The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-09-03

City Hall was packed last night on the
occasion OF the concert given by Miss Annie
Louise Cary. Not seat was to spare and
even standing room was difficult to find. Miss
Cary oaght to feel highly gratified at SO great
house. 1t was tribute to her merits as
singer, an evidence of the admiration with
which her great gift is regarded of which any
artist would have abundant reason to be proud
1t seems to be a fact that each sue seeding Cary
concert draws larger and more eager audiences
than any of its predecessors.
The programme, though pleasing and we'll
arranged to draw out the best qualities of the
artists who appeared, was insufferably long,
ard added to in performance by the impatient
importantly of portion of the audience, and
an inexpressibly tedious "wait'' after the rendi-
ton of the first act of Martha The at
mosphere was close and stifling and the
temperature most unpleasant "Reminiscences Of
the heated term. But the audience preserved
its patience admirably, and was as enthusiastic,
perhaps as could be expected with the Their
mometer at 900. The operatic selections gave
long wished for opportunity to see Miss
Gary in opera, an opportunity which those pre-
sent were not minded to miss.
AS entire acts from two favorite operas were
given in costume and with full support and
choruses the spectators had the gratific alton of
seeing Names greatest singer in that branch
of musical composition in which she has made
her great reputation and won her most decided
trumphs. In the second act of "Martha,' the
merry spinning scene, she was arch and
sprig htly, and sang with spirit and force. In
the second act of al Trovadore," where as
'Azucena" she tells to "Manrico' the story
of the terrible sacrifice, she showed dramatic
strength and rich vocalization, and the fierce
despair of the recital made deep and even
painful impression. Ia this act Mr.. Tom
Carl was handsome and pleasing "Manrico.''
He had better scope for the display of his fine
voice than in the selection from martha" or
the song Sweetheart" The chorus did adj
mrably well, and deserve credit for the skill,
correctness and ease with which they carried
off their parts. La martha Miss Stone as
martha" and Mr.. Macdonald as 'Plum pket"
of course acquitted themselves with credit.
But Miss Gary won her greatest triumph in
Sullivan's "The Lost Chord.'' That she sang
with wonderful expression and correctness. 1t
was perhaps the finest thing with which she
has ever favored Portland audience The
rich melody of her voice in the lower register
was especially noticeable. Her only other
appearance was in the quartette, "Their sun
shall no longer go down." with Misses Stone
Kellogg and Dodwell.
Two charming features of the concert were
the singing Of Miss Dodwell and the harp
playing of Miss Hattie Shaw. Miss .Dodwelps
rich, sweet, dramatic contralto was first heard
in "The Clang of the Wooden,Shoon, and, in
response to an enthusiastic and importunate
encore, to greater advantage in "The Harp that
Once through Tara's Halls" Her voice is of
rare promise, and seems to have been cultivated
with excellent judgment. A brilliant future is
before her. Miss Shaw's harp solo was emil
nently pleasing. 1t is pity that this instru-
ment, especially 10 the hands of so fine an
instrumentalist should not be oftener heard.
The ingenious, unaffected manner of Miss
Shaw measurably added to the favorable i'm
preston that her playing produced.
The accompaniment of Mr. Kotzschmar
were Of course excellent, and Mr.. Behrens was
good conductor. Miss May O'Broa is an &C.
complished pianist, and last evening played
with all her usual skill The chorus under the
direction of Mr.. W. 81. bennett, fully met all
expectations
The operate acts were novelty, urgently
asked for; but it may we'll be doubted if the
programme in that respect deserves repetition.
One bite of cherry may be good, but bite Of
an orange is scarcely satisfactory.
Miss Gary desires to express to the ladies
and gentlemen who volunteered their talent in
the rendering of the second act of II Tro-
vatore, her hearty appreciation of their kind
ness and courtesy, and especially to Mr.. W. 81.
bennett, who SO generously gave his valuable
time for their instruction.