Russian Cathedral Quartet

              1918
RUSSIAN CATHEDRAL QUARTET

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THE Russian Cathedral Quartette represents the highest achievement in male quartette singing.  They have appeared in the leading cities of the country and were everywhere recognized as setting a new standard of excellence.  Attention is called to the press notices, in which they are praised for their wonderful precision of attack, their artistic finish, and for the interesting way in which, IN THREE CHANGES OF RUSSIAN COSTUME they present their native Folk and Gypsy songs and Cathedral music.

These men were sent to America by the former Russian Government to present the native music; being chosen for the unusual quality of their voices as well as their long range, from the high D of the tenor to the B-flat below the staff of the Bass.

In their appearance at the White House before ex-President Wilson as well as in theatres, colleges and concert halls, they are able to convey to their audiences the weird and sombre beauty of the Russian Music, which is the expression of an oppressed people only now beginning to find the light.  No less interesting is their interpretation of American Folk Songs and classics.

In presenting this truly remarkable combination, THE WHITE ENTERTAINMENT BUREAU is following its avowed policy in presenting only the best the market affords.  For the first time in many years, we are offering a quartette comparable for excellence with such musical stars as Theo Karle, Passmore, etc.





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EXCLUSIVE MANAGEMENT
WHITE ENTERTAINMENT BUREAU
100 BOYLSTON STREET, BOSTON



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ONE may hold different views as to the manifestations of the Russian people's creative power, but this creative power possesses one side with regard to which no difference of opinion is possible; that side is the singing in the magnificent Russian cathedrals.  It is the heart of a people in song; the innermost voice of the nation — the very soul—music of the Christian spirit of Russia.  He who has heard it will never, while life lasts, forget the power of those poignant, wonderful melodies which pierce to the depths of human souls and hearts, awakening the spirit that lies hidden there.  The soul knows no mood which can not find an echo and healing in the marvelous melodies of the Russian church.  They bring peace to tumultuous hearts, soothe away sorrow in tenderness, and bear the hearer, in joy, upward to the throne of the Most High in the strains of inspired hymns.

All foreigners who have traveled in Russia and have been present at services in her great cathedrals bear testimony to this.



RECENT APPEARANCES

Detroit, Michigan
Buffalo, New York
Albany, N. Y.
Syracuse, N. Y.
Providence, R. I.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Wilmington, Delaware
The White House, Washington, D. C.
Bryn Mawr College, Philadelphia, Pa.
Baltimore, Md.
Boston, Mass.
Akron, Ohio
Toronto, Canada
Washington, D. C.
Cleveland, Ohio
New York City
Philadelphia, Pa.
Canton, Ohio
Montreal, Canada
Cincinnati, Ohio
Pittsburgh, Penn.
With John Barrymore in Tolstoi's Redemption
Columbia University, New York City





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MR. NICHOLAS VASILIEFF — tenor, boy soloist at the Alexander Nievski Lavra in Petrograd.

Won the gold medal at the 300th anniversary of the house of Romanoff (Czars).  Pupil of Prof.  Suprunenkoff, great Imperial opera singer in Petrograd.


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MR. NICHOLAS WASILEVSKY — tenor, boy soloist at Christus Cathedral, Moscow, the largest cathedral in the world.  Won two gold medals from former Czar.

Selected in open contest as finest tenor in all Russia to sing with this choir.  Pupil of Prof.  A. L. Scharpantie.


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MR. ALEXANDER KANDIBA — baritone, soloist formerly Imperial Russian Capella in Petrograd, pupil Prof.  Bukhtoiaroff, (Imperial Opera, Petrograd).

Won honor from late Russian Czar.


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MR. MIKHAEL BATAEFF — basso-profoundo, soloist with the noted Sinodalny Choir in Moscow and just engaged to sing the leading roles with the Russian Imperial Opera, when he accepted the offer to come to America as a member of this Quartette.




EXTRACTS FROM THE PRESS

NEW YORK SUNDAY TIMES
Undoubtedly one of the deepest impressions brought away from the Plymouth by the audiences at Redemption is that caused by the singing of the Russian Cathedral Quartette.


MUSICAL AMERICA
The Cathedral Quartette is the most unique organization of its kind; the voices are almost phenomenal.


NEW YORK EVENING JOURNAL
The famous Russian Cathedral Quartette of New York gave a crowded aridience at the Playhouse on Sunday afternoon a glorious half hour of Russian song.  The singing of these four wonderful men flames with the divine fire of genius.  Musicians have often described their technical perfection, their absolute purity and precision of tone, the incomparable blending of their voices.  Without analyzing these details the audience was content to feel the soul of Russia in the rich and powerful harmonies.


MONTREAL DAILY STAR
Russian Cathedral Quartette mark notable exception.  Each is a gifted soloist and their quartette singing something to hear and enjoy profoundly.  Their work is of high quality on an exclusive concert platform.


BOSTON HERALD
Russian Cathedral Quartette is easily the best quartette this city has seen in years.


BALTIMORE SUN
These four men have fine resonant voices, which they use with splendid authority, modulating and sustaining the tones with an admirable skill, their art having very unusual value, because it is used as a medium for the projection to Occidental ears of unknown and fascinating Oriental music that is not only distinctly nationalistic but at the same time impressive.


PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC LEDGER
One of the most important concerts of the season was given at Bryn Mawr College on Thursday evening, when an inspiring program was presented by the Russian Cathedral Quartette, of New York.  The concert was given in the beautiful cloister garden which formed a lovely setting for the program of Russian music.  It was a rare treat to hear such a quartette, and if the reception which greeted them was any measure of the appreciation of the large audience it would be a good thing to hear such voices here often.  The quartette produced effects which seemed impossible for only four voices to produce.  For sostenuto, expression, pianissimo, singing and range of tone they are unequalled.



LETTER FROM NEW YORK PRESS CLUB
21 Spruce Street,
Office of the Financial Secretary

The Russian Cathedral Quartette,
The Plymouth Theatre,
236 West 45 St.,
New York City

New York, November 26, 1918

Gentlemen: —

In behalf of the New York Press Club and of the committee in charge of the recent reception to Governor-elect Alfred E. Smith, may I not express to you again the great pleasure that your singing gave us all last Wednesday.

It is needless for me to say that your marvelous voices were an extremely pleasant and profitable feature of the occasion.  The Governor-elect spoke to me in the highest terms of your accomplishments and would have personally expressed his pleasure to you had the opportunity offered.

Mr. Nitke, our gifted musical director, and our popular fellow member, also added immeasurably to the success of a very successful reception.

With cordial good wishes and renewed thanks, I am,

Most sincerely,
NELSON MEAD, Chairman.