The Portland daily press., 1876-12-19
The Ole Bull Concert.

In spite of the dense snowstorm, weil-flled
house greeted the old-time favorite Ole Bull, and
Miss Ella Lewis. who made last evening her
formal debut in her native city, The cold and
inclement weather that prevailed outside had
rot power to chill in the least the cordial greet
ing and frequent applause offered to the artists
The figure, the talent of Ole Bull have been
for years familiar to the public. His
entrance upon the stage is in itself sensation;
the erect slender form: the face that might be-
long to some great statesman, at once austere
and benevolent in its expression; the impul-
sive, rapid march across the platform as we'll
as his unique playing, tend to complete the in
tense and charming personality of the veteran
violinist. He is the antithesis in style of
Wieniawski. He replaces the poetic passion.
the golden languors of the Polish UirtuoSo, with
personality even more strenuous; force not
less, and tone that lacking the exquisite mel
lowness and beauty of the other, is full of char
acter and vibrating with full-charged meaning
There ia the impetus of genius for the sake of
which one pardons few lapses from the pitch,
an occasional abruptness of tone. He is tho.
roughly and simply absorbed in his music. and
his earnestness affects his hearers at once.
Ole Bulls range of expression is, moreover,
very great; and at times capricious as the
Northern Lights themselves; his cdntabile is
large and unstinted, and his pizzicato sgularly
elastic and strong And when all has been
said-the potent charm of the artist is left
almost undescribed, the presence of this violin
ist whose years do not at all diminish his ardor
or his power In reply to the encore which fol-
1auad his W pOsifioO rto in A
major, Ole Bull played with most delicate ex
preston, ''Home, Sweet Houe," and in &C.
Acknowledgement of the recall after the 'sCarni-
val of Venice" he played piquant medley of
well-known airs.
Miss Ella Lewis is to be congratulated upon
her marked and entire success. Her voice is
soprano of large compass, delicate but suffi-
GENTLY strong, and capable of mach dramatic
effect 1t is rather soft than brilliant, with
slight yelled quality at times. that is very
pleasing. Her mezzaUoce is penetrating and
pure, and throughout its entire range the voice
is well placed and evidences excellent training
in good vocal method. Her enunciation is
unaffected and generally distinct; her style is
full of intelligence; and her expression, always
in good taste and effective. often rises to fine
lCfOi' 4a0 CdfdGlud VI LHCGu, SdfO
an opportunity for the display of facile and
legitimate execution; sweet and tunefnl upper
notes and round and pleasing DOVER register.
To.the cordial expressions of the audience,
emphasized by several boquets and baskets of
flowers, Miss Lewis replied by singing Abt's
Embarrassment. In the first part of the
song her adoption of an effect similar to that of
the pizzicato of a stringed instrument little
marred the performance, but as the song pro-
ceeded it gained in beauty and equality of
manner. In Charles Kingsley's pathetic
Sands of Dee the pnre, admirably poised
quality Of her piano singing was displayed, as
also genuine and well managed dramatic pow
en- In brief, Miss Ella Lewis justified the
high expectations which favorable reports from
other cities. and the wel-known traits of her
voice and talent had enabled her Portland
friends to form. As a second encore, accom-
panied with more boquets, Miss Lewis sang
very graceful song, "The Bunch of Vioets."
The Mendelssohn Quintette Club played with
more point and spirit than was their former
habit They gave the overture to "Precosa"
in picui que and spirited manner; the bal
let music from Gounods Queen of Sheba''
was full OF tue langdid pomp, the fervor of the
East, and he subtle moduatious that are rec
ognized as Gounods. The other orchestral
selections, and the solos for flute and for double
bass played by the Messrs. Heindl were ex-
ceedingly we'll done. The concert closed with
Adolphe Adams overture, "If were King
apparently lie roi Gan,brinus, for more irrespon-
sible, merry music never set royal feet to dane
ing.
And 50 forth into the snnw aoaini