Notes
Last week the National Federation of Music Clubs invited Soprano Rosa Ponselle to head the Honor List in their new Hall of Fame for rising U. S. artists. Hereafter, within the Federation, Nov. 15 will be known as Rosa Ponselle Day. On that day ten years ago Ponselle, daughter of poor Italian immigrants, made her Metropolitan Opera debut, singing Leonora in La Forza del Destino, with Caruso.
In Budapest, for the first time in history, an opera was called off on account of rain. It was to be Offenbach's La Belle Helene at the Municipal Theatre and the fire inspector was making his round 15 minutes before curtain time. He tried this exit, examined that extinguisher. He touched a wrong lever and stage rain fell, beat upon the scenery until all was ruined, no performance possible.
In Ann Arbor, Joseph E. Maddy of the University of Michigan School of Music, worked on the details of a plan whereby a National High School Orchestra of some 150 of the most talented high school musicians will go next summer to Europe, play at the World Conference on Education at Geneva, at the Anglo-American Music Conference at Lausanne, perhaps in London, Berlin, other capitals.
Capt. Yves Thomas of the S.S. Paris had company in his cabin on the last crossing. It was the famed Davidoff cello, made by Stradivari in 1712 for the Grand Duke of Tuscany, later owned by Karl Davidoff, cellist at the Imperial Russian Court. Valued at some $85,000 it came to the U. S. to enter the Wurlitzer collection. Capt. Thomas, himself a violinist, agreed it was .too valuable for the regular cargo, offered himself as bodyguard.
Since the New York Symphony merged with the Philharmonic, Manhattan has felt keenly the need of a second orchestra. Last week the problem seemed solved when the Society of the Friends of Music announced that next year it would have an independent orchestra-to which Artur Bodanzky, now conducting his last season at the Metropolitan Opera, would give full time.
To Manhattan a fortnight ago came Composer Ottorino Respighi for the U. S. premiere of his Sunken Bell at the Metropolitan Opera House (TIME, Dec. 3). Last week he turned pianist, played with the Philharmonic-Symphony his new Toccata for piano and orchestra. Again critics marked his nice patterns, his smooth, glowing colors.
At the Metropolitan Opera House, Manhattan, Spanish-soprano Lucrezia Bori made her first appearance of the season in Traviata, given under the patronage of the King and Queen of Spain for the benefit of the University City in Madrid. Importantly present in Box No. i were Don Alfonso of Orleans, Infante of Spain, first cousin of the King, his wife the Infanta Beatrice, sister of Queen Marie of Rumania. Ritually they joined the applause for tender, tripping tunes, for tender, tearful tunes. Gladly they heard next day that the performance had earned their home university some $56,000.
In Berlin Lilli Lehmann, famed Wagnerian soprano, celebrated her Both birthday. Special gift was the title of "professor" sent her by President Michael Hainisch of Austria for her many great performances at the Vienna Imperial Opera, for her more recent services to the annual Salzburg festivals.
From Cincinnati to Manhattan came Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Besuner to hear daughter Pearl make her debut as Siebel in
Faust at the Metropolitan Opera House. Pupil of Marcella Sembrich, onetime member of the San Carlo and Cincinnati Zoo opera companies, Soprano Besuner displayed a pleasant voice, an excellent technique. The audience liked her. Maria Jeritza sent flowers, good wishes.
* Hitherto the Friends of Music has used the Metropolitan Opera orchestra.