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Show r n ' --V '- -.t ' : w i - r. V ' s'-- ,., v-- - v nwrm v ryit S y y - - 'qF 4 , 4-- Decides. --To Win Back Laurels .Galli-Curc- Dissonances i' By OUL MARTIN American Opera On American Theme "Porgy Y. Theater Guild Be Produced By singing of opera in EnglUh has recent year. All of these are re. MANY adaneed duringAmerica in Musical by Herbert F. Peyaer, veteran of explanation, it should refuted. way By and apparently critic, be toid that Mr. Peyser is no antagonist of singing in English. It ought to be "as preposterous to argue that English is singable, he says as to spring to arms in defense of the multiplication table. Twenty 5 ears ago I was heartily in favor of translating all ' operas into Ae language of the people to whom they were sung. 1 attribute this change of Today I am just as heartily opposed to it. front largely to the circumstance that, living for the past five yearl in Germany and Austria, I have listened in end oiit of season to practically nothing but translated opera. T Associated Press Staff Writer YORK,' Aug. 21 (AP) On the night of October IS the Guild will present an opera ,on Broadway called "Porgy." Behind that simple news announcement portende the theater George Gershwin growing up triumph of two pillars of the : nd Rouben Mamouliap. - When the manuscript of the play, Porgy," was being jostled of around Broadway nearly ten year ago, Gershwin waa a writer was a minor direcMaraoulian comedies. musical for popular songs y tor around Guild stages, Gershwin, who alreedy was advancing to writing Rhapsody is Blue," and other contributions for sj biphony orchestras, confessed even then that his major ambition was to write an opera. Mamoulian, who had gotten his first stage training in this country by producing unexopera in Rochester, N. Y, wanted to direct a gopd play and he pectedly won his chance because a Guild manager ?aw a production had of George M. Cohan's, Seven Jvevs to Baldpate"" which he sponsored. an article, bristling with brilliant argument, Mr. Peyser postulates his main attack upon opera in English on the psychology of audiences. Anglo-Saxo- n Neither the American nor the Englishman has ever accepted as the continental European has done, the .fundamental convention of opera. That the characters of a stage piece should sing of their actions and emotions instead of speaking them, thst their songs should sometime assume highly artificial forms, Chat their movements nod demeanor should be regulated by the impositions of the music ralher than by the more obvious logio of nature these things have always exercised s more or less estranging' effect' upon even cultivated Americans or Englishmen, let alone on the musically , fect It exptelne why time out mind as American will smile the opera house when Be heara his own language a phrase is , Undoubtedly. V rp ly , ... ... ..." ng r In con-cent- ra , 0 A T vital teens say Mr. thg Peyser. Is Involved In question of translated opera. Thta Is the matter of style. Carmen in German is not the true Carmen, nor Die Metatersinger In Italian, the true Wagner. Something goes basically wrong when mueic written by one peop'e is sung In the language of another. . .The pace, the rhythm, the contour, the physiognomy of a nations music are primarily de- termlned by.the character and the movement of that nations language." Out of Innumerable - performance I hare witnessed in. differ- ent European countries I can reo- MORE at tha univer- Wheel-Wrigh- pro-M- t's r. B heel wrlght gram , V School Dramatic sity and waa engaged for this program upon his return recently from a visit wUh family and friends ta the Waal la October ha will commence a series of twelve for North, western UniverThorne at sity Hall Chicago, Mr. Mr. Peyser in has nam-e- d one of tho chief difficulties la-solved in the translation of opera Into English. American audiences, everyone will admit, are ever ready to titter at phrases and situations with that other nations accept - gravity. But may not tho difficulty lie la the fact that American audiences have never had the chance to he. . oms accustomed to the convention of opera. Intelligent training In musical appreciation, the hearing of opera in the vernacular might train the American audience to accept the artificiality of opera tor an enjoyment of its grandeur as audiences of other nations do. a a o opera la PERFORMANCE ptwrites Mr. Peyeer, presupposes a standard of enunciation . . , seldom Justified a greater dyby experience on tho part of namic control the conductor over his orchestra . a modesty and on the part of tho composer's orchestration often highly unwar. ranted. Mr. Peyaer poses the questions Has anyone over heard of a singer wlu a good voice discharged from an opera company because hie diction waa not clear? Does anyone Imagine that an opera beautiful music and other dements of success would bo re-- ' fused or discarded solely because some fault of the composer prejudiced tho intelligibility c dh words a o o operw Mr. Psyser answers, tha is tha prims consideration. The more the hearer tea, line iby line, on the book the leas ha absorhs and enjoy, measure for measure, of tho score It is only when tho text can b caught without Special effort, only when It can he understood without perceptibility detracting from tbo attention claimed bythe music that the normal operagoer troubles himself shout what the Anger Is saying. This la as true when the listener understands the language f the opera as when tt la Oreek to him. He may wonder from time to time what was add in this sria or lg that scene. But so long as his interest Is primarily engaged by the composer the librettist Is a minor quantity, be his name Salvators Cammerano. Hugo von Hofmannsthal or Rlohard Wagner. Give an audience a synopsis of tbo plot and It will ask very little mor (such synopses, by the way. are printed In tha program of moat opera houses. large European Why?) o Tbs details of the action or the utterances may go hang and usually do. The world pver. It in a lucky sar that without special exertion catches as much as fifty per cant of tha remarks addressed to It from beyond the operetta footlights. And most enrn decline to practice special exertions - Tho University of Chicago presented In recital at tho Rockefeller Chapel organ, Thnreday evening. D. Sterling Wheelwright, former Utah Mr. Wheelwright ben organist. played previous- - ' Included tho following selections: Piece Herolqu. Franck; Bong Without Words Bonnet; Fugua ta G. Min- or, Bach; Evening Song, Batratow; Echo, Ton; and tha Finale, I Symphony, Viera. The organ recital was followed by a iprogram played on the great university carillon by Frederick Mar- riot. Organ Recital Program Announced For Sunday Seldon Heap. Salt Lake organ-1s- t. will five another of tho Sunday evening series of recitals at tha Grenlta ward chapel Sunday at I IS p.m. The public to Invited. The program will be: Interm eaxo. Atonement of Faa Suite, Prelude. Travlata" Verdi Dreams" Wegner. Pomp and Circumstance El. gar. olloct scarcely one which did not to larger or smaller degree misrepresent an operatic work of foreign origin the moment it eet out to render It In another tongue. A language determines not only racial style of song but also tha tons formation and production of tbo singers belonging to that race. The throaty voles, tha "Knodel Stlmme of tha German tenor is aa much a of tha German language aa the ''voce Man-e- a or tha Italian to of the 'lingua Toscana " And so even a German tenor singing Turiddu In Italian or an Italian soprano singing Elsa to German to likelier than otherwise to prove a misfit. Wny waa Leon Rothler when he used to sing Pogner in the Metropolitan Melatp-alngea Invariably square peg In n round hole? He was aa Intelligent artist and he labored Industriously with his no German, which waa often worse In Ha way than tha French of. let ha lay, Giuseppe Denise. The main reason he never earned conviction in the part was due to the essentially French lntonatl-ii- t and ton quality ha was capable of disguising 0 R- - PETBER has advanced some arguments that will ha hard to answer. Musical America, which baa championed the causa of opera in English, deserves tha commendation of all intelligent persona for opening Its columns to the negative aide of the question. Unquestionably, the dilettante, . the profeeatonal wmatetaa. If he theatres the highest to art. will favor the performs nc of song and of opera la Ns maUre pew traostatfcme are ever aa goqd aa tha original. Bat If one wishes to eoroarege the enjoyment of art the mass re, one might mindby K better to compromise by sacrificing ghe highest art for the highest lnteihglMlity. If aa effort hi this threotlOB were not both logical and practical why do the natfona where opera la a" trad), tfon and a dally aeoeesiiy. midst on the singing of opera In the vernacular? Why does tt floor-M- b u spite of all Its Incongruities? Why do governments support it, and vast andtenors tarn oat to hear It? Giro Americana opera they rats aaderstaad, opens that Stirs them emotionally, and ww wager, they wffl ta a time ovtriook I Stake-Linco- ln -- lan-gwa- Us e t 0 -- Department Will Have New Director For Chicagoans , to which the European will listen with unruffled composure and even with gravity. And to the maker of English operatic translations land the author of English librettos, generally) ft lays down a law which be can flout only at his peril. - A was "Porgy, so it seems MAMOULHAN'S first triumphant play fee should now be staging the operatic version of that robustly, spiritual tale of Catfish Row in Charleston, S, 0. Ha A native of. one of those vague Russian provinces that disappeared after the World war; but te went to Charles ton to become an authority on the environment which made so picturesque the negro quarters of that southern city. Gershwin, who bad assimilated all the blues feelings of Harlem o well that the spirit to an under. Utah Organist Giving Series of la v NEW IN Illiterate. To BY MARK BARRON good reasons for th They irritate uoh a person at times nod very easily Ur him to ridicule et others. They feed his sense of humor moro than they do that of any of the other nations. The more the words this Indlvtdusl hears fall below a certain level of dignity and the oloeer their sound and sense approsch the commonplace and the colloquial, the more disturbing Incongruous or down right funny Is likely to be the ef- Fanfare . .c Noted Critic In Musical America Assails Idea Singing Opera In The Vernacular , THREE SECTION THE DESERET NEWS, SATURDAY. AUGUST 24. 1935. BT WALTER L. JOHNS (International illustrated News Writer) HICAGO It may not be for six month, but Mms. Amellta Galli-Curpredicts that ahd again In the tovole thethat haa opera million thrilled world. Recovering from an operation for removal of a goiter that haa troubled bar .for 15 ear. the S. coloratura soprano heryear-ol- d self to confident that she will sing else, the singers again. If nothing will make it poswill power alone sible. friends predlot- ho so difwill I don't think it ficult to learn-t- o ling again. My vocal chords are not impaired. In fact. ! believe I might sing again before three months There to no soreness. All I want to do la rest and baby my voice along. 8uch statements aa these, made by the diva after the operation, eannot be construed as anything but the highest of optimism from ono who p will-sin- g ci knows 000 The successful operation (tt haa been termed thus) wai performed by Dr. Arnold H Kegel. Tha growth measured by by of an inch. The feat waa perlocal anesthetic under a formed and took on hour and ten minutes. Dr. Kegel had tha singer practice a few notes at various times during the operation. Following a period of convalescence at Chicago. Dr Kegel said his patient will go to California for another tong period of rest. The climate is better thqre, tho surgeon said Mfne fqr veers waa one of thg worlds greatest figures in tha sphere of operatic singing. three-quart- Galli-Cnr- Born of Italian and Spanish parent to Milan. Italy, she studied piano, composition and barmony at th Royal Conservatory in Milan and waa appointed a professor to the conservatory upon her graduation at th ag of la. a vocalist, aha ftah She made her debut to Rom to 1101 as Gilds to Rigolet-lo.- " Eh, was a hit and It wasn't long before ah was making other appearances. She 'sang in Barcelona and Madrid, Bpain. and then mad a tour of a number of smaller Italian cities. Following that ah toured South America. Th coloratura soprano mad her first appearance in tbo United States in 111, singing the earn rola in Rigoletto" at th Chicago auditorium. 8he drew such acclaim for nln that ah wa straight seasons She went to New th Tork ta title and aang role of vDinorah. mad bar deMna but with th Metropolitan Opera In La as Violetta la 120 company Travlata. Since that time ah has sung many roles Including Jullett in "Romeo and Juliet. "Lada di Lak-m- e. Lakm to Lammermoor. and Mlml In La Bohems The Grand Opera star has her own philosophy of Ilf and an artistic Ideal baaed on th teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg, noted Swedish theologian and mystic, namely, that she Is but th perfect channel for th transmission of musical sounds. She attributes ipuch of her popularity to her popularity to her bower of soothing and tranquilixing her hearers. She believes that If the audience can be mad to feel a sensation of soothing peace and a harmony of the sour they will com again to hear a great singer. Aa A kelf-taug- ltlt (lalli-Cur- el Government. Support Of Miisic Heralded STATE-ENDOWE- music, an well mean that may an artistic renaissance for art to th United States, to planned under the Works progress administration. A project designed to give 12.000 Unemployed musicians steady employment, will be launched nnder the direction of Dr. Nikolai Soke-lpf- f. former conductor of th Cleveland Symphony orchestra. Musicians are to be classified according to db type of musie to which they have had the greatest amount of experience orchestral music, band music, dance musie and other classifications. Ensembles formed in these groups will b allocated to every section of th country. Particular attention to to b given to th works of American composers, who thus far have been cruelly neglected unless they had friends of "Influence. In commenting on th music project tb Nation, one of America's most progress! vs and Independent weeklies, says: Dr. Sokoloff to a musician of excellent taste, an accomplished conductor, and a eritlo of excepIn addition tional discernment he to a man of Integrity, who will not compromto hto high artlstlo standards no matter, what tho cost His appointment may well herald musical renaissance to th United States. state-endow- Santa Barbara To Name NewBowlAfterWillRogers SANTA BARBARA. Cal, Aug. 24. (AP) Development of a Santa Barbara music center, to a natural ampltheatgr on th city's Ri- sound transmission, that ha win direct th planning of acoustics la tha bowl A proposal that tha now stadium viera section, which sponsors say will rival the finest the country b called Will Rogers Bowl in has to offer, haa been assured. honor of tb famous writer and A gift to the county of tha atta comedian who had many lifelong property' has beeq made together- , friends hare, has been generally with tha promise of Leopold Sto. w accepted. kowslci. director of the Philadel-Construction of th stadium la phis Symphony orchestra and being planned as a public wqrka world authority on th study of art project to cost TT,000. McCune School Teacher . To Go To California Mtaa Leers Thatcher, teacher of dramatics for the past two years at tha McCune School of Musie and Art. haa been granted a leave of absence from that institution during the current school year. Mias Thatcher jls well known to the Intermountain and western coast regions for her dramatis work having. to addition, to her -teaching and platform activities. been connected 'with the Moroni Olsen Players for a period of yearn ' Cowboy Tenor Arrives After Years Absence A RNOLD BOB BLACKNER, eowboy tenor, who has spent tha lari three summers at Lyman Wyoming Arrived hi Salt Lake this week. Where he plana to make hto permanent hoina.1 Mr. Blacknar report that he haa v been eeneertlxlsg eack fall This gCrlea of fall h will glv to th Northwest and Southern states. edk-ce- rts hubbands. Emunroe re- - Boston. Massachusetts, wilt hsad the Dramatic Art department of the McCun School of Musie and Art this year. Mr. Husbands to a graduate of th Leland Pow er School of Theater to Boston, having left Salt Lake City a number of years ago to accept a scholarship In that school and sines that timo has had - practical A experience rT , working to and I directing plays, (, giving lesson In platform reading. and ta diction and speech. Mr. Husband come to th McCun school E. M. Husband splendidly recommended by Moroni Olsen, well known for hui activities In th Moroni Olaen Theater Guild and recognised nationally as a director, teacher and actor, and by Margaret McLean, teacher of speech at New York and Columbia universities. At an early age Mr. Husband! appeared on the stage with the Moroni Olsen Players and has always maintained an active interest In dramatic work. Tracy T. Cannon, director of th school announces the appearance of Mr. Husbands to a faculty recital early In the fall season. Los Angeles Stake Eisteddfod Brings Many Contestants e Vastly Increased Interact In Is the result of the Eisteddfod being held each ear by the Los Angeles stake, according Joseph Ballantyne, stake choir leader, Mainly, the Eisteddfod, write Mr. Ballantyne," to being held to stimulate group singing with special emphasis on the work of ward choirs. Last year. 472 contestants , took part. This year, close to (00 sang when th festival was held Auguri "Contests for soloists are also held. We are compensated for many hoars of labor by th consciousness of th real worth of this movement Contestants ar adjudged with relation to Intonation, ton quality. Interpretation, stage presence, time, breath, control, diction, vole blending, voice potentiality. Th Los Angeles stake choir under th direction qf Mr. Ballantyne. singing at the Ban Diego fair re. eently had a tremendous reception, paralleling that when the Ogden Tabernacle choir sang there In I1- - with Mr. Ballantyne directingmu-to- 21-2- Opera Class To Meet At Studio Sunday Kraft er Vocal Studio's Grand Opera Class will meet at the Studio. 74 Third avenue, Sunday at 4 00 p.m. Mrs. Leah Johnson will talk on th opera Tha Marriage of Figaro Ton by Mosart, and Quality,- - Not Compae, Mk tha Voice. Frauleln Alwln Krefter. formerly of the German grand op-- r. will sing two selection from th opera. Ml Ruth Hardy will render two piano sole. HARLES KULAJfAN. Amert-ra- n tenor of th Vienna Staat-sopwho haa been engaged for th Metropolitan next season, to under the direction of Concert Management Arthur Judeon. Ac, division of Columbia Concert corporation. Mr. Kail man will ha heard to America In concert and with orchestra aa well aa to opera. This spring h aang at tha Floren- fin May festival and during Aug- art he la to be beard at the Sa faqtival singing Floreotan and Fenton In Toscanini's performance Pt Fidelio and Falataff. p er 1 did the same thing before he bey a a Porgy,' writing the music for the opera. He went to Charleston and there he wrote much score of tb which will be heard In w hat probably will be the meet distinguished firs! night of the new theater season. Mamoul I a ns for penchant the opera tech reeven nlque vealed Itself in his directing of the original play. ooen hsmoouan Th phases which won moat Praia from the critic were hto handling of the chorug scenes and ef-th incidental music and sound fects They must havs been good for "Porgy continued to run season after season In New York und on tour, and finally triumphed with a profitable engagement to London. Th opera will have a two week previous engagement In Bolton before coming to New Tork. When the play first went to Boston about seven years ago It just escaped being barred by the censors because of the scenes In which the negrs th dwelled character upon thoughts of "Happy Dust" orgies. Now It returns, a dignified opera. Gallery For Art Exhibit Sought By Springville wants state aid a building to house its permanent art collection at th Springs HI high school Bo tbs stats planning board Sws told this weqk at the capltol by a delegation led by Mayor George A. Anderson of Springville, Principal W. H. Brockbank of the high school and president of the Spring-vt- ll WinArt association; J. F. of gate, secretary and treasurer the association and C. G. Salisbury, a member of the Association. Mayor Anderson said that th permanent collection had a value of many thousands of dollars that each year this exhibit augmented by paintings exhibited by tb country's leading artists draws about 20,000 visitors; that when th annual spring exhibit held with Its entries from all part of America, there is no room for the permanent SPRINGVILLE 1 exhibit Several ways of financing th building were discussed by th planning board and delegation: On by a PWA loao and grant with th state and Springville cooperating in providing for the repayment of the 52 per cent loan. Cost 'of th project, ft )s estimated, would be about' 150,000. Members of the planning hoard expressed themselves as being entirely In sympathy with tb project. Dr. Dorothy Bird Xyswander said In supporting the Idea that th Springville art exhibits had a national reputation, and that every effort should be made tn trying to help this meritorious project New Ventilating System To Be Put' In at Met Operd A substantial sum to b spent tot and Improving th ventilation of the Metropolitan Opera Houa haa been appropriated by the directors of the Mefropolltah Opera and Real Estate Company. Although It Is not proposed to Install a conditioning system. It to believed that th defect In th il ventilation of th auditorium will be thoroughly corrected, without Impairing to any way th accoustic of tb houa. It to estimated' that the change to tag and auditorium mad tori aeaaon and th contemplated work to be done this summer will represent aq expenditure of more W.g - 2529,20. Of this nun, r large pari toon devoted to , conditions that have toImproving do th comfort and convenience ofwith thg opera-goin- g public. year-rou- tt I 1 f A 3 4 f V :l |