The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 55

SUNDAY MORNING. AUGUST 28, 1938. PART III. MUSIC AND MUSICIANS CONCERTS AND RECITALS WITH THE DANCERS Los Angeles Operas and Concert End Bowl Season v. a vu v.

HOLLYWOOD BOWL PROGRAMS TUESDAY, AUGUST 30. "MARTHA," an opera in four acts by FRIEDRICH von FLOTOW RICHARD LERT, conductor WILLIAM von WYMETAL, stage director HUGO STRELITZER, chorus director CAST jar if- Grand Opera Live Issue in Southern California Present Season, Along" With Fall and Winter Schedules, Point Way to Need for Solution of Problem BY ISABEL MORSE JONES Rosemarie Brancato Petina Kullmann Douglas Beattie Mark Pedan Lady Harriett Nancy Lyoner riunkett Lord Tristan Judge W7-- IllilllfflPI THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 OTTO KLEMPERER, conductor BRONISLAW GIMPEL, soloist "River Moldau," Symphonic Poem. Concerto for violin and orchestra. Earl Lewis, treasurer of the Metropolitan, said on a vacation visit here this summer that the Metropolitan hoped to work out something next year whereby trained singers from there could be sent out to join orchestra and chorus assembled in other cities. This is in line with the Americanization of the Metropolitan which is becoming more of a fact than a dream.

But a Los Angeles opera house is unthinkable without a Los Angeles opera company and its attendant, school. Bronislaw Gimpel, soloist Symphony No. 2 in D-major SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 OTTO KLEMPERER, conductor LOTTE LEHMANN, soprano soloist Overture "Benvenuto Cellini" "Oh Hope, Star of Sorrowing Love," from the "Fidel Mme. Lehmann Water Music Schmerzen Traume Heimliche Aufforderung Zueignung Mme. Lehmann LOTTE LEHMANN Famed soprano will be th present Hollywood Bowl season's closing concert soloist next Saturday evening.

Elwyn Berlioz Handel Wagner Wagner American Music Heard in San Diego The government Music Project is furthering the cultural growth of San Diego at least by sponsoring concerts by the San Diego Symphony and presenting Amer ican programs there. Recently Julius Lieb conduct ed a concert in the Ford Bowl consisting of works by Southern California composers, Wil liam Grant Still, Scott Bradley, Charles Wakefield Cadman and Sol Cohen. Music Federation Sponsors Festival Back in Connecticut the State Federation of Music Clubs sponsors a yearly festival which pre sents such' notables as Eugene Ormandy and Jose Iturbi, the Roth Quartet and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Notebook Opera Is still a live subject in Southern California music. "Martha" will be given in Hollywood Bowl Tuesday in a new and livejy version by the Lerts, 'Richard andi Vicki, with the valued assistance of Anne Ron-nel, lyricist of motion-picture fame.

September 7, "La Bo- heme" will be conducted by Pietro Cimini as a Philharmonic Orchestra benefit and the last performance of the season from the Symphony Association. September 17 the Bowl will be opened again for ballet divertissements, presented by Theodore Kosloff, and September 23 there will be an all-American opera, "Gettysburg," given by the Federal Music Project and the Independent Composers' Association; MATTER OP MOMENT With plans for more opera in the Bowl next year, a season of the San Francisco Opera Company in November and two weeks of the traveling San Carlo Company in January, as well as occasional opera by the Federal Project opera department and a grand opera house somewhere in the offing, it would seem that opera, is a matter of much moment. Most of it will be of familiar titles and built around stars, for according to box office figures, first-rate opera sung by mysterious unknowns is still doubtful business. But "Elektra" with Rose Pauly and "Pelleas and Melisande" with Janine Micheau and George Cathelat of the Opera Comique will be worth prepar- ing to enjoy in the San Francisco season, even if they are first performances. FALL PROGRAM PLANS "Pelleas" by Debussy is chiefly music of the orchestra.

The voices are declamatory and rely upon two or three themes. Both the Maeterlinck play and the Debussy music are impressionistic with the action and the music poetically conceived. In is a continuous flow of music, a true relationship between the music and drama as in the drama of ancient Greece. The two young French singers mentioned and three young Italians in addition are making American debuts in this California company. Musical Director Gaetano Merola engaged them on his annual tour to his homeland.

In the meantime, Geraldine Farrar, now preparing singers in New York, had pertinent things to say recently about the situation facing American opera singers. She cited the cases of four protegees, one of whom has had to try her luck at singing in night clubs; a second, potentially an ideal Wagnerian interpreter, is awaiting a time when chances for European engagements are more favorable; a third has turned to teaching and a fourth haunts the Broadway agencies. FARRAR SOLUTION As a solution, Farrar sug Symphony No. 5 in C-minor Canepari to Make His Local Debut A performance, as a benefit for its fall program fund, will be sponsored by the Los Angeles Chapter of Pro Musica, Thursday evening, September 8, in the Wilshire Ebell Theater, when Alessandro Canepari, tenor, will make his first concert appearance in this city, assisted by Antonio Albanese, pianist. Of Italian parentage, Canepari is a native of Salt Lake City and received his musical education in Naples Conservatory in Italy and studied with Piccoli, the teacher of Schipa.

In the September 8 program two songs will be heard here for the first time: "La Barba Bianca" by Castelnuovo-Tedesco and "La Strada Bianca" by Fratella. A manuscript song, "Sentir Gi-tano," by Arenillas will be sung. Albanese is an Italian composer as well as accompanist. Reviewer's Gets Premiere of Operas San Francisco Group to Present "Elektra" and "Le Coq d'Or Two of the seven operas to be presented by the San Francisco Opera Company at the Shrine Auditorium, November 5 to No vember 12, deserve special atten tion. The first is Richard Strauss'a "Elektra," which will not only have its Los Angeles premiere but will also be presented with a complete Metropolitan Opera cast.

This music drama is one of Strauss's best-known stage productions. It will be under the baton of Fritz Reiner. CAST MEMBERS Among the artists in leading roles will be Rose Pauly, Ker stin Thorborg, Irene Jessner, Julius Huehn, Karl Laufkoetter, Norman Cordon, Hans Clemens and Doris Doe. The libretto is by Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Rimsky-Korsakov's original opera version of "Le Coq d'Or" is the other production which will be premiered during the local -s engagement of the San Francisco company.

Several seasons ago Los Angeles witnessed "Coq d'Or" opera and ballet. It was produced by Adolph Bolm and the San Francisco opera ballet. PONS FEATURED Featured in this coming operatic work are such stars as Lily Pons, the queen of Chemaha, and Ezio in the role of King Dodon. Norman Cordon, Doris Doe, Nicholas Massue and Thelma Votipka, the latter two making their Los Angeles debut, complete the cast. Gennaro Papl is conducting.

The local season opens with "Andrea Chenier." "Die Meister-singer," "Pelleas et Melisande," "Cavalleria Rusticana'' and "La Boheme" are included in the repertory of this year's performances. Johnson Play Becomes Pulpit Topic for Today "Run, Little Hall' Johnson's dramatic portrayal of Deep South Negro life, will be celebrated today in five leading Negro churches by providing nucleus for sermon topics and illustrations. Since its opening at the Mayan. Theater1, July 22, the Johnson folk play has attracted audiences from all parts of the city. Hollywood has been generous in at, tendance and plaudits.

As a result, the drama has been pushed ahead" week after week. Owing to the change of schedules, "Having Wonderful Time," Arthur Kober's comedy, Js slated to open at the Hollywood Playhouse September 2 instead' of at the Mayan. "Professor: Mamlock," Freidrich Wolfe's so- cial drama presented in all Yiddish dialogue will close tonight; at the Playhouse. When the curtain drops to-; night on the last performance" of "The Alarm Clock," the Ma- son Opera House will remain dark. Future plans for the Ma- son Stock Company have not been definitely "The Sun Rises in the West," an original drama by the Federal Southwest Theater Unit, closes tonight at the Greek The-' ate.r, ending the Federal Theater; outdoor summer stage festival.

Roundabout Previews Lead 1 to Film Contract Robert Preston, who until re- -cently was appearing in rasa- dena Community Playhouse pres. i entations, owes his film debut to his mother and the fact that she Is associated with a recording concern for which Ring Crosby makes phonograph discs. Preston's mother talked one day during a recording session to Ring's brother Everett, who is a players' representative, and in-, duced him to watch her son's -performance in one of the rasa-dena plays. Everett, impressed, asked Bing to take a look at th young fellow. Then they had several friends see him.

.7 Net result has been Tres- ton's signing a managerial contract with the Crosby agency and assuming, as his first screen role, a featured part In Para-mount's "King of Aleatrnz." Preston, who portrays a radio operator and romantic, rival of Lloyd Nolan in the picture, will follow up Immediately with a featured role In "Illegal Traffic." it IMtll ATI I.I.SSOVS K.1 NAT BIAHS Crr Lmimi Oiv.n l'l'-l "Mi1wiiIi" Cmir, 7 Ttii wtn LWZWTmn lit i "To my mind the business of government is hot to set up cul tural relief societies or to subsidize the maintenance of profession the cultural growth of the the Three Programs to Be Heard This Week With Extra Event September 7 Hollvwood Bowl's festival sea son will officially end with the concert of Otto Klemperer, con ductor, and Lotte Lehmann, so-Drano. next Saturday night. An extra event is set for- Wednes day, September 7, with the opera "La Boheme." Opening the final series of Bowl presentations is "Martha," grand opera by Friedrich von Flotow, with the new American libretto by Vicki Baum and Anne Ronnel Tuesday night. The gay opera will be conducted by Rich ard Lert with an all-American cast singing the roles. William von Wymetal will serve as producer and stage director.

BRANCATO SINGS Rosemarie Brancato, who made her Bowl debut in "The Barber of Seville" earlier in the season, will sing the title role. Irra Pe tina, Charles Kullmann, Douglas Beattie, Mark Peden and David Elwyn will complete the cast The Hollywood Bowl chorus is under the direction of Dr. Hugo Strelitzer. For his Thursday night sym phony concert Dr. Klemperer will i i- 2 conauct a program wun jorum-slaw Gimpel, violinist, perform ing the Concerto in A Minor by Glazounow.

The Brahms Second Symphony will be conducted by Klemperer. LEHMANN PROGRAMMED Lotte Lehmann, renowned so-Drano. will sins Wasrner, Beetho ven and Strauss compositions Saturday and Dr. Klemperer win conduct Handel's "Water Music" and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in Minor.

"La Boheme" bv Puccini will bring to the Bowl for the first time Jean Tennyson, beautiful young prima donna of the Chi cago Opera, and a supporting cast including Rosemarie Brancato, Kullmann. Richard Bonelli and others. Armando Agnini, who.di- rected five of the Bowl operas this season, is producer ana stage director. Community Plan Adopted for New Bower Orchestra Community musicians will be welcomed as members of the new Southwest Symphony Orchestra directed by William M. Bower.

It will function in a general way, he announced, after the manner of the Pasadena Civic Orchestra, Rehearsals are held every Tues day at p.m. in the center room of the Olympic bwim bta dium in Exposition Park. William Bower was formerly a mpmher of the Los Angeles SvmDhonv Orchestra and later of the Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a composer and studied hprp under Timner and Schoen- feld. In his opinion: "There is a gulf between student musicians and those who have arrived and It can be bridced by lust such organizations as this Southwest Symphony Orchestra." Young Pianist Group Presages Seasons Music A coterie of vounz pianists gathered on a recent Sunday evening to make' music and the results were prophetic of the new music and the new artists who are to be heard the coming season.

The new compositions were by Seth Felt. The pianists, led bV Richard Tetley a home from a tour, were 15-year-old Howard Wells of an old Southern California family and possessing a surprising talent; James Harassthy and Talma En-carnacao. Felt. Is a young modernist and Tetley-Kardos is preparing important programs for the winter which will include Felt's work. Musician Studies Paderewski Play Many patrons have returned to the Esquire Theater to view "Moonlight Sonata," the musical film now in its tenth week, according to the management, but one feminine patron has re-j turned on the average of three times a week since the film opened.

I The eiixhicr, feminine and curl-jotis. Inquired of the patron what in the picture lured her so often to the theater. The young lady said she whs supplementing her I musical studies by observing Puderewskl'x hands which are 'photographed In close-up In sev- oral scenes, Heard and In the star ring role, Paderrwkl Is supported by Made Tempest, Charles l-'anelt. Barbara Greene and I Eric Port man. ally derailed musicians, but nation by doing for music what merce and agriculture by sponsoring experimental projects that can not be undertaken by local Wall on Adult Education.

Richard Hageman's ideas of in the score of "I'd Like to Be King," soon to be released by Para mount. The score will be definitely A circle of key signatures is a device for making the study of music easier from the fourth school Bowl Ballet Programmed by Kosloff Theodore Kosloff's Ballet, featuring a company of 100 dancers, will appear in a gala performance at the Hollywood Bowl Saturday night, September l17. There will also be a full symphony orchestra, with a different conductor wielding the baton for each ballet. The program will include the world premiere of David Guion's "Shingandi," new African ballet, preceded by Rimsky-Korsakow's "Scheherazade," Chopin's "Memories" and Weber's "Spectre de la Rose." Ideas for "Shingandi" were adapted from native dances performed for Cecil B. De Mille and Kosloff during a visit to the interior of the Sudan.

It is a barbaric story of M'Talaka, a voodoo queen, who choses Kalombwan, a handsome warrior, as a sacrifice to settle the wars between the Batonga and M'Tetes tribes. Principal ballerinas include Flower Hujer, Eva Russo, Lisa Maslova, Mary Statz, Wana Williams, Alice Krasiva, Yvonne Zeron, Ann Statz, Jane Mueller, Virginia Hashagin, Thelma Him-mel and others. Among the leading male dancers are George Pring, Irving von Blount, Paul Foltz, Ralph Thompson, Hamil Petroff, Brahm Vandenberg and Hal Kent. Ballet Opens Armitage Series Merle Armitage will open his 1938-39 concert series with the "Ballet Caravan," New York dance troupe, November 18 at the Philharmonic Auditorium. This will mark his twenty-seventh season as an impresario.

The program of the "Ballet Caravan" will be selected from the company's new repertoire, which includes "Yankee Clipper," "Pocahontas," "Filling Station," "Harlequin for President" and "Promenade." Povla Frijsh, Danish soprano, will make her debut here on the Armitage series December 9, offering Italian, French, Russian, German and Danish songs. Ce-lius Dougherty is her pianist-accompanist. away, from musicals altogther, either. Martha Raye not long ago played In a semimusicat production and didn't swing a note. That was "Tropic Holiday." In her latest, "Give Me a Sailor," she sings, I believe, one number.

Which means that Martha, too, is following the trend. IVU'K AM) FORTH Shirley Ross is shuttling back and forth from song parts to straight portrayals. Prlscllla Lane of Warner Brothers gains a big acting chance In "Four Daughters" and emerges with honors, but doesn't sing. Betty Crable is doing more straight emoting than heretofore. While it may be beside the point, Simone Simon's final picture under her T.C.-Fox contract was In which she was ballyhooed as the new singing "find." The film careers of Lily Pons, firace Moore and Gladys Swart h-out, who came to pictures from opera, may he said to be in abeyance right now.

Marlon Talley, another noted songstress, seems to have given up screen work. MACDOXAM) V. I' KI'TI Of course, there are exceptions, MarDonald, for example, has been listed among 1.. iuiv; iH'k inj.vwtiii i- puna several seasons, and all her productions are musical. In fact, Miss MacDnnald didn't.

rle to her present prominence until she to warble at In films with her ro-star, Nelson Lddy. grade up. It shows a simple form dicating the steps of the scale, etc. C. E.

Seashore has just published a book on the "Psychology of Music." He is professor of psychology at the University of Iowa, It offers a scientific approach to educational and vocational guid ance in music. The Seiling Garden Theater in night for a program by young three concertl with orchestra, Oskar Seiling conducting. ROSEMARIE BRANCATO Coloratura will be member of the cast of "La Boheme" at Hollywood Bowl presenta tion September 7. Still Writes Music for East's Fair William Grant Still, composer now resident in Los Angeles, has completed the music for the Theme Center of the New York World's Fair. It is a short symphonic poem with a choral finale.

The composer was selected in an unusual audition. Published and unpublished works of numerous composers were played in records without the jury knowing the names of the composers. It was finally agreed unanimously that the composer of "Lenox Avenue" and "From a Deserted Plantation" seemed most capable of giving musical expression to the mood and color of the exhibit. Still composed the work at his home here from a time sheet and from written descriptions of the exhibit. It will be recorded with full symphony or chestra and a chorus of 000.

Still studied music at Oberlin College, at the 'New England Conservatory and with Edgar V'aresc, now resident in Hollywood. He made the first band arrangement of W. C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues." 1'aui wnue-man first brought him to Hollywood.

The Guggenheim fellowships have enabled him to stay and write serious music. University College Offers Opera Course Increasing Interest in opera has popularized the course iiv operatic repertory to be of-1 fered during the fall term of University College, downtowns adult division of the University of Southern California, starting September 10. Prof. Horatio Cogswell will present the course on Thursdays from 7 to 0:20 p.m. for twelve weeks.

gested a chain of opera houses throughout the country to be subsidized both by the government and the radio audiences. Among the week's musical visitors are Carleton Smith, critic of Esquire and music commentator over the air for the Stadium concerts in New York; Frederick ist and lecturer of New York. SINGING FILM LADIES TURNING TO DRAMATICS Ulric Cole returned to New York with a certainty of having her Divertimento for piano and orchestra performed by Eugene Goos- sens and the Cincinnati Orchestra Angeles musician who has found CHARLES KULLMANN American-born "tenor will sing in the opera, "La Boheme," at Hollywood Bowl September 7 production. American Opera to Be Bowl Step As a major step toward the first festival of exclusively American operas ever held in this country, the Independent Publishers, Authors and Composers' Association and Los Angeles Federal Music Project yesterday announced the premiere of the new American opera, "Gettysburg," to be staged in its entirety for the first time in Hollywood Bowl Friday evening, September 23. Written by Arthur Robinson and Morris Hutchins Ruger, both residents of the Southland, "Gettysburg" hitherto has been heard only in concert version, having been premiered in this manner at the Belasco Theater.

Gastone Usigli, supervisor of Los Angeles Federal Music Project, will conduct and serve as general director. Isaac Van Grove, formerly with the Chicago Grand Opera Company and associate of Max Reinhardt, is production consultant. Boy Star Gets Franklin Picture Mrs. Helen P. Hill, a 78-year.

old motion picture fan, of Dux- bury, read that retime Rar'tholmew held as one of his idols that great American. Benjamin Franklin. As a result, she Is sending the young star what will be his most cherished fan present a 100-year-old painting of the celebrated statesman and discoverer of electricity. bed. Solidly filled with bloom-'ing plants, the flats can be arranged to make a bed of any size or shape, and placed wher-ever decoration is needed, i Samuel Goldwyn's artisans developed the novel Idea to ex- inedite the making or tne uary Cooper-Merle Oberon picture, Lady and the Cowboy." I which called for beds of purple stock, yellow panle, stately Iris, anil maed petunias under the irert whirh enshroud a flearh home.

it is doing for science and com agencies." Dr. William van de musical nationality will be heard early and provincial French. recently completed and published of transposing, the numerals in Sierra Madre will be opened to Dorothy Wade, violinist, playing S. Andrews, musicologist, organ in the fall. She is another Los opportunity in New York.

Lamour and Hall Again The box-office team of Dorothy Lnmour and Jon Hall, which rose to popularity in "The Hurricane," will soon be seen on the screen again In a return performance uiKler the (Sold-wyn producing banner. Edoard Nies-Berger writes from Riga of conducting several concerts in Latvia and of planning to return there for further concerts in Eslhonia, Lithuania and Finland during the winter season. While in Riga, he met George Schneevoigt, former conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and now permanent conductor of the symphony orchestra at Helsingfors. Paul McCoole has been playing unusual piano programs at the Pa ITauoll Theater in Honolulu this summer. Chopin music of the eighteenth century, Debussy and some contemporaries formed the list.

McCoole, of Santa aBrbara, Js a former pupil of Landowska, of Paris, who taught him above all else "to sculpture the phrase." Jessica Dragonette sang last week at the New York Stadium. Cecil Leeson, Los Angeles saxophonist gaining eastern recognition, and Raymond Paige, a favorite conducter of Southern California, were other participants in this stadium program. Miss Dragonette anticipates a concert tour this year. She is pretty and sincere, too, so hearing her "in person" is quite likely to be a pleasure. Purcell Mayer, violinist often presented by Raymond Paige, and a former member of the Philharmonic Orchestra, played with the Rcdlands Bowl (Federal) Orchestra August 17.

He chose the Max Brueh concerto. Continued from First Iag field of straight acting, in which he now excels. Three notable switches from singing to straight roles have been made recently. The young ladies are Alice Faye, Dorothy Lamonr and Martha Raye. Miss Faye, after scoring a decided hit in "Alexander's Ragtime was dubious at the suggestion of Darryl F.

Zanuck of Twentieth Century-Fox that she turn to drama minus melody. He pointed out that succors In 'the larger medium would Increase her popularity, giving her a double-barreled talent. So the actress decided to undertake the lead in "The Girl From Brooklyn," originally called "By the Dawn's F.arly Light." Now Miss Faye. says she is happy for the opportunity to display dramatic ability. Of course, Zanuck believed she could do It, using "In Old Chicago'' and "Alexander's Ragtime Band" as bases.

CASK OK I.AMOI Miss Lamour, the "surong" firl who began her Paramount rarccr in native roles, has pro- jrrcsscd past that stage and enacts a dramatic part with tin- I usual success in "Spawn of the North." opening here this week. She. ton. Is not unhappy over switch, realizing the broader opportunity granted. Her studio allowing lur to got s-av cntlrelv from sincintf.hnw- per.

since he'l! warble a hit In tt. I nines." Km' that, mat-tor, Miss Fa won't be taken Portable Flower Beds Latest Film Wrinkle Son Will Direct Father's Music The Federal Mtwlc Project Orchestra In Santa Barbara will present. Conductors Vlttorlo Triuen and Raymond Eldred this afternoon In the Santa Barbara Bowl. Trutro will direct hU father's "Sinfonlclla." John Wack, bari tone, and Elizabeth Crawford. soprano, will be sotfilsis on the' pioffism, Vlttorlo Tnicco mi-uisum.

conductor of (h in New York. Flmvcr beds that can he picked up intact, plants and all, are one of the latest, line-saving wrinkles In the making of movies. It's an Idea that anyone ran use to temporarily decorate a patio or lawn fnr a party. I Shallow wooden flats, about i a vard square, have rope handles I concealed under an pdslng of bright, green artificial grass. ISrtil and flowering plant are set In Hie flats whiih are then put Jetvl to end to form the flower Dance -PARKER' EST STUDIO i- cm.