The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 74

ypvmwi yi yvfi l(V THE PITTSBURGH PRESS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20. 1955 WORLD OF MUSIC "9 yy vyyvvrn i 1 hi i to V''' i I. I 1 I Li Xa Traviata' Next Opera Presentation 'Met' Opera Singers Albanese and Weede Head Cast Along with Tenor John Alexander By RAL.ni LEWANDO, rrcss Music Crltlo The Pittsburgh Opera conducted by Richard Karp, will present Verdi's 102-year-old "La Traviata" on Thursday and Saturday nights in Syria Mosque. The cast will enlist the artistic services of two Metropolitan Opera stars. They are Licia Albanese, Mailmen' Deliver Surprise By DAVID BOLLINGER THE MOUSE THAT ROARED.

Leonard Wtbberley. Little, Brown. $3.50. Things were tough in the He Tried To Be Sincere By GEORGE DIXON Young Willis Wayde was bound to rise. But if that sounds like Horatio Alger, you reckon without the genius of author John Marquand.

With sympathy and compassion and sometimes with gentle satire Mr. Marquand tells how an American businessman of our time must compromise to succeed. i Willis Wayde never admitted, even to himself, that he was stepping on the fingers of those who boosted him upward. For Willis first learned how to compromise then how to rationalize. 1 4 i A iff' i 1 I If Here is the tale of a gawky 15-year-old whose ambition, quick mind and keen business sense take him to the top of his profession In a few short years.

As the book opens, there is only the naive child: "There was no way of guessing then that Willis Wayde was going to come out well set up, almost handsome, and a snappy dresser, too. But even then the boy did carry a pocket comb, which was a sign he was particular." Willis soon learned how to use people, however. He discovered how to siphon off their knowledge, their mannerisms, their business acumen. The boy quickly turns into a man, observing his superiors and passing each of them by in turn. Each step upward brings only a moment's hesitation, a flickering qualm that he may have violated a loyalty formed during the years Just past.

But it is too easy to rationalize "You could like people, but business was soprano, who will sing the role of Violetta, and Robert Weede, baritone, who has the part of the elder r-mont. John A lexander will have the tenor role of Alfredo. In support ing parts are six Pittsburgh singers; Paula Ramon (Flora), Andrea Velis (Gas-tone); Ronald Watson (Dou-phal), Robert Anderson (Marquis), Earl Corwin (Dr. Cren-ville), and Anne Strauss (An-nina). The assisting ballet will be supervised by Lydia Arlova and Lucien Prldeau.v.

The Pittsburgh Symphony will upply the lnstru- collaboration. Paris Setting The story of the opera is In Paris. The period is 1849-50. Violetta Valere, young attractive courtesan, Is giving a party and meets Alfredo Germont, a wealthy young man who secretly has loved her for months. Amused, but touched by his devotion, she decides to give up her life of dissipation, and settles down with Alfredo at a country house near Paris.

One day while Alfredo absent his father pays Violetta a surprise visit. He frowns upon the relationship of Violetta and his son. He treats Violetta with deliberate discourtesy, but becomes polite when he realizes she is a woman of refinement and generosity. He appeals to these qualities unscrupulously. lie tells Violetta his daughter Is engaged to be married, but her fiance threatens to break off the marriage unless Alfredo leaves Violetta.

Violetta consents. She returns to her old life In Paris. Alfredo finds a letter from her telling him of her resolve to leave him. Unconsoled by his father, Alfredo rushes off to Paris to avenge him ml Li 3Ir. Lcwando LICIA AIJJANESE Role of Violetta in "La Traviata." Record Duchy of Grand Fenwick.

No one was starving, but erity threatened to upset the economy. There was work for eve rybody and an Un-Fenwick In-v stlgatlng Com mittee would have had Its work cut out in trying to find someone to probe. Duchess Glorlana XII pondered the problem. An abortive effort to qualify for American dollar aid failed when a faithful subject rebelled at forming a Communist Tarty which would have to be bought off by the United States. Instead, he suggested, there was a way to restore the nation's prosperity: Declare war on th United States, he proposed, losing of course.

Thus Grand Fenwick could take Its place with the other defeated nations for a generous share of the American taxpayers' dollar. And so It was decided. Tul-ly Bascomb, who refused to become a Communist at his monarch's behest, led a regiment of mailed longbowmen on New York City. They landed without opposition. Advancing on one of the city's great universities the Grand Fenwick "army" captured a famous scientist and his dream Bomb, capable of wiping out all of Europe In one puff.

Returning In triumph, they were received with mixed feellnjrs. Grand Fenwick, instead of qualifying for dollar aid, now was faced with having to aid the United States. Ikspirfm Edited by CATHERINI MARSHALL All the prayers of Peter Marshall that have been preserved, 276 in all. "Invites both careful study and worshipful reading." Daniel A. Pouno t.t f)f) fit nil hnnljslnrf CD McCRAW-HILl CT mm I i MR.

MARQUAND He doesn't preach. always business, and (he Hareourts should have rememlered that." And as Willis told his wife that day at the Rltz in Paris: "I've tried to be sincere, sweetness. I really have-in all my dealings, but sometimes it's a problem how to be sincere." Mr. Marquand never preaches. He presents Willis Wayde just as he is, without condemning or praising.

The happy result Is a memorable character who can take his place among such figures in the Marquand gallery as B. daughter, George Apley and II. M. Pulham, Esq. 1 1 LYNCH Olive Bown Goiu study of animal life.

Aided by biologist, she concentrated fit ptt I iV By W. K. TROSEXE Usually it doesn't take long for a comedian's catch saying to wind up as a song. So it is with George can't hardly get them no more." The Ili-Lo's, a terrific West Coast foursome which has put harmony back into quartet singing has a new disc by that title on the Starlite label. SINCERELY, WILLIS WAYDE.

John P. Marquand. Little, Brown. t3.9S. fc.v.-.

THEIR YARD'S A ZOO A Contagious Hobby Salisbury Covers Kremlin By ROBERT MOLTOEUX AMERICAN IN RUSSIA. Harrison E. Salisbury. Harper. $4.

Readers of the ponderous pronouncements of 1 styled savants of the Soviet will find it refreshing to read an author who starts 1 book with this disclaimer: deeply distrust any man who suggests he has all the answers to a question so complex as Russia." Wronj on Shakeup It Is just as well Mr. Salisbury kept his foot in the door. For on the very eve of GcorgI Malenkov's ouster as premier by the new strong man, Ni-klta Khrushchev, Mr. Salisbury took a slighting crack at the "commentators" who were speculating about a Ma-lenkov-Khrushchev rift. Why didn't Mr.

Salisbury, who as a New York Times correspondent spent nearly six years in Moscow and in traveling the length and breadth of Russia, see the handwriting on the Kremlin wall? Because, he explains, as a correspondent he was "considered nothing more than a kind of licensed spy. by the authorities." He was, consequently, literally sealed off from any human commerce with the Russians. They were afraid to talk with him. And this fear, coupled with the resistance of what he calls the "ox-dumb bureaucracy, blind, callous, stupid, infuriating and very nearly all-powerful," reduced him to gathering news only through what he could see and hear and read in Red propaganda organs. The Bj Story Thus it was, though, that one of the biggest stories broke in a small item billed only as a "Chronicle" on the back page of Pravda of the Ukraine.

It was the celebrated so-called "doctors' plot" to liquidate the Red hierarchy. Harrison Salisbury's reaction to that gives an insight into what it is like to be an American correspondent in Moscow: "Fear seemed to sift Invisibly Into the room like dust from a storm on the desert. I had drawn the great plush draperies to shut out the grimy sight of the Metropole courtyard and sat trying to read by artificial lit lit. "But the fear which I had felt in the city had come Into the room and was sitting with me. It was a physical thing.

I shuddered and tried to think what was likely to happen and where it would all come out." Mr. Salisbury is, as might be deduced from that description, quite a writer. He has a keen eye for the significant and the amusing. Out of a Moscow art show, for example, he gleaned a good insight into the cultural dead hand of despotism: Exhibited were 95 "best" works from the outpourings of all the "best" painters in Russia. Of these, 3S were of Stalin, 38 more were of other Soviet leaders or Red ideological themes.

The remaining 19 covered such subjects as life on collective farms, railroad depots, fishermen hauling in their catch and so on. His hook Is full of such glimpses of Soviet life: The savage, psychopathic drunkenness in Siberia where drunkenness is the only escape from harsh reality; the callousness of the third-class funeral of Maxim Lit-vinoff; the suffering silence of the little people. There is excitement, too, such as his account of the death of Stalin and the 75 hours when Berla was master of Russia and. by failing to seize total power, sealed ills own doom. ciou's Although Mr.

Salisbury missed the boat on Malenkov and Khrushchev, his account of Chou En lai's visit to Moscow may be revealing. Mr. Salisbury concluded, after watching the respect with which the Russian masters treated Chou, that Red China is no Kremlin satellite. So it may be, In these days of anxiety over Formosa, there Is hope In the words of Mr. Salisbury's British friend who said: "They (the Russians) will follow (a) policy Just so long as It appears of advantage to them.

Then they will change. The change can come overnight because there is no moral basis to Russian foreign policy, only practical consideration." MMISMLMUSMSV Aoerioan in Staccato Notes self on the woman who he thinks has betrayed him. Baron Cholenjei Violetta is attending a party given by her friend, Flora Bervoix. Alfredo Is there playing cards. He observes Violet ta's friendliness with Baron Douphol.

Alfredo wins large sums of money from the latter. He gets up and flings his large winnings at Violetta, saying he has now paid her off. Douphol challenges hirr to a duel. Violetta, a tuberculosis victim, Is heartbroken, and goes home. Alfredo's father lias written a letter to her Implying that Alfredo will return to her and that he (the father) consents to their marriage.

Alfredo enters. Informed of the true facts, he begs forgiveness for the cruel accusation. It Is too late, for although Violetta's last moments of life becomes her happiest, she passes away in Alfredo's arms. Judged a Failurt When "La Traviata" was first performed in the United States at New York's Academy of Music, it was a failure. Here is what Music Critic William II.

Fry wrote of that performance: "The first scene affords some waltzing music on which a dialogue takes place. The waltz is not specially good, nor Is there any masterly outworking of detail 'Dl Provenza' Is a two-four travesty of a waltz known as Weber's 'Last Waltz' and is too uniform in length of its notes to have dramatic breadth or eloquence. "Some of the airs certainly would bear substitution by others In the author's happier vein." But this remarkable opera has gained strength and admiration over the years. To-day "La Traviata" is an exquisite example of intimate opera. It sets the stage for the important realistic operas that followed, particularly those of Puccini, Leoncavallo and Mascagni.

set to words of Rosey Rows-well. Elizabeth Boulden Rrown's two -piano pieces will be played by Miss HolTrichter and Mrs. Neugebauer. Vandercook College of Music Dean II. E.

Nutt, conductor, critic, lecturer and author, will be guest conductor of the Western Pennsylvania Music Educators Association Junior High School Band Festival at Edison Jr. High School, West Mifflin Borough, Friday at 8 p. m. Mr. Nutt will address district music teachers and student members of ho Music Educators National Confer-once Saturday at 1 p.

m. in Carnegie Tech Exhibition Room. The Pittsburgh Symphony's final Young Peoples Conceit conducted by Karl Kritz will be played Saturday, March 12, at 10:30 a. m. in Syria Mosque.

The program Is captioned, "Musical Visit to The Circus." By Kalph I.ewando 5 AY Whs 1 I The tune is somewhat better than the usual takeoff on a saying. And the Ili-Lo's excellent harmony makes certain it is a quite listenable waxing. 1 Reaction to the Ili-Lo's first two albums Listen to the Ili-Lo's, Volumes 1 and 2 has been mighty favorable in the Pittsburgh area. Their singing of some old standards like Little White Lies and June in January are a welcome relief from the revvedup styles of so many current groups. There's no doubt you'll be hearing "minnie, minnie" other waxlngs by the Ili-Lo's with the arrangements and music of Frank Comstock lending a fine hand.

Our Boy Fronke Frank Sinatra's vast improvement in song styling never ceases to amaze us. His latest Capitol recording of an old-timer is Why Should I Cry Over it rates as one of the best Frankie has ever done. The flip side is Don't Frank Sinatra Change Your Mind About Me. As versatile i In the singing field, Frank now is buss i.uikji.; movie the film version of Morton Thompson's tine novel "Not As a Stranger." And speaking of extracurricular activities, Les Paul and Mary Ford are now on If By MARY A'ORLD OUTSIDE OF MY DOOR. Macmillan.

S3.50. Former Pittsburgher Olive Bown Coin retired from zoology at the University of Florida in 1916, but she Corner an extended European tour. Their new Capitol waxing of Someday Sweetheart and Song in Blue is going great guns. A new name on the Capitol label at least as far as we're concerne Is Annisteen Allen. Sort of a rhythm and blues singer, Annisteen had the good fortune of latching on to a real catching rhythm and blues number called Fujiyama Mama as a starter.

It's a swingy bit with fine vocal and orchestral backing by Howard Biggs and his ensemble. The other side features Wheels of Love which isn't too bad. Lstenabfe Singfos Spinning down the single lane: Benny Goodman's orchestra, our all-time favorite, comes up with a neat pairing for Capitol: Let's Dance and Jumpin at the Woodside. On the same label is Stan Kenton's rendition of a very beautiful tune called Mala-guena. The flip side features Ann Richard's singing A-Ting a Ling.

Shay Torrent's orcan music sparkles on a Mercury dun of Plantation B'K)ie and Hindustan. And Bob Manning really sings big time with his interpretation of Majorca (Isle of Love). This Capitol waxing is Bob's best elTort to date In our book, making for real good listening. Crazy Otto, the German off key piano player, has an American brother musically. Jan August, a tine pianist, takes an untuned piano and whips out a medley of eight tunes on a Mercury offering titled Crazy Julius (Otto's Brother) Parts 1 and 2.

Among the tunes are Margie, Sweet Sue. Third Man Theme and Music, Music, Music. Jan's piano isn't quite off key enough to duplicate Otto's music. The Del Monaco Quartet, a local outfit (hat has appeared on TV here, has a new Dix recording called Don't. Real solid are the words for Joe Puma's latest waxing for Bethlehem.

Title is East Coast Jazz No. 3. Oscar Pettiford, another mtstanding jazz man, has a new long play disc called "Basically Duke" on the same label. Probably the most underrated orchestra loader in the field is Richard 1 layman, who Keeps waxing one good num-oer after another. His new one Is Misty, paired with Carol, on the Mercury label.

Both are in-strumentals with Misty standing a chance of becoming another Ebb Tide. 'Lions' Coming Paul Hackett, author of "The Cardboard Giants," has written his first novel, "Children of the Stone Lions." Putnam will publish it next Friday. OPEN MONDAY NIGHT 'TIL 9 v- The Pittsburgh Flute Club program to be given this evening at 6 o'clock in Arts and Crafts Center will feature music for voice and recorders by Henry VIII. Marjorie Reckard, one of the young sopranos here and a teacher at Colfax School, Squirrel Hill, and Colin and Roberta Sterne, players of early Instruments, will participate. Reckard will sing two songs copied from their original versions- by Mr.

Sterne; and a Motet, "(Juani I'ulehra Est," from "The Song of Solomon." The latter Is the only large work of King Henry VIII which is known, although he was noted as a musician and composer. Nancy Williams, an accomplished singer, will sing three songs of Messaien anil a 13th century aria. The concert is free. Allen Hood, whose lively violin playing with Pianist Lucy Borrelli in Schenley Hotel Is of excellent caliber, will solo in Mendelssohn's Concerto with the Wilkins burg Civic Symphony led by Eugene ltelehenfold Saturday nijzht in Wilkinsbtirg High School. The orchestra will play works of Bizet, Brahms, Moussorgsky and Chopin.

Tuesday Musical Club's composers will be represented on the program Tuesday at 2 p. rn. in Foster Memorial Gertrude Rotifer's "Fairy land," Laura Kcttercr'h "Night Wind," and Gladys Fisher's "Imagination" will be sung by the Club Chora led by Mathilda Flynn Edgai with Martha Murdoch ac companying. Bessie Iline baugli will play the flun solo in Mrs. Fisher's work.

Mabel Shoup King's Piano Violin Cello (la! Trio will bo played by Claire (inllup, Lewis and Eugene Either. This work won the New York Federation music routes' second prize. Mildred Gardner's Kirs Prize winning songs of tin Pennsylvania State Fed eration Contest will be sung by Mrs. W. Sherman Skinnei with Miss Gardner at the piano.

Bertha Hoffrlchter will play her own piano sonatina. Contralto Alta Shultz with Nan at the piano will sing songs of Caroline Gessler, Grace Brannlng, Miss Hinebaugh and Mabel King. The latter's "Ccthscmane" is fa didn't give up the scientific her husband, Coleman, also her "field work" on the bark yard of their home in Gainesville, Fla. Here are her observations on the daily and seasonal life of the frogs, snakes, birds and other fauna. This Is a scientific report (often quite technical) containing original findings, but it is also a warm family story in which her son reports the discovery of a "lidle-lidle-lidle" before he can pronounce the word "lizard" and In which she and her two children keep a snake under a wash tub until Daddy gets home to Identify It.

Her love of the out-of-doors and knowledge of things there make for interesting reading. Mrs. Coin is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles E.

Bown, of Tarry town, N. and formerly of Pittsburgh. She attended school here, Is a Wcllesley graduate and received her Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1936. She was an assistant in the Laboratory of Marrfmalogy at Carnegie Museum before moving to Florida. Best Sellers (Compiled for The Press by Publishers' Weekly.) Fiction THE VIEW FROM POMPEYS HEAD.

Hamilton Basso. Dou- bleday. S3.9S. LOVE IS ETERNAL. Irving Stone.

Doubledav. $3.95. NO TIME FOR SERGEANTS. Mac Hyman. Random.

$2SS. Non Fiction THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING. Norman Vincent Peale. Prentice. $2.95: $395.

THE TUMULT AND THE SHOUTING. Grantlani Rke. Barnes. $5. Once a Year Four Best Sellers tor only tl RUTH I 1 fldvonog olj A pop I iN'tl ToVe od today' Publishers' Representative At North Sidi Store) Fib.

21 thru Fib. 21 East Liberty Ston, March 7 thru March 14 tX K' J- 815 Sindujky St. North Sldi J2S N. Highland Avi, Lliirty JOHN ALEXANDER American tenor to ling rol 0 Alfredo..