The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-19
The Festival OF Music.

The Festival Of Music.
The first OF the concerts OF the musical
festival now being held for the benefit OF
the library and museum fund at Richmond
College took place last evening at Mozart
Hall. 1t is not too much to say Of it
at the outset that no amateur concert
ever given in Richmond of late years
has excelled it either in point Of rich
ness and variety in the programme or
in the admirable manaer- in which the
selections, especially those allotted to the
chorus, were executed. AS to the chorus
itself, it was a thoroughly pleasant surprise.
The voices are, among the ladies' especially,
fresh and pure, and though this was the
first concert in which it has sung
its work was done with firm
ness and precision which was most
unexpected in so new an organization, and
which would have done credit to much
larger and more pretentious body OF sing
ers. Colonel Tanner has, in short, gotten
together an excellent chorus, and, what is
more, he has it we'll in hand. The parts
are not perfectly balanced-the male voices,
and in particular the tenors, are hardly
heavy enough to counterbalance the
soprani and contralti, and the basses
were little difhdent in one or
two passages, but there were merits
which more than coun,erbalanced these
shortcomings. There seemed to be, in the
first place. an excellent esprit du corps, the
singers all going at their work as il they
were interested in it, and not in the listless
way by far too common in singing socie-
ties, rather rs il it was not much OF their
concern. Again, the bold, confident way
Ia nj, = 1,n oh, hn
ladies in particular, sing out, and not as
though they were afraid Of the sound OF
their own voices, was singularly good.
The chorus contributed four numbers,
"Light DER Sparkling Ocean Breaking"
by Bellini; 60! Hail Us Ye Free" from
Vcrdi's Ernani"; the chorus in the " In
flammatus" from Rossini's "Stabat Mater"
to which Mrs. Reinhardt supplied the solo
most excellently, and "See. the Conquer
ing Hero Comes, from Handers "Joshua."
They were all well done, but the " Ernani"
chorus was the best of all-so good, indeed,
that it was redemanded by the audience.
There was also an orchestra which, besides
playing several accompaniments, gave the
oyertures to Rossini's "Turco in Algerio -
and Herold's "Zampa" with much vigor
and enthusiasm.
The first OF the pieces supplied by the
soloists was duet from "Il Trovatore,'
by Mrs. Reinhardt and Mr.. Redford. 1t
was we'll rendered, and was warmly re-
ceived. ...-
The quartette from Martha, !" Nancy
guarda che occhi," by Miss Swain, Mrs.
Knowles, Mr.. Grant, and Mr.. Redford, was
beautifully sung and enthusiastically en-
cored, to which the singers responded with
another quartette from the same opera,
"This is Your Future Dwelling"
The duet "Questo Duol," by Flotow,
was rendered with the precision and deli
cacy Of artists by Miss Swain and Mrs.
Knowles, and the selection being in addi-
ton a very pleasing one in itself, these Ia
dies were compelled to respond to hearty
encore.
Mr.. Grant, in his solo, "Hearts OF Oak"
by Boyce (words by David Garrick), was as
popular as usual. and, being warmly ap-
plauded, responded by singing go fair
dove, O fond dove" by Gatty.
But one OF the gems OF the solo perform
ances was Miss Swain's incompatible song,
"Carnival of Venice" variations de con-
cert. by Benedict. In this pleasing and diff
ticult piece this lady reached Z fiat in alt,
sustaining this high note in voice almost
phenomenal in purity and clearnesS. She
was rapturously applauded lin which the
professional veterans in the orchestra
joincd), and then sung for an encore EN-
barrassment," by Abt.
Mr.. Frank Potter, the favorite amateur
tenor OF New York society, having arrived
in the city just on the eve OF the concert.
was not embraced in the printed programme
circulated in the house, but nevertheless
kindly consented to sing solo, and thus
added much to the pleasure OF the audience
and the success OF the festival. HIS song,
" "Abendlied (erening song(, by Blumen-
thai, was lovely production, and was rem
dered in a manner that wonld have done
credit to the best professional talent. dc
was. of course, "applauded to the echo,' u
and responded to the encore by singing g A
Health to King Charles" an old cavalier
song, which latter also brought down the
house. "
Tonight he sings 81 Love my Love-" by
S. P. Warren, and there will be complete
change of programme from last evening, aS
will be seen in our advertising columns.
We hope tonight there will be very
large crowd, as the entertainment IS cer
tainly worthy Of it in every respect.
The audience last evening, though fail
and appreciative, was not, in the opinion o.
the writer, by any means commensurate
with the merits Of the performance. No
only is the object for the benefit OF Whict
these concerts are given an excellent one
and deserving OF the hearty support OF th'
public, but the concerts are so thoroughly
good in themselves that any one who fail
to hear them will miss such treat as is bu
rarely offered to the citizens Of Richmond
REMEABER THE ORPHANs.-St. Joseph
Orphan Asylum, corner OF Fourth ant
Marshall streets, will be open to visitors OIL
Thursday and Friday, December Goth ant
21st, 1877, from a. NJ. to PM, and to-
friends of the poor little orphans are cor
daily invited to call upon them on thos
days and to contribute something to theii
support.
A pound OF groceries or donation o
any kind will be most gratefully accepted