Christine Levin: contralto

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ORATORIO   CONCERT
Christine Levin
CONTRALTO
ARTISTIC SONG RECITALS


RECENT PRESS COMMENTS

There is a Persian legend that the Creator in pluming the birds with beauty discovered, when he came to dress the lark, that all the fine feathers were gone.  So he took the little bird and lined her throat with the petals of crimson roses.
I thought of that story when I heard a contralto singer a summer or so ago in New York City.  And I was glad to find that the voice with all its soft, rich cadences was one of the voices of Chicago, and that the young singer had been making it heard in many lands.
Today I met Miss Christine Levin again.  She was returning from an extended concert tour which had included numerous appearances in many States.  I want to talk about this young woman and her success in music, because, as I so often try to make clear, the success of one is an inspiration to a community, and what she has done others may do also.
Miss Levin was born in Chicago.  But her father, who was a pioneer in this part of the country, was also one of the first to leave the Lutheran church in Sweden to become a Baptist, thus proving that quality of independent thought and action.  Without this heredity—the protestant quality in her make-up—she might not have given her rare voice to so large a circle of listeners.
So Christine Levin reached New York and then Europe.  She studied with Sir Henry Wood in London and Lieder in Berlin.  And in France she stayed long, learning the songs in the French.
That she made a success of it will be remembered by many music lovers in Chicago.  And only a day or so ago she was here again, singing to delighted audiences out university way.
Miss Levin is an artist and she sings the exalted music of oratorios with intensity and power.  But she also gives programmes of mid-Victorian ballads and Scotchy folksongs and Ireland's ancient minstrelsy.
A glance at Miss Levin's programme shows that rare Ben Johnson and Bobbie Burns have not been forgotten.
Extract from Women Who Arrive Column, by Grace Duffie Boylan.—

Chicago Daily Journal, April 28, 1914.




CHRISTINE LEVIN

Christine Levin, the well-known contralto, on May 1 will resume her choir work in New York and also her classes.  Her teaching and choir work have been postponed since Feb. 16 on account of her recital tour, which was successful in many cities so that she received numerous re-engagements, the best test of an artist's merits and popularity.
During the spring tour Miss Levin filled more than thirty engagements in North and South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois.  The attractive program given at the Lindsborg, Kan., Festival, where she sang to more than twenty-five hundred persons, was repeated with great success at her Chicago recital last week, at the University Ave. Baptist Church.  Miss Levin sang the following program with great distinction and her interpretative ability caused much pleasure:


Die Post
Schubert


Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer
Brahms


Standchen
Brahms


Aria from Don Carlos
Verdi


L'Heureux Vagabond
Bruneau


Wie mirs weh tut
Rachmaninoff


Pleurez! pleurez mes yeux (Le Cid)
Massenet


Next Market Day—Old Irish (Ulster Co.)



Meet Me by Moonlight—Old English



Don't Ceare (Dorsetshire)
Carpenter


Oh!  No John—Somerset (Arr. by Cecil Sharp)



Way Down South
Homer


Star Trysts
Marion Bauer


Nocturne
Kramer


Was it in June?
Koemmenich


The Eagle
Busch


Until
Sanderson



Chicago Musical Leader, April 30, 1914.


Christine Levin, the contralto, in her recent tour, gave thirty recitals in ten states, covering 8,000 miles and using a polyglot repertory of sixty-six songs.  Her largest audience was 2,500, but, on the other hand, an epidemic of small-pox in one town limited the number of those present to twenty.—
Personalities, Musical America, May 23, 1914.

The eminent contralto, Miss Christine Levin, gave a song recital on Thursday evening at the University Ave. Baptist Church, Mr. Marx Oberndorfer presiding at the piano most delightfully.  A very large audience had gathered in the beautiful auditorium to hear the artist, although the concert had not been widely advertised.

A most enjoyable evening was given to those present, each number being presented in a most praiseworthy manner and with that security and assurance bespeaking the accomplished artist.  The audience showed their appreciation with constant applause throughout the program.




RECENT PRESS COMMENTS

Miss Levin, whose family reside in Chicago, has recently come from a western tour, including an appearance at the Lindsborg festival, in recital, April 11th, creating a praiseworthy impression by her program, not alone from the public but from the critics who were present.  She returns to New York where she has her studio in Aeolian Hall.—
Swedish Tribune, Chicago, April 30, 1914.  (Translation.)


The atmosphere of the auditorium was decidedly more genial at the afternoon session when Miss Christine Levin of New York appeared in a Résumé Song.  The program included the four periods of song from the 11th century to the present day.  Parts I and II were classical, of the highest order, faultlessly rendered.  But it was in the latter half of the program that the audience realized the splendid versatility of the artist.  In a quaint gown of the early Victorian period, hooped and panniered, Miss Levin sang her way into the hearts of her hearers.  Old English, Irish airs, the beautiful Sweet Afton of Scotland, and always, lovely Annie Laurie gained added sweetness from Miss Levin's skillful handling.  The concluding group, by American composers, was well received.  Miss Levin possesses a dramatic contralto voice of great volume and range, with clear enunciation and sweetest tone.  Five years ago she was heard here when the Florida Teachers' Convention was in progress and many remember her splendid work.—
Independent, March 3, 1914, St. Petersburg, Fla.


One of the most delightful features of the season's Festival was the recital given by Miss Christine Levin of New York, an artist of rare ability.  Miss Levin is a dramatic contralto and her rich sweet voice, with its wonderful volume and range, immediately charmed her hearers.  Her selections were varied, and demanded much of the singer.  Especially pleasing were the group of songs by American composers, and the aria from Don Carlos by Verdi.  The audience was most appreciative of the English, Irish and Scotch airs sung at the conclusion of the program.  Miss Levin responded graciously to encores.  She has won deserved recognition from musical organizations throughout the country.—
Morning Sentinel, March 8, 1914, Orlando, Fla.


Miss Christine Levin, the contralto of New York City, who sang at the regular meeting of the Harmony Club, last Wednesday afternoon, stopped off in Fort Worth, for a few hours on her way to Kansas.  Miss Levin has a deep musical contralto voice and has achieved wide popularity as a concert singer.—
Fort Worth Record, Texas, April 12, 1914.


A number of music lovers of Aurora were given a rare treat last Friday night when Miss
 Christine Levin, an interesting New York contralto singer, gave a song recital at the Armory Theatre.  The well selected program displayed the versatility of the artist and her individuality of interpretation.  She has a beautiful quality of voice and a finished technique.  Especially notable is her delightful personality.  Following the recital a number of her new found friends accompanied her to the train.—
Aurora, Mo., Advertiser, April 24, 1914.


Miss Christine Levin, the contralto, has just returned from a very successful recital tour.  April 15 she appeared in Chicago, at the Lexington Avenue Baptist Church, before an audience of more than a thousand persons.  April 21 she gave an especially interesting program at the Horace Mann Auditorium, Columbia University, consisting of selections from Schubert, Liszt, Wagner, Debussy and Strauss, closing with folk songs and a group of American composers.  The audience was large and insistently cordial in its expressions of approval.  Edith Evans played delightful accompaniments.  Miss Levin is booked for commencements and Chautauquas this summer.
N. Y. Evening Mail, April 26, 1913.


Christine Levin, contralto, gave a descriptive song recital last Tuesday evening at the Lexington Avenue Baptist Church.  Miss Levin's voice is of a beautiful quality and wide range.  She returned last September from Europe, where she spent several months coaching in oratorio with Sir Henry Wood, of London.  Miss Levin had been on tour in West Virginia and Ohio before her recital in Chicago and will be heard this Summer in Chautauquas.
Musical America, N. Y., April 26, 1913.


Miss Christine Levin of New York City, contralto, was greeted by a crowded auditorium the evening of April 15.  She presented a musical feast of song from the earlier to the modern composers, showing her unlimited resources, as one critic expressed it, as to range and interpretive power.  The artistic strain of a song recital did not overtax her in the least.  Her voice was as fresh and pleasing in the last number as the first; showing a thorough knowledge of tone production which is only gained by the most careful study.  Her German diction was excellent as shown in Die Lorelei and Traume.
Miss Levin added to the enjoyment of the audience by the preliminary remarks concerning the music about to be sung in the different groups which were of great assistance to the uninitiated in the realms of music.
The beautiful spirit that pervaded the whole atmosphere of the evening and the greetings from friends far and near formed a happy ending to one of the musical events of note in Woodlawn.—

Lexington Avenue Baptist Church Record, May 2, 1913.



Christine Levin, the New York contralto, gave a recital in Chicago at the Lexington Avenue Baptist Church April 15, that was notable for many reasons.  It showed what a great singer she is, and it was attended by 1000 people gathered from all over the city.  Indeed, Pastor Boynton says it was the most successful event of its kind he has seen.  He and the committee are most enthusiastic over the singing of Miss Levin and predict for her a great career.  She is a Chicago girl now singing professionally in New York.—
Lyceum Magazine, Chicago, May, 1913.


At the close of a Western tour, Christine Levin, the popular contralto, appeared in a song recital under the auspices of the department of music, Columbia University, at the Horace Mann School, New York, on April 21.  Miss Levin gave a satisfying delivery of several lieder and she was also heard to advantage in various American songs including John A. Carpenter's Don't Ceäre; The Sea, by MacDowell, and Harriet Ware's Hindoo Slumber Song.—
Musical America, N. Y.


Christine Levin, contralto, has returned to New York, having sung successfully in recitals, concerts, etc., in the Middle West.  Des Moines, Terre Haute, Columbus and other papers praise her voice, personality and programs.  April 15 she gave a program in Chicago and April 21 at Columbia University, when Professor Rubner said appreciative things of her singing.—
Musical Courier, N. Y.


Miss Levin used a fine contralto voice with splendid effect in the Samson and Delilah aria.—
Newark (Ohio) Y. M. C. A.


Miss Levin's recital this afternoon was a treat.  Not only is her voice lovely and satisfying in all that she sings, but the sincerity and charm of her interpretations carry conviction.—
Bucyrus (Ohio) Forum.


Miss Levin's singing made a deep impression upon her audience in Trinity Church parish house last evening.—
Middletown, Conn.


The solos by the contralto, Miss Levin, were well received, showing the unmistakable evidence of long and careful training.—
Atlanta (Ga.) Journal.


The contralto, Miss Christine Levin, who is also the director of the company, has a marvelous voice of great sweetness and unusual range.—
Columbus (Ga.) Chronicle.


Miss Levin has a lovely contralto voice of real richness and power.  Her Samson and Delilah aria was superb.—
Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle.


Miss Christine Levin exhibited a wonderfully rich contralto voice and her solos were enthusiastically received.—
Mobile (Ala.) Register.



The decided feature of this performance, however, were the solos of Miss Christine Levin, who has not been heard hitherto except in ensemble.  Miss Levin possesses a beautiful contralto of a remarkable lower register and of rich colorful tonal quality.  It is to be hoped that she may be heard again in this city.—
Richmond (Ind.) Daily Palladium.


Christine Levin, the contralto soloist, was probably the most enthusiastically received, as her deep rich voice filled the auditorium, the audience was spell-bound.—
Trinidad (Col.) Evening Chronicle News.


Christine Levin has a wonderful voice.  She is also an accomplished pianist, and her work was a feature of the concert.—
Glenwood Springs (Col.) Post.


Christine Levin, the contralto, deserves special mention.  She possesses a deep melodious voice that shows rare training.—
Colorado Springs (Col.) Gazette.


Miss Christine Levin has a contralto voice of more than usual range and power, one which inspired her hearers with a desire to hear more.  She was also the accompanist and was really the central figure of the program.
Laramie (Wyo.) Boomerang.


Miss Christine Levin, the contralto singer, possesses a remarkable voice as clear as a bell and as a sweet as a lark, and she has perfect control of every note.—
Laramie (Wyo.) Daily Republican.


Miss Levin's beautiful contralto made the hit of the evening.  Her tones were pure and true throughout and of an unmatched sweetness.—
Minot (No. Dak.) Optic.


Miss Levin is receiving many words of deserved praise upon her deep resonant contralto voice in her work at the Chautauqua.—
Bedford (Ia.) Free Press.


Miss Levin possesses a resonant contralto voice.  Her presentation of those dear old songs with her melodious voice was fully appreciated.—
Parker (So. Dak.) Press.


The concert in New York, Saturday evening, October 11, by the Forward Association, presented the Max Jacobs Quartet and Christine Levin as soloist.  Miss Levin sang Schubert's Dem Unendlichen.  Her second group, Whelpley's Nightingale has a lyre of gold; the old Irish, Next Market Day, and Carpenter's Don't Ceare.  She proved to be a singer of decided ability, who not only possesses a voice of warmth and color, but who uses it with taste and intelligence.—
Musical America, Oct. 25, 1913.




ORATORIO REPERTOIRE


Bach
St. Matthew's Passion



Christmas Oratorio



B Minor Mass



Bide With Us



God's Time is the Best


Bantock
Omar Khayamm


Beethoven
Ninth Symphony


Coleridge Taylor
Tales of Old Japan


Dvorak
Stabat Mater


Elgar
Apostles



Music Makers



Dream of Gerontius


Handel
Messiah



Judas Maccabæus



Israel in Egypt


Mendelssohn
Elijah



St. Paul



13th Psalm



Hymn of Praise


Rossini
Stabat Mater


Saint Saens
Samson and Delilah


Schumann
Ruth


Verdi
Requiem



Coached by SIR HENRY WOOD, LONDON.

For terms and available dates address
Artist Direct
Aeolian Hall, New York City
Thirty-Three West Forty-Second Street
Telephone, Columbus 10253