Reviews


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Mar., Chicago Début Recital – 1st reviewer


Tragedy Fails to Halt Margie Mayer Début

By Herman Devries, Chicago American, 12/1938.

Margie Mayer, contralto recently engaged by the Chicago Civic Opera Company for the coming season, effected her Début at Kimball Hall last evening under the most trying circumstances. Her teacher and accompanist, Zerline Muhlman Metzger, had gone through the tragic ordeal of attending the burial of her beloved father, Adolf Muhlman, the great Wagnerian baritone of the golden age in opera.

The plucky Mme. Metzger’s consideration for her pupil lent her sufficient courage to mask her sorrow and she went through with her part of the program like a true Spartan, worthy daughter of a Wotan, a part her late father so

often portrayed here at the Auditorium Theater and in many metropolitan opera houses.

Début Successful
Miss Mayer, whose voice is of rich and sensuous beauty and who is further endowed with dramatic instinct, shone especially in songs requiring emotional surge and demanding greater temperamental display than most of the lieder chosen for her initial appearance in recital. Excellent musicianship and artistic phrasing, coupled with an exceptionally clear diction, to say nothing of her magnificent voice, are at present her most outstanding qualities.

Mar., Chicago Début Recital – 2nd Reviewer


Margie Mayer a Sensation in Début Recital

By Edward Barry, Chicago Tribune, 3/1938.

It is quite embarrassing that Margie Mayer’s Kimball Hall recital of last evening should follow so close upon Marc d’Alberts appearance in identical surroundings on Tuesday. For a reporter to turn up two superlative artists in a single week and to the same place is certainly giving the irreverent and the imaginative plenty of ammunition.

Margie Mayer is a 20-year-old Chicago mezzo endowed with a voice of such indescribable quality and power that if her endowments stopped right there she would still have an excellent chance of making a splash in the world. But nature, usually so parsimonious, showered other gifts upon this happy young lady. Things such as a natural musical sense, the ability to acquire knowledge of life by intuition and by vicarious experience, and the knack of using this knowledge of life to give power and conviction to her music making. Unsatisfied still, nature gave Margie Mayer a dark personal attractiveness.

Having called her voice indescribable, I shall now proceed to describe it. Dark, round, richly textured. Full of a passion which never vents itself in throbby, churchy tones. Substantial always, but not viscous. Well produced and supported. Capable of infinite variety

of shade without going outside its natural color scheme. When she lets herself be carried away by a song, everything becomes instinctively right. The voice is really a contralto rather than a mezzo.

In German Lieder of Wolf, Schubert, and Brahms, in a quintet of French songs, in three pieces by John Alden Carpenter, and in five or six encores, Miss Mayer proved that her ability to compass a wide variety of feeling is no less remarkable than her other characteristics. When she is emotionally moved by the song which she is singing her phrasing and her handling of nuance become superlative. …

When she lets herself be carried away by a song, everything becomes instinctively right. The voice is really a contralto rather than a mezzo.

Responsible for much of Miss Mayer’s excellence and for the quality of last evening’s performance is Zerlina Muhlman Metzger, her teacher and accompanist. Mrs. Metzger’s father, the distinguished voice teacher and critic, Adolf Muhlman, died this week. Realizing the impossibility of concealing the recital or breaking in a new accompanist, Mrs. Metzger heroically went through with her assignment.

Mar., Chicago Début Recital – 3rd Reviewer

MUSIC NEWS
Margie Mayer Sings at Kimball Hall

J.W., 3/1938.

To those concert-goers who are thoroughly sated with recitals by would-be contraltos, Margie Mayer’s Kimball Hall recital Friday evening, April 29, came as a pleasant surprise. For Miss Mayer’s voice has a true contralto quality, with depth, warmth, and color, and she sings with an excellent sense of melodic line and phrasing. For all her youth, she has the voice and poise of maturity.

The recital material chosen by Miss Mayer was tastefully presented and grouped, the Brahms selections being especially well done. The program closed with three songs by John Alden Carpenter, exacting materials, excellently performed.

Any review of the recital would not be complete without mention of Zerline Muhlman Metzger, Miss Mayer’s teacher, a competent and sympathetic accompanist.

Nov., Début with Chicago Opera – 1st Reviewer


MUSIC NEWS
Miss Mayer in Début Proves a Real Artist

By Edward Barry, Chicago Daily Times, 11/1938.

The swaggering role of Niclaus in Offenbach’s fantastic “Tales of Hoffmann” provided a vehicle for the Début of Margery Mayer, 19-year-old (sic) Senn High school girl, at the Civic Opera House last nights.

But it must be hastily recorded that there was nothing high-school-ish about Miss Mayer’s performance. She displayed a degree of poise that would have done credit to a veteran,

and sang her role with the polish and ease of a seasoned artist. Her voice is a mezzo-soprano of unusual mellowness and charm.

In the more spectacular roles, Lawrence Tibbett led off with thoroughly Tibbettesque characterization of that triple devil Coppelius-Dapertutto-Miracle. As usual, he was in top voice and his acting and his costumes added the necessary eerie effect.

Nov., Début with Chicago Opera – 2nd Reviewer


Gala Night at the Opera

By Janet Gunn, Chicago Herald and Examiner, 11/1938.

Many Opera-devotees of the upper social strata sally forth in resplendent formal regalia to the Civic Opera House on Monday evenings, which traditionally is gala night during our opera season.

Such was quite the case last evening, and the festive audience was in something of a dither over the revival of Offenbach’s “Tales of Hoffman.”

Margery Mayer Excels
Margery Mayer, Chicago’s own blossoming contralto, sang the part of Niclaus. It was hardly apparent that this young girl was making her operatic Début, for she played and sang the swaggering boy’s role with veteran poise and assurance.

Miss Mayer has fulfilled our prophecy of a notable operatic destiny, and the part of the gallery can only root for her.

Dec., Lily Pons in ‘Lakmé’

Lily Pons in ‘Lakmé’
By Janet Gunn, Chicago Herald and Examiner, 11/1938.

The Civic Opera House limit was exceeded last evening with folk who had come to hear the Bell Song in ‘Lakmé’ as sung by the world’s tiniest coloratura, Lily Pons.

The audience fully enjoyed Delibes’ exotic opera, which is given so rarely that its occasional mounting provokes a pleasant flavor of novelty. And they en-joyed the youthful poise and fresh loveliness of Margery Mayer, who is assuredly the best vocal ‘find’ of the year.

Opera Addicts Hear Stars at Benefit
By Edward Barry, Chicago Daily Tribune, 12/1938.

From random notes on a crowded evening:

The sensuous splendor of Margery Mayer’s contralto and the warm way in which she can personalize a phrase.

MUSICAL AMERICA
For December 10, 1938.

The name of Lily Pons again filled the house on Wednesday night for ‘Lakmé’. The small, but potent French magnet, whose fragility is so appealing, sang deliciously and wore once more the costumes that are as celebrated as her Bell Song’. … Miss Mayer as Lakmé’s slave was of great competence, particularly in the duet with Miss Pons.

Local Find Gets Hand at Benefit
By Robert Pollak, Chicago Daily Times, 12/1938.

A dozen members of the Chicago City Opera appeared in mufti at the opera house last night for the company’s annual benefit concert.

Your reporter especially was taken by Margery Mayer, the local find of the season, whose poignant and expertly used contralto drew a big hand for a slice of ‘La Gioconda.’

Jan.-Dec., ‘Faust’ with Pinza

Chicago City Opera performs Gounod’s ‘Faust’
– Edward Barry, Chicago Sunday Tribune, 11/1939.

The name part of the evening “Faust” went to reliable Armand Tokatyan. Ezio Pinza turned in a sulfurous, sardonic Mepistopheles and Carlo Morelli a round voiced, powerful Valentine.

Margery Mayer sang her first Chicago Siebel with the intensity and with the vocal depth and darkness which help make her such an exciting artist.

THE MUSIC NEWS
“Breezin’ Round”

By Lenott Field, 1/1939.

… And like a news reel flashing before us is, – that Heifetz is about to make a movie – that de Falla is snug and safe in Granada writing an opera – that even the employees of an important local radio station are “raving” over a new staff contralto, aged nineteen and named Mayer which is real praise – that Elisabeth Schumann, late of Vienna Staatsoper is teaching in the U.S.A.

Miss Mayer Performs with Illinois Symphony Orchestra
– Edward Barry, Chicago Sunday Tribune, 11/1939.

Margery Mayer, young Chicago contralto who has been engaged by the Chicago City Opera company for this coming season, appeared as soloist with the Illinois Symphony orchestra, Albert Goldberg conducting, in the Great Northern theater yesterday afternoon. “Erda’s Warning” from “Das Rheingold” and one song apiece, of Wolf and Brahms constituted her contribution to the program.

Miss Mayer brought along her spectacularly beautiful voice – dark and menacing and when the script calls for such an effect, shot with unearthly light in the Brahms “Von ewiger Liebe.” That the occasion was not quite so exciting as one could have reasonably expected it to be was due to a certain stiffness of delivery and to the resulting lack of that priceless impression of effortless flow and complete spontaneity.

“The voice of Margery Mayer floated in velvety, luscious tones, as the Sandman.”
– Herman Devries, The Chicago American, 12/1939.

“Margery Mayer made a vibrantly voiced Sandman.“
– Edward Barry, The Chicago Daily Times 12/1939.


Dec., Chicago City Opera – Rigoletto with Tibbitt

Verdi’s Rigoletto closes season at Chicago Opera

By Claudia Cassidy, Chicago Sunday Tribune, 12/1942.

Tibbett’s Plea for Mercy.
Malformed, malignant and melan- choly, Mr. Tibbett’s Rigoletto is the ideal dupe of courtiers who find it amusing to give him a dose of his own cruel wit. His singing of “Cortigiani” was no mere baritone show-piece, but a climactic piece of music drama. In that wonderful voice, which seems haunted by shadows

and memories and sorrows, he sang the bitter plea for mercy on a mounting crescendo of feeling that had true operatic impact.

…. Mr. Lazzari’s business like bandit (Sparafucile) and Miss Mayer’s handsome Maddalena sang in the rich, almost fruity voices that sound so right from the big stage of a major opera house.

Feb. Il Trovatore with San Carlo in Boston Opera House

Il Trovatore” with San Carlo Opera at the Boston Opera House, Carlo Peroni Conducting
By Rudolph Elie, Jr., 2/1943.

…The singing varied considerably in quality ranging from the most acceptable work of Margery Mayer as Azucena to the less rewarding but occasionally good efforts of the other principals.

Mr. Carlo Peroni, the conductor managed to whip up considerable liveliness, and in the scene in which the Count di Luna condemns Azucena, he drove the singers into a fine frenzy. The scene of consequence, marched off with the principal honors of the evening and Miss Mayer, who sang “Ai nostri monti” with especially distinction, achieved a fine reception.

Although she has appeared in a number of the current series, the role of Azucena was Miss Mayer’s most important so far. The role for that matter, is the most important in the opera … Azucena is a great character throughout. In addition to her vocal excellence, Miss Mayer had much more dramatic presence than the rest, and often created the illusion of acting.


Notation in Mayer’s Clippings Album: “This performance was my 1st Azucena and landed after singing six different operas in the previous six nights, beginning with my first Amneris in Aida.”

Mar., San Carlo Opera in S.F. – Carmen

San Carlo Opera Opens With Carmen
By Alfred Frankenstein, San Francisco Chronicle, 1/1945.

The San Carlo Opera Company opened its season last night at the Opera House with the bet “Carmen” it has ever given here, and one of the best performances of any opera in its local history.

The cast was extremely well balanced and even in its virtues, but particular interest attached to the first San Francisco appearance of a new singer, Margery Mayer. In the title role, Miss Mayer’s interpre- tation reminded one of W. J. Henderson’s famous quip uttered when he was asked which ‘Traviata’ he preferred-Mme. X’s or Mme. Y’s. “Neither,” replied Henderson. “I prefer Verdi’s.”

We have had Carmens who acted the role, others who danced it, still, others who clowned it, and some who turned it into a parade of gowns.  Miss Mayer sings it, and one of the reasons for that is that she possesses the wherewithal for exercise of the vocal art.

She is a splendidly rich, deep and lustrous contralto. Her voice is wide in range and it has no weak spots. It is the kind of voice that makes you sit up and take notice from the first note, and it holds you throughout with the fineness of its quality. Her interpretation is not the subtlest in the world, but gets the part over.

What you particularly remember afterward is the singer’s magnificent tone.

Dec., Hindemith Chamber Music Concert

Paul Hindemith Concert Given Critic’s Praise
By Claudia Cassidy, Chicago Sunday Tribune, 12/1945

More concerts like Paul Hindemith’s at Orchestra hall last night would make Chicago vastly more interesting to people curious about what is going on in music. It was a stimulating and beautiful performance that quite made you forget the plunging thermometer. There was only minor irony in the fact that the concert was an accident, an inspired replacement on the Harry Zelzer series, caused by the death of Argentinita the dancer.

With the aid of a flexible, hand-picked ensemble from the Chicago Symphony orches-tra. the mezzo soprano, Margery Mayer, and the pianist, Jane Carlson, Mr. Hindemith chose from his vast output the song cycle, “Die Junge Magd,” and three ballet scores, “Herodiade,” which Martha Graham will dance here in the spring. “Noblissime Visione,” a superb suite from the memorable “Saint Francis,” and “The Four Temperaments,” which hit a balletic snag when George Balanchine, according to the composer, proposed to twine the score about a tale concerning intestines.

An Enchanting Score

Just to do ballet a favor someone ought to twine “The Four Temperaments” around a delightful ballet. It is an enchanting score for

Piano and string orchestra. a theme and witty variations dubbed melancholic, sanguine, phlegmatic and choleric. It reflects Mr. Hindemith’s fastidious tonal palette, his wonderful ear for the texture of instrumentation and the lovely sense of music in motion that makes his scores irresistible to the imaginative choreographer.

“Herodiade,” also heard for the first time here, is described as an orchestral recitative to the poem of Mallarmé, a declaration for chamber orchestra of the dialogue between Queen Herodias and the old nurse who vainly attempts to invade her solitude.

Tinged with Mystery

It is a dark, rather sad score tinged with mystery and made delicately evocative’ by the gentle interchange of strings and winds.

As subtly somber is the song cycle to poems of George Trakl. which Miss Mayer sang beautifully, almost as if her voice matched the viola that is Hindemith’s chosen instrument. and last night was richly played by Milton Preves.

For that matter, the entire concert was admirably played in response to the composer’s simple and lucid conducting. The 30 players were not enough to do “Noblissime Visione” full tonal Justice, but they captured the texture and mobility, even the nobility of that music which may well be the finest done for ballet in our time. Where is that ballet? In the storehouse, moulding away, while comparative junk is danced to shreds all over the country.

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Paul Hindemith Concert Given Critic’s Praise
By Claudia Cassidy, Chicago Sunday Tribune, 12/1945

More concerts like Paul Hindemith’s at Orchestra hall last night would make Chicago vastly more interesting to people curious about what is going on in music. It was a stimulating and beautiful performance that quite made you forget the plunging thermometer. There was only minor irony in the fact that the concert was an accident, an inspired replacement on the Harry Zelzer series, caused by the death of Argentinita the dancer.

With the aid of a flexible, hand-picked ensemble from the Chicago Symphony orches-tra. the mezzo soprano, Margery Mayer, and the pianist, Jane Carlson, Mr. Hindemith chose from his vast output the song cycle, “Die Junge Magd,” and three ballet scores, “Herodiade,” which Martha Graham will dance here in the spring. “Noblissime Visione,” a superb suite from the memorable “Saint Francis,” and “The Four Temperaments,” which hit a balletic snag when George Balanchine, according to the composer, proposed to twine the score about a tale concerning intestines.

An Enchanting Score

Just to do ballet a favor someone ought to twine “The Four Temperaments” around a delightful ballet. It is an enchanting score for

Piano and string orchestra. a theme and witty variations dubbed melancholic, sanguine, phlegmatic and choleric. It reflects Mr. Hindemith’s fastidious tonal palette, his wonderful ear for the texture of instrumentation and the lovely sense of music in motion that makes his scores irresistible to the imaginative choreographer.

“Herodiade,” also heard for the first time here, is described as an orchestral recitative to the poem of Mallarmé, a declaration for chamber orchestra of the dialogue between Queen Herodias and the old nurse who vainly attempts to invade her solitude.

Tinged with Mystery

It is a dark, rather sad score tinged with mystery and made delicately evocative’ by the gentle interchange of strings and winds.

As subtly somber is the song cycle to poems of George Trakl. which Miss Mayer sang beautifully, almost as if her voice matched the viola that is Hindemith’s chosen instrument. and last night was richly played by Milton Preves.

For that matter, the entire concert was admirably played in response to the composer’s simple and lucid conducting. The 30 players were not enough to do “Noblissime Visione” full tonal Justice, but they captured the texture and mobility, even the nobility of that music which may well be the finest done for ballet in our time. Where is that ballet? In the storehouse, moulding away, while comparative junk is danced to shreds all over the country.

/dopaccordion]

Jun., San Carlo Opera performs Aida (Amneris) outdoors at Watergate, Washington, D.C.


Potomac Proves Rainier Than Nile And Aida Misses Her Rendezvous

By Alice Eversman, The Evening Starr, Washington, D.C., 6/21/1950.

Aida and Rhadames never got a chance at their rendezvous on the banks of the Nile last night and, as far as the Watergate audience was concerned, Verdi’s hero was saved from dishonor. For just as the hand of Amneris, the Egyptian King’s daughter, had been conferred upon him in the San Carlo Opera’s presentation of “Aida” on the banks of the Potomac, the heavens opened in one of Washington’s best downpours.

It is most disheartening for, from all appearances, this was to be one of the times we could bring out all our finest adjectives. They are still begging for utterance for the four scenes of the two acts heard guaranteed a superb performance by the San Carlo artists.

Seldom has so fine a cast been assembled. Gertrude Ribla’s magnificent voice made the Aida music sound glorious. She also has dramatic intensity, and the scene with Amneris burned with emotion.

Margery Mayer was an inspiring Egyptian princess, making the part glamorous by her appearance and giving joy with the continual beauty of her singing.

The role of Rhadames was taken by Alessandro Grandi, who if not equalling vocally either Miss Ribla or Miss Mayer, nonetheless has the breadth and range of voice and the style for this taxing tenor part.

Feb., Pittsburgh Opera – Lohengrin with Steber – 1st Reviewer


Pittsburgh Opera with Eleanor steber Presents Wagner’s Lohengrin

By Ralph Lewando, Music Critic of The Pittsburgh Press, 2/1954.

A Grand Voice
However with the second act, Mr. Vinay sang his part convincingly and with devoutness. The duet scene with Miss Steber was a truly fine endeavor. Miss Steber’s artistry was top flight.

Margery Mayer had the thankless but vocally powerful role of Ortrud.

Her dramatic contralto imported wonderful resonance and tonal contrast to every note. Here is a grand voice, always vibrant, ever gauged to the music, and well-controlled in every phase of emotional expression. Certainly Miss Mayer has one of the best contralto voices in the business.

Feb., Pittsburgh Opera – Lohengrin with Steber – 2nd Reviewer


‘Lohengrin’ Sung at Mosque

By Donald Steinfirst, The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2/1954.

Richard Wagner’s immortal “Lohengrin” is the opera of the week-end at Syria Mosque. The Pittsburgh Opera presenting two performances of the work, is attempting one of the most difficult and at the same time rewarding of lyrical stage pieces.

Role Suits Eleanor Steber

In Eleanor Steber, “Elsa” had a protagonist of incalculable beauty and strength. Miss Steber’s voice is ideal for the role. …

Ramon Vinay’s “Lohengrin” grew in stature, as the opera progressed.

Mr. Vinay too was a commanding stage figure achieving much of the curious, mysterious double role of saint, and mortal. …

The two supporting roles of “Telramund” and “Ortrud” were no less successfully sung last night. …

Margery Mayer, was a fine voiced “Ortrud.” Her mezzo was excellently used in the role. The voice is sonorous, and the few opportunities for coloristic treatment were observed.

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