Chicago

One of the most interesting song recitals of the season was given here by Isa Kremer, Russian soprano. Her program was made up of songs of different nations, including an American Negro lullaby. It is amazing how Miss Kremer contrives to catch the characteristic spirit of the peoples whose songs she sings. In the United States for less than a year, she nevertheless achieves quite a plantation flavor in the " coon songs" that she sings. Her versatile talent is especially to be noticed in her interpretation of Neapolitan songs. These are peculiarly characteristic of Naples, which has a mood unlike that of any other city. Its citizens have certain mannerisms of speech, bearing and thought that are exceedingly difficult for the outsider to produce. Singers from the north of Italy try vainly to catch the singular nuances of the Neapolitan songs. They sing the notes correctly, and achieve about the effect of an orchestra of good musicians playing jazz--accurately on the beat. But when Isa Kremer intones the chants of Naples, you might easily mistake her for a Neapolitan.