Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 69

S-7 TRIBUNE PAGE OF ART, MUSIC, DRAMA NEWS OAKLAND TRIBUNE, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23," 1934 IN MUSICAL FEAST TODA ft' Santa Cruz League's Show to Open Feb. 10 Cash Prizes Are Offered for Best Paintings; Mills Graduate to Exhibit at Art Center, S. F. Leiber Always Finds Zest in Shakespeare After Thirty Years in Bard's Plays Actor Still Approaches Opening Presentation With Thrills CANTATA WILL TELL STORY OF ROSE MAID DUNG AN SOANES 'lls gy 1 -jy. I nry i i-f rTTffiimimmin ift-fciiniii" r--itiimTwrriirnr-T- iini'mii fi GUERIN.

The iniet. are (eft), NICHOLLS. who is directing the HARRISON WARD, baritone photo. Participating this afternoon in a performance of "The Rose Maiden" at Hotel Oakland, a rare mixture of recitative, solo and massed singing, are (left to right) G. RANDOLPH PALMER, ALICE TROUT LUCAS, ANNA NICOL By H.

JU WE art tempted to dust off the old guitar, strike a chord or two and sing a few lusty words of praise for the Santa Cruz Art League, but something tells me It will Bound better as wqrds Just plain words without the music. The theme will deal with the hard working members of the league who nave pm uvei suuw evci jeai for several years despite large financial obstacles. I suspect that all members of the league do not work as hard as that group of weary women members who told me at the opening of the 1934 annual that that annual would probably be the last, for some time at least. The task of raising money for another annual seemed hopeless then, but with work and enthusiasm and more work the league has succeeded in obtaining funds for the 1935 annual. From now on we shall expect a show each year sponsored by the league, and no excuses.

Unless I am mistaken, there are men in the league, but I have seen none of them around where the work is thickest. Perhaps this does the men an injustice. They may have been out bludgeoning the stubborn citizenry into an under standing of the artistic temperament and the needs thereof, but unless I am shown the bludgeon and the spot where some citizen was knocked loose from his coin, I shall still believe that the women of the league do the work. The 1935 annual will open February 10 In the Bayview Auditorium, Sapta Cruz. Paintings for the.

exhibition must be sent to the Santa Cruz Art League, Bayview Auditorium, Santa Cruz, not later than February 1. The exhibition will be juried, the jurors to be announced later. Awards will be made as follows: For the best oil, $50, donated by the Santa Cruz Art League. For the best water color, $50, donated by the Decorative Art and Woman's Exchange, Santa Cruz. by the Santa Cruz Art League.

In addition a purchase prize of $75 has been offered by the Santa Cruz Women's Club. All paintings in competition for this prize must be marked plainly on the backs. My correspondent in Santa Cruz writes that it was an uphill pull to raise funds for the exhibition, but with the cooperation Of Santa Cruz organizations, success is assured. The money was raised through associate memberships in the league, entertainments, garden parties and gifts. Last Summer Mrs.

H. C. Capwell, Oakland, opened her Summer home, Fernwood, at Brookdale, to members of the league who gave a card party and dinner. Both were largely attended and aided materially. In January the Santa Cruz Community Players will give a play for the league's benefit.

Yes, it's quite a chore to raise money for anything, especially art. Water colors by Edith Heron, Monterey, which were shown recently at the' Stanford University Art Gallery, have been sent to the Edmonston Museum of Art, Alberta, Canada, where they will be shown lor a month. 6 3 0 Modern works of art by very modern modernists are being shown by the Museum of Modern Art, New York. Among the exhibitors are Salvador Dali, the Spanish surrealist, who is quoted as saying that he paints only when his sub conscious mind is if you get what he means; Senora Dali, Paval Tchelitchew, Russian; Andre Lurcat, Pierre Pierre Roy, French, THE annual Christmas show of the Art Center, 730 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, close December 29. It is an entertaining exhibition, mostly of small oils, water colors, drawings and sculptures.

Weavings and metal work are also shown. Among the exhibitors are; George Harris Edith Hamlin Victor Arnautoff Dorothy Duncan Harriet Whedon Frede Vidar Dorothy Puccinelli Helen Forbes Anne Bailhache Gene Kloss Ray Bertrand Ralph Stackpole E. N. Guttrldge Raymond Puccinelli Edward Terada fohn Mottram Theodore Polo John Greathead Otis Oldfield Helen Reynolds Wm. Hesthal Ben Cunningham Rinaldo Cuneo Moya del Pino J.

L. Howard William Gaw During the week between Christ' mas and New Year there will be an exhibit at the Fashion Art School of student work done throughout the year. Both beginning and advanced work will be shown in all mediums of fashion illustration and commercial art. The Fashion Art School is located in the Scottish Rite Temple, 1290 Sutter Street, San Francisco. The visiting hours for the exhibit are 9 a.

m. to 4 p. m. fj a a Those 1 who will be favored with the price andor invitations should dust off their pre-Colum- bus customs for the pre Columbian ball which will be given by the San Francisco Art Association February 8 at the Civic Auditorium, San Francisco. Tne costumes must be American, prior before Columbus.

The ball no doubt will be a successful war whoop. Chairmen of committees in charge are: Advisory, Laurance Scott; pageant director, Lucien Labaudt; production director, William H. Smith; lights, Laurence Lewis; student participation, Spencer Macky; artist participation, H. Oliver Albright, Julius Pommer; tickets and pub licity, Selby Oppenheimer; music, Tom Gerun; food and concessions, Frank Martinelli. ft 6 ARTISTS usually talk art when they get together one of the uniortunate tmngs about which nothing can be done.

The Sr a of the San Francisco Society or Artists, Mrs. Ralph Baker, president, made a valiant attempt to get away from art at their recent annual December dinner and substituted therefor Scandinavian customs and crafts. Mrs. C. C.

Macdonald and her hospitality committee arranged the entertainment! and the Scandinavian customs were suggested and the crafts supplied by the Swedish Applied Arts Guild, San Francisco. The Santa Lucia festival, commemorating Midwinter Day and the re turn of light, was observed with appropriate ceremonjf. The Randolph Choral gave its annual Christmas Jinx last Monday at the home of Mrs. Ruth Bergen la Richmond. A luncheon, and brief musical program around the Christmas tree, with readings and1 a short skit on the side, made up the program.

The Choral is giving a concert January 31, at the Oakland Woman's City Club. KAND1NSKY SHOW TO BE HELD HERE THE Oakland Art allery plans to show some new works by Kan- ainsKy, one or tne Blue Hour modernists whose paintings and drawings have been exhibited here from time to time. Mme. Galka Scheyer, who first introduced the Blue Four to the western public, went to Europe not long since and returned with more examples of their work. Director II.

Clapp hopes to get Kandinsky's works in time to open the exhibit January 2. The gallery will be closed Christ mas Day and January 1. The Art Center will exhibit De cember 31-January 12 water colors by Elinor Ulman and lithographs by Ray Bertrand and Dorothy Puc cinelli. Miss Ulman is a graduate of Mills College, where she studied art and was one of its most prom Ising art students. Since her grad uation she has been East as far as Palestine, stopping over, either go ing or coming, in New York.

Her exhibition will be New York sketches, impressions, moods or something of that sort. I always get suspicious when artists begin to do "moods." mas 'S'Mt TV! Vy? Music Calendar DECUMIIKH Sunday, 23 Cantata, "The lioao Maiden," 4 p. Oakland Conservatory Choral, Hotel Oakland. Sunday, 23 Vienna Hoys' Choir, matinee, Opera House, i5, b', Sunday, 23 Clirltnia.i Carols, 7:30 p. Itecrentlon Department Choral, Lake Merrltt Enibamidcro.

JAMJAHY Monday, 7 Jnnies Arkatov, boy 'cellist, 8:15 p. K. V. Opera Houne. Thursday, 10 Jose Jturbl, 8:10 p.

8. F. Opera Houne. Sunday, 20 John Charles Thomas, 3 Oakland Auditorium Theater. Monday, 21 John Charles Thomas, 8:15 p.

H. F. Opera House. Tuesday, 22 Monte Carlo Ballet RliRSe, 8:15 p. Oakland Auditorium Theater.

Thursday, 26 Monte Carlo Hallet KiiHHe, 8:15 p. K. Opera House. Friday. 2 1 Monte Carlo Ballet Russe, 8:15 P.

m. (and matinee). 8, V. Opera House, Saturday, 27 Monte Carlo Hallet RuHse. 8:15 p.

m. (and matinee). S. V. Opera House.

Thursday, 31 Jaseha Holfotz, 8:15 p. B. F. Opera House. Thursday, 31 Randolph Choral Club, p.

Woman's City Club Theater. WHILE on the subject of German music, it is in order to mention a iaay rrom cologne, who arrived in Oakland four months ago and came to me last week with a story worth passing on. Her name; Mrs. Sophie Blumen-thal. Her calling: Pianist.

Her problem: Shand her husband and one son have been in financial straits since their arrival; she has had to scrub floors to help the family cause; there is not even a piano in the house, and that is perhaps the hardest blow of all, for one of Mrs. Blumenthal's temperament. Her desire: To find employment as a musician. She can accompany "any kind of songs." She would like to join a chamber ensemble, or, if there Is no such opening, to play in local homes during the Christmas season. Her number: FRultvale 5066M.

A wire despatch from the East says that Harmony Between me Philadelphia Orchestra Association and its music conductor, Leopold Stokowski, is a step nearer after a peace conference" in which the noted maestro to be a "guest conductor" next year. The board announced that Sto kowski would remain in Philadelphia until after January 6, 1935, in order to be of "as great assistance as possible" to the orchestra. The Morean Trio of sisters, a harpist, violinist and pianist, who recently opened the musical season at the White iHouse in Washington, will play in concert on January 15 at the Berkeley Women's City Club. Madame Suzanne Torres will be vocal soloist. Pearl Wood Brandt presented her piano students In two recitals during the week, at her studio on Northvale Road, and at the home of Mr.

and Mrs. Chester Darling on Sunnyhills Road. 0 Melicent Orrell Munro, senior at the University of California, pre sented group of piano pupils' Tuesday night at Rer home, 2900 Thirty-fifth Avenue. Sr Catherine Stayton, 16 -year -old nianlst. cave an exhibition of her rare jnusical talents this week at the home of Miss Nora Llechcelch.

Miss Stayton. at the age of nine, made a recording of the "Moonlight Sonata" that was circulated through Europe. She passed the Oxford entrance examination when she was only seven. -V James Arkatov, 13-year-old 'cellist prodigy, will give his first major concert Monday evening, January 7, at the San Francisco Opera House under management of Wilfrid L. Davis.

A brilliant future has been pre dicted for "Jimmy," a San Francisco boy, by no other than Bernardino Molinarl. Alfred Hertz and Gregor Piatigorsky. Donald Gillett played his banjo during a play at Orlnda Golf and Country Club, Thursday 'night, given by the caddies of the club. "jw" and ELBERTA WILLIAM C. cantata, and soloist.

Tribune By WOOD "-pHIRTY years of Shakespeare I have not aunea tne appreciation or dimmed the enthusiasm of Fritz Leiber, who is America's chief exponent of the Bard and by way of becoming another Booth, what with a Fritz Leiber Jr. already taking his place in the company. Each season Leiber confessed in his San Francisco apartment as he passed a pre-holiday week vacation prior to opening tomorrow eve ning at the Columbia, opens as a new adventure; each opening night is as exciting as the premiere of a new play, "Why? Because the longer you live with Shakespeare the more you realize how little you understood him in your youth," he said, "And the longer you play him, the more you realize the atrocities that have been committed In his name. "If it be true that dead men turn in their graves when their memories or ideals are outraged, the corpse of Shakespeare must indeed be tied into-little knots of agony. No playwright has ever been so manhandled as he, not only on the stage, but on the lecture platform and even in the classroom.

Shakespeare was a. dramatist, often a dramatist writing against time. Tiat he was a poet and a philosopher was of secondary importance. He wrote plays to be acted and without a thought for posterity. How he would have laughed had someone told him that 300 years from then he would still be the chief factor In a strange theatrical world! "Yes, and how he would have squirmed if a prophet could have let him look into the future and see the profusion of hams struttng the board making mincemeat of his best scenes: the long line of pedants who would seek to distort his works by "reading into them something they did not contain; and the multitude of misfits using him as a stepping stone for private gain." a fl EIBER Is ordinarily a calm man, I a pipe-smoking actor of 51 who has more the appearance of the successful business man than the thespian.

Eleven years have elapsed since I talked to him last, his boy Fritz has become a grown man, his hair has thinned and grown gray, but Leiber the man remains untouched. Success, if anything, has humbled him and made him eager to deserve it. "I would be the last to quarrel with ambition," he continued, "but It should be tempered with com mon sense. It is criminal for inex perienced people to put themselves forward as Shakespearean interpreters merely because they have been able to memorize the lines and have certain ideas as to the meaning of scenes. Shakespeare deserves not only experienced but a worthy production.

"Teachers who urge their stu dents to see Shakespeare whenever the opportunity presents itself are, to put it mildly, misguided. If you are fond of apples, you don't feel it incumbent on yourself to eat the rotten ones as well as the sound. Similarly you should avoid all Shakespearean productions that have not proved their right to bo rated as such, "You don't get st much of this in the metropolitan areas, but you have no idea what the interior suf fers. I know of one troupe in fact its star was a minor player in one of my companies that consists of six people. They play small colleges, doing such things as 'Lear' and 'Richard III' and Good griefl Can you imagine 17 EDITH WHARTON'S GREAT COSMOP0UTM MAGAZIHC tTORV STRANGE WIVES" ROGER PRYOR ESTHER RALSTON STARTS CHRISTMAS DAY! GEORGE ARLISS "The Last Gentleman" Edna May 01.Tr lUtoh lUrua nHBPWSMBMPHWMVI i cOLERTfc 1st WARREN WILLIAM Bllll, sextet of hams doing any of these plays?" 0 0 6 THIS brought Leiber to a discussion of his ideas of individual plays and characters, an accounting of his career since he was here last a number of years ago, a listing of his plans for the future.

"Macbeth," In his opinion, Is more a drama of the mind that "Hamlet" despite the theories and argument! of the Shakespearean students. Hit opinions have logic behind them. "'Hamlet' is the portrait of an average man," he said. "He wasn't mad; he wasn't vacillating. He merely wanted to assemble some facts before he went to work.

He was troubled, it is true, and perhaps his troubles made him somewhat abnormal. Yet when he" waa presented with concrete evidence of the King's guilt, ne dispatched him neatly and on the other hand Is purely a study of the mind, Macbeth the man, the courageous, fearless soldier, steps out of the picture as he meets the witches and does not reappear until he buckles on his armor to cross swords with Macduff. In the Interim Shakespeare gives us a vivid picture of a small mind trying to cope with major matters. It is purely mental Fritz will bear me out" It is with pardonable pride that Fritz Senior speaks of Fritz Junior, a strapping lad of six feet, three or four, who will celebrate his twenty-fourth birthday tomorrow evening. Young Fritz is a student as well as an incipient Shakespearean exponent Acting Shakespeare is new to him, but.

critics say that his father has at last found an Othello in embryo for his Iago. urmi. NEIGHBORHOOD EAST 12TII STREET DISTRICT R1TZ E. 12th St. at 7th Ave.

"8 ON A HONEYMOON SALLY KILKRS arid ZASU PITTS "MURDER in th ZOO" with Lionel Atwllt NORTH OAKLAND GOLDEN STATE ROBT. MONTGOMERY 'i tilDE-OUT" "Younc A Beautiful" with WllUlUil Halne UPTOWN Collet at Shafllr UriUWll WILL ROGER, PBIE8T" Alio Joan Lowell in "ADVENTURE GIRL" Fox SENATORSoW PRIEST" LEE TRACY, "Tho Lemon Drop Kid" PIEDMONT DISTRICT PIEDMONT Pl CLAUbaEAWs! "CRIME WlfHOCT PASSION' Buck Jonen In "When a Man Seea Red BERKELEY CALIFORNIA, 5118 Klttredsa JACKIE COOPER. "PECK'S BAD BOY" Jean Parker. Loretta Youna, "CARAVAN" FOX UC H03S Unlversttr "LOVE BIRDS' ZASU PITTS and SLIM SUMMER VILLE Eliisa Landl in "Slstera Under the Skin" United Artists 3274 Shattuck Warner Baxter "HELL IN THE HEAVENS" GERTRUDE MICHAEL in "MENACE" OAKS Solano at The Alameda CLAUDETTE COLBERT. 'CLEOPATRA' Claude Rains.

"Crime Without Paulon1 RIVOLI San Pablo near University FRANCHOT TONE, "THE WORLD MOVES ON" Also Ken Majrnard In "Smoklnf Gani STRAND College and Ashby MARIAN MARSH. "A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST" RAY WALKER In "The LoMI.T...lter' ALAMEDA ALAMEDA Central Ave. at Park GEORGE ARLI88. "THE LAST GENTLEMAN" EDNA MAY OLIVER-HALPH MORGAN SAN LEANDRO PALACE SAN LEANDRO 'BRITISH AGENT" KAY TRANCIS and LESLIE HOWARtt Also "Girl In Danrer" with Shirley Grey HAYWARD HAYWARD 877 Castro JOE E. BROWN.

"SIX-DAY BIKE RIDER" Jean Mulr and Geo, Brent in "Desirable" FRU11 VALE St 23rd AVE. PALACE 23rd Ave. E. 15th St, MADGE EVANS "DEATH ON THE DIAMOND" Franchot Tone in "The World Moves On PRUITVALF Mth st 3T AT I 1 JLi-l JACKIE COOPEB. EC SOB AD Also Diana Wrnyard.

"One More River" FAIRFAX A SEMINARY PAPITfil Foothill Blvft Remlnarjr vr 1 1 jl rubs columbo. "WAKE UP AND DREAM" William Balnea in "Yoans- and Beaulltal" 17 A IDC AY roothin Blvd. Pjirfan rAlarA LEE TRACl't "THE LEMON DROP KID" Jean Malr and Geo. Brent in "Desirable" Also Walt DISNEY'S "Santa's Toy Shun" D1MOND DISTRICT niMnWre flVl Avt Hopkln VllVlUilL CLAUDE AIM. "CRIME WITHOUT PASSION" Also Buck Jones in "ROCKY SHOW" PARK BOULEVARD DISTRICT PARKWAY Robert Montaromenr Maureen O'Sullivs-t Down to Their Last pony Jf- 1 ELMQCRST GRANADA Robert Montgomery ft Maureen O'S'itm Also Jadith Allen in "Murrylne ALLENDALE DISTRICT ALLENDALE "crime wiTiiorT r'.

Also Frank Craven in MM mm Conservatory Choral Singers to Give Opus in Ivory Court Ballroom By JACK MASON GOING to hear a cantata is much like sitting down to mother's Christmas dinner. Here are all the entrees and side- rilflhaa that minU haM in fffAl rnm bined into one fare; massed sing- ing for the main course, solos for the relish, sprigs of instrumental music on the side and usually a moral for dessert. This afternoon a cantata will be given at Hotel Oakland, with none of the courses omitted. It is Cowen's "The Rose Maiden." Massed singing will be furnished by the Oakland Conservatory Choral, solos by three sopranos, two tenors, a contralto and a baritone of local distinction, and accompaniment by Marcelle Guitschula. For moral there is the pretty thought that Providence, being wise, gave even the rose a thorn.

The full significance is to be gained, I presume, by a complete hearing of the cantata. The. remainder of the story concerns the queen of the Flower Fairies and her quest for Love. She finds it in the person of a forester, lives in such happiness that she cannot survive his death, and passes quietly away with elves chanting their sorrow about her. Who is to sing the part of the queen, who the forester, and who the elves I am not told by Miss Ethel Jean Kibbe, program director for these Sunday afternoon musi-cales at Hotel Oakland.

But it doesn't much matter. Soloists of the caliber of Anna Nicol, Alberta Guerin and Pansy Wardell, sopranos; G. Randolph Palmer, and J. H. Booth, tenors; Alice Trout Lucas, contralto, and Harrison Ward, baritone, should draw a good crowd of listeners regardless of the size of their vocal chore.

The massed singing will be directed by William C. Nicholls. It will swell on such lyrics as "Green Vale lihd Vine-Clad Mountains," "A Maid More' Beautiful Than May" and Thy Wedding Morning." Ward carries a good burden of the solo work. Among his recitatives are "Nay, Why Should All My Gladness" and "Lose, Then, the Peace Forever." His duet with Miss Guerin, "The Rose of Love," should contain some delightful moments. The elves emerge for "Farewell! Sleep Thou Lightly," and the can tata ends with a number for tenor and chorus, "Yea! E'en as Die the Roses." There ai 27.

numbers in all. The cantata will start at 4 o'clock in the Ivory Court Ballroom of the hotel. MO OZART'S engaging little opera "Bastien ano). Basticnne" will feature a program of the Vienna4 Boys' Choir this afternoon in the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House. It is the second and final time the Choir will sing In the Bay area this year.

connection with "Bastien and Basticnne" it is interesting to note that Mozart, himself, was once a member of the Wiener Saenger-knaben, -as the choir is known at home. Schubert and Hadyn are other young geniuses who grew up under the wing of the Saenger-knaben. Schubert will be represented on the program this afternoon by his "Serenade." Other numbers Will include the usual groups of sixteenth century church music and popular German songs. O'BRIE SHI ehvnG ANN DVORAK CLAIRE DODD lBOSCOE A 8 fa a IftllTI AW if vMcSH sK "TIICU ELLir A D'BRIEMf fltl Claude 1.1 (IUJNGWlTlliy IICKIfMOOi'HllV Mf AUJO JsA C.f I 1 S. f.

TO HEAR REVIVAL OF 'PARSIFAL' WAGNER'S festival opera "Parsifal" Is to be heard in San Francisco during the next Easter season for the first time in 30 years. The performance will be staged by Armando Agnlhl, who has just resigned his position as stage and technical director of the Metropol itan Opera Company in New York, and plans to make San Francisco his permanent home in the future Agnini, who has come West for the past 12 years to handle technical detail for the San Francisco Com pany, points out that "Parsifal" will in no way conflict with the annual San Francisco opera seasons. Following the Wagner performance, he plans to produce Bioto's "Nero" and other works, too huge in scope to allow their performance during the regular opera season. Agnini's resignation from the Metropolitan was accepted with re luctance, otter he had served the company for 17 years. The distinguished technician was recently decorated by the French government for his part in the advancement of French opera in this country.

Christmas carols will waft across Lake Merritt this evening in the second and last concert of the Recreation Department's choral singers, directed by Walter H. Bundy. The program will begin at 7:30 o'clock and last for an hour. The carolers will be grouped on the embarcadero at the Grand Avenue end of the lake, with artificial lighting as a background for "the songs. On the program are "Silent Night," "The First Noel," "God Rest You, Merry Gentlemen," "Break Forth," Beateous Heavenly Light," "Adeste Fidelis" and Little Town of Bethlehem." J'lilM si 'CMERTinG HUusnen CHERTERf 5IDE: FflYWRflY -nUimm TODAY it TOMORROW 4 tammnlit btm mt feiltMikU Meal Otft't CAR OR ANT CENIVIMTOIM HELEN MACK HOITO W.

SOMUSIT MAUGHAM'S CHEAT DRAMA OF HUMAN BONDAGE WITH USUI HOWAW IETTt DAVII extra; IIUT SYMPHONY CAIYO0N XmOTOMI NfWJ EES LHP I aBisS ICES HI Green gjfl ANNE I 'Live AT the heart of Oakland's business district stands The Tribune Tower, the office I home of many outstanding business and professional men of this community. Accommodations are now available to meet your office requirementsfull particulars gladly furnished without obligation. "You'll like your ndghbors in The Tribune Tower" TRIBUNE TOWER Franklin at 1 3th Street, Oakland I A J. Slaght, Building Manager Ialways TWO BIG pictures! I WiaasfW I To4r I Tomorrow 1 Walter If Ramon If Batten V'LAUGHIHg "KEEPEM BOY' fly si 7.