The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1916)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY, APRIL, 1916 11 Some of the Artists in the April List of Blue Amberol Records KARL JORN, Tenor Speaking five languages, Karl Jorn's singing repertoire includes practically all of the standard operatic tenor roles. Jorn made his debut in 1895, when he sang the part of Lionel in "Martha." He soon acquired a sufficient reputation to secure a three-year engagement at the important opera house in Hamburg. In 1901 he became a member of the Imperial Opera Company of Berlin, and later joined the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York. More recently still Mr. Jorn has been appearing in concerts with great success. ALICE VERLET, Soprano Alice Verlet has without question one of the finest coloratura soprano voices in the world. "The voice of the century," critics have called it. She is known as the Belgian Soprano, and has a great reputation in most of the European musical centers — Brussels, London and the Paris Opera all have been the scenes of her triumphs. Depth of expression takes a foremost place in her delightful renditions. She sings with a splendid fluency, smoothness of tone and finish, and her interpretations are thoroughly artistic. ARTHUR MIDDLETON, Bass Arthur Middleton, basso of the Metropolitan Opera Company, is one of the best known concert, operatic and oratorio singers in America. During his first season at the Metropolitan he appeared thirty-five times — an unusual number for a newcomer in the grand opera field. Mr. Middleton has been re-engaged by the Metropolitan Opera Company, since voices like his are exceedingly rare, even in grand opera. A musical memory like Arthur Middleton's is not often found, as is instanced by the* fact that he sings more than fifty oratorios without notes. His popularity in oratorio is indicated by the fact that he has appeared over 200 times in the "Messiah" and 150 times in the "Elijah." In concert work Mr. Middleton has made two transcontinental tours and to fill all of his many engagements has travelled over 100,000 miles. MANUEL ROMAIN, Tenor Until 1893 Mr. Romain confined himself to church and concert work, while studying assiduously under Professor H. T. Metz. Then he went into the minstrel field, appearing with Primrose and West, W. S. Cleveland. Primrose and Dockstader, W. H. West and Lew Dockstader's Minstrels — covering in all fifteen seasons. In 1906 he made his vaudeville debut and scored a tremendous "hit" with some of his original compositions. He is known to Edison owners chiefly as a singer of sentimental ballads, and in that capacity has made himself a great favorite. T. FOSTER WHY, Bass T. Foster Why, bass-baritone, is an American by birth, born in Philadelphia, where he first began his career as singer in several of the well-known churches of that city. After several years of successful singing in and about Philadelphia and the East, in both concert and opera work, he decided to go abroad and further continue his studies. Since that time Mr. Why has had the good fortune to study under such masters as the late Pol Plancon, Lapierre and others of the world's best teachers. Mr. Why had most unusual success in concert, oratorio and opera in many of the large musical centers of Europe. During the past two seasons he has spent his time in America singing in oratorios concerts and recitals, and has appeared with many leading organizations, as New York Oratorio Society. Mendelssohn Club, Philadelphia; Brooklyn Institute of Art and Sciences and many others. Mr. Why's voice is of the type so seldom found, that is, a decided bassoprofundo, which at the same time has the high singing range of the baritone. FRED BACON, Banjoist One of the best known banjo solo ists before the public, Mr. Bacon is known on the vaudeville stage from coast to coast. His playing repertoire includes Grand Opera, descriptive and popular selections and the familiar old "home melodies" always dear to the heart. One critic said that his playing was so wonderful he could make his banjo talk as clearly as though it were a human voice. He has also had considerable success as a composer of banjo selections. Two small frame buildings that formed a part of the Blue Amberol Record manufacturing plant of Thomas A. Edison, Inc., at Orange, N. J., were destroyed by fire in the evening of Monday, March 20. The destruction of the buildings did not interfere with the manufacture of Blue Amberol Records nor delay the filling of orders more than a dav or two.