Stella Wrenn: lyric-dramatic soprano

              1924

Figure

Stella Wrenn LYRIC - DRAMATIC SOPRANO
Phone Dwoon 2810
MANAGEMENT
Stella Wrenn Concert Company
608 North Twenty-Second Street
Waco, Texas



TO have been chosen to appear with so distinguished an organization as New York's Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, Josef Stransky, conductor, is indeed an honor for a singer to attain; but STELLA WRENN proved herself worthy of the choice in her appearance in the Cotton Palace Coliseum in Waco, Texas.  In her voice—a soprano having both sympathy and brilliance of timbre—and in her gifts of legato and dramatic singing, MISS WRENN was at all times in artistic command of the situation in her renditions which were followed by enthusiastic applause.  WE PREDICT A GREAT FUTURE FOR HER.—LEONARD LEIBLING, in Musical Courier.



SUCH was the beginning of STELLA WRENN'S singing career.  She was born in Waco, Texas, The City With a Soul, and there received her early training.  Her first public appearance was as piano soloist before an audience of about five thousand on the program of the graduation exercises of the High School.  It was not until several years after that she began the study of voice under Mr. George F. Brierley.  During her student days she was soprano soloist in several churches in Waco and also conductor of several choirs.

She became interested in the local music club and was, after one year's membership, elected president.  During her administration the Texas Federation of Music Clubs was organized and she was elected first vice-president.  She served in this capacity two years with the president, Mrs. John F. Lyons, who is now the president of the National Federation of Music Clubs.  The first convention of the Federation was held in Waco and the local club presented in concert the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.  It was at this time that MISS WRENN was soloist and was heard by Mr. Leonard Leibling, who recorded the successful appearance in the Musical Courier.

The next year MISS WRENN went to Chicago, where she coached with Mr. Herman Devries, music critic and operatic coach.  During that winter it was her great privilege to study dramatic art with Donald Robertson, actor and producer of classic drama.

Several years following MISS WRENN spent in New York in very intensive study.  Some of her teachers were Mr. Herbert Witherspoon, Mr. William Thorner and for two years MISS WRENN studied with Miss Adelaide Gescheidt, the voice builder.  Among the coaches were Mr. Charles Baker, Mr. Walter Golde, Mrs. Ora Wheatcroft, Mr. Jacque Coini, stage director of the Chicago Opera, and Mr. Guisseppe Bamboshek, conductor of the Metropolitian.  MISS WRENN also held a choir position in Christ's Episcopal Church on Broadway under the direction of Mr. Bruno Huhn.

MISS WRENN'S repertory includes the better known oratorios as well as many of the later works of this style.  She is prepared to give opera roles from Aida, Carmen, Cavalleria Rusticana, Faust, Il Trovatore, Pagliacci, Le Nozzi Di Figaro, and others.  Her song repertory includes the French and Italian songs, Old English type, songs of American composers, Texas composers, and many songs of other nations.  MISS WRENN, being a Southern girl, always includes on her programs a group of the ever popular Negro Spirituals.

It was STELLA WRENN'S ambition to be thoroughly prepared before she started in her concert work.  And this was a wise decision for her success has proved that preparation means immediate recognition for the talented musician.

It has been said of STELLA WRENN'S voice that she has what few, very few singers possess—that is sympathy.  She has repose of manner, poise and assurance, the three other requisites of the successful recitalist.  The voice is appealing in quality; her diction is very near perfection, and the merit of her work is enhanced by charm of personality and sincerity of manner.

Although appearing in many successful engagements in the East, it seemed fitting that MISS WRENN should win real recognition in her own state first.  And this she has done, as the comment from the Texas press will testify.




PRESS COMMENT
DALLAS, TEXAS—


It was MISS WRENN who occupied the position of honor on the program.  Her introductory number, As Thro' the Streets, from La Boheme, established her in favor; her group of negro spirituals made her more friends, and the audience was even more enthusiastic when she sang the concluding song of her third suite.
MISS WRENN has a clear, sweet voice of wonderful carrying power, a charming personality, and so clear was her enunciation that every word could be easily understood even in the very back seats.—

Dallas News.


STELLA WRENN, Texas Soprano, gave a group of songs that proved her artistry and her ability to meet the most exacting requirements of the very difficult arias.  There was beauty and color and all-pervasive sweetness in every register, and her diction was not in the least faulty.  The ease with which her voice soared to the highest pianissimo tones and then floated away in a gossamer mist brought billows of applause from her hearers.—
Dallas Times Herald.


STELLA WRENN brings to the concert stage a voice that is charged with emotion, of musical timbre throughout its ample compass and at all times resonant and compelling in its appeal, with an enunciation that is a delight because of its perfection and rarity.  Combined with this vocal equipment is a charm of manner, personality and posie which enhance her interpretation.  In classifying the voice it naturally falls into the lyricdramatic, embodying the qualities for the numbers of large mold and yet with the flexibility and plasticity required for songs less pretentious.  It is a voice of color and warmth.—
Musicale, Texas Music Journal.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS—


STELLA WRENN has what a few, very few, singers possess—that is sympathy.—
San Antonio News.

HOUSTON, TEXAS—


MISS WRENN has a rich soprano voice which adapts itself perfectly to the higher range of notes.  She is an artist of pronounced dramatic ability, a young woman of magnetic personality.—
Houston Post.

AUSTIN, TEXAS—


MISS WRENN'S singing was eminently satisfactory; her diction is very near perfection.—
Austin Statesman.


The voice of the singer carried with marvelous charm and precision; her wonderfully musical notes found an echoing refrain in the hearts of her listeners.—
Austin American.


WACO, TEXAS—


STELLA WRENN possesses a voice that is full, vibrant and powerful.  It is ear-filling, heart-searching, compelling.  With these she brings to the concert stage a repose of manner, poise and assurance which are a delight.  It is not often that one is fortunate enough to listen to a voice so entirely sympathetic in every respect as the lyric-dramatic voice of STELLA WRENN.—
Waco Times-Herald.


In the aria from Pagliacci MISS WRENN is to be commended for the clearness of her coloratura passages, a quality by no means common among artists who essay this style.  Good taste in delivery was also an attribute of this number.  The Ave Maria, by Mascagni, was sung in a chaste style befitting the sentiment of this song and calculated to accent the round, full tones of the singer.—
Waco News-Tribune.

LAMPASAS, TEXAS—


MISS WRENN has a wonderfully well trained voice; her enunciation was good, and the quality of her voice received favorable comment from those who heard her.  It can be truthfully said that she measured up to full expectations.—
Lampasas Leader.

MARLIN, TEXAS—


MISS WRENN has a voice of pleasing quality and a technic amply sufficient for the demands made upon it.  In the Mozart group she sang with good style, which showed an intelligent knowledge of the songs of this type.  The Habenera was given with the true fire and abandon of the gypsy.  MISS WRENN'S diction is unusually clear and her interpretation of the simple old tunes was very enjoyable.—
Marlin Democrat.

MART, TEXAS—


MISS WRENN has unquestionably a wonderful voice, the sweetness of which, with the admirable artistic qualities of her singing, give veritable joy to the hearers as she sings.  The artist sings with apparently no effort at all.  But her concert was pleasing, not merely because of her voice but also because of her winsome manner and appealing smile.  Her interpretative ability is excellent.—
Mart Herald.

ROSEBUD, TEXAS—


STELLA WRENN is a lyric soprano and rendered a program of exceptional variety, captivating her hearers and strengthening her reputation as a veritable songbird.—
Rosebud News.

BRYAN, TEXAS—


STELLA WRENN proved her ability by her clear, full, rich tones in her first number.  She also pleased in her interpretation of the negro spirituals and showed her mastery of them.—
Bryan Eagle.



Figure