
Tierra Palau: In fernem Land Wag
ner. Will You Remember. Romberg
La Danga romSoi; First Movement
from Symphony No ft, Dvorak.
WEDNESDAY
UNITED STATE 8 MARINE BAND, Capt.
Albert Seheepper. conductor Boioislc
William Jopev baritone: G»\ Mrla
toaj. cornet. East front United States
' SUN ' SONGS
Tert your ability *1 • tunt-dtltcdv*
Popular song-smiths need sunshine ** well ■* moon&hin*
In their business.
Each of the five songs below has some kind of solar energy
in its title. Score 20 points for each song correctly identified
1. That old sun is fortunate.
t. The other side of the street must be shady.
3. A term sometime* applied to a fried egg.
4. Whether K shine* or not is a matter of indifferenea.
6. Dust your fare with its rays.
Turn to Page E-6 for Answers
Capitol. S pm. American ■slate.
gouJd; Overture for Symphonic Ban-1.
Tuthtn Pledge of Alkflaiiee t« the
Flog Cgaagr PrnlrU Legend. Steg
melster: Caribbean Pgntaay, Morrut
sey. Ecstasy. Smith: Gridiron Club.
Souge: Irlondlg. Drumm: Rhumba
from the Second Symphony, McDon
ald.
THURSDAY
UNITBD BTATBS NAVY BAND. Comdr
Charles Brendler, conductor Solelete
Gordon Finlay, eornel. Fran* Selmo
nalll, comet: Harold Wendt, comet;
Ben Mllehel Morris, tenor Watergate.
A:.’iO p.m. Donna Diana Overture. Von
Reznleek Amaryllis. GhysLohengrin
Selections. Wagner: Tha Windjammers.
Finlay; Romeo and Juliet Overture
Fantasy. Tschatkowsky: Grand Oalop
Chromallque. Llsat; Dark Eyes. arr.
Malone; Fnrandole, Bizet; Rudolph's
Narrative. Puccini; Irish Suite. An
derson.
FRIDAY
UNITED STATEB AIR FORCE SYMPHO
NY ORCHSBTRA, Cap*. John F. Yr»u
iaitlh. conductor. Watergffte. 8;30 pm
Introduction to the Third Act of
Lohengrin. Wagner: Prelude and Love
Death from Tristan and Isolde. Wag
ner: Ride of the Valkyries. Wagner;
Exerpts from Die Meistminfer. Wag
ner. Hora Btaccato. Dinicu. Bara
bande. Anderson; Bolero. Ravel: Gypsy
Love Waltz. Lehar. Selections from
I Sweethearts- Herbert.
UNITED STATES ARMY BAND. Capt.
gaipgel L*b«da, conductor Jolplstv
Ada Cavallo. soprano: Jack Behrend
tympanl. Capitol Plata. 8 pm. March
A Bunch oTßoaa*. King, Overture to
Die PTeischutz. Weber; Album Leaf.
Wasrper; Toccata for Tympaal. Lo
boda. The Bandstand. Hyde Park
Wood ■ American Plantation Daacev
Arnold: Midsummer Night* Serenade
Atbeiiz Upo. Mores; Penlta Contigo.
Landeatoy; All the Thing* You Are.
Kern; Finlandia. Sibelius