The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-20

-.
xrx-A CHORUS OF SIX HUNDRED AMI An
opcursrRA OF ONE HUNDRED ASD PITY
SIX
cNcryxArr, May 1s.-To-night the hr't
evening concert OF the fourth OF the b'en'
NAL musical festivals which have lone 60
mnch t,wards giving this city the right 10
the title of the Queen City ri the Wes'
took place In the great Music Hall, the gIo'
rious mopument OF Reuben Springer's gen
ero,ity. Mr.. Theodore Thomas, the con
ductor (wbo, by the way. VIII leave nere
Immediately after the festival IL ended ana
will set sail for Europe on Wednesday tht
28tb instantly, has had no greater triumph
since he first visited Cincinnati In 1870
The concert was an enormous success, rs
all the surroundings were enormous.
The concert began with John Sebastian
Bach's cantata, founded on Luther's hymn,
"a Stronghold Sure our God Remains
the beautiful choral at the end OF which
Gounod put to good use In bis "Faust."
Mr.. Theodore Thomas, who specially ar
ranged the work for this performance, IN
trusted Mr.. Whiting with the composition
of an organ prelude for IT, In accordance
with the tradition that Bach himself always
plaved one when the canfata was giyer.
The soIoists-Miss Annie Ii. Norton, Miss
Annie Louise Cary, SigDor Campanini. and
MIR. Myron W.. Whitney-were all aD-
plauded, Signor Campanini, who sang IN
Italian, receiving rapturous applause, and
the charming duet between Miss Cary and
Signor Campapini, GLOW blessed. then. are
they who still on God are Calling" creating
EXTRAORDINARY ENTHUSIASM.
The chorus was massive, effective, and al.
most beyond criticism in evenness and pre-
cision. Signor CampaninPs voice produced
q fine effect In the great bali when he sang
the grand recitarive. but Miss Cary, though
in admirable voice, seemed 10 be nervous,
and made two or three mistakes.
The cantata was followed by Mozart's &
major symphony (Koechel, 5511 and then
came the half hour intermission, the termi-
nation OF which was announced by the
blowing OF n horn.
The concert ended with Handlers "Jubi-
late" adapted for performance by Robert
Franz, in which Miss Cary, Mr.. Harvey,
and Mr.. Whitney, sang the solos. In This
magnificent work the perfection Of the
orchestra and the the grandeur OF the
chorus were unmistakable. IL was the tri-
umph OF the night, and cannot be surpassed
by anything yet 10 be done during the fes-
tival for its general completeness. The au-
dience testified its qualification by lo%ng-con-
applause, in which Mr.. Thomas. in
to the chorus, joined heartily.
The promises of the success OF the festival
are excellent. Cincinnati has done its best
TO show 10 its thousands OF visitors that ii is
as large-hearted as it is artistic.
II STREETS ARE GAY
with bunting and evergreens, iestoons, and
The Citizens Committee, ap.
by the directors OF the festival to
arrange for the decoration of houses, pub
lie buildings. and stores, headed by Mr..
William A.. Hall, have spared no pains TO
carry out their instructions, and the coun.
try folks who throng the streets are be-
wildered with the signs Of festivity. All
the hotels are crowded.
Cincinnati has assuredly once more sue
in accomplishing the great task it
upon itself-that OF producing the
musical festival OF the season.
to wipe out the stigma Of pork, it
has for several years spasnodically devoted
itself to musical art on big scale. Thanks
to Mr.. Springer and the ambitious muniii-
cence OF anumber OF enterprising citizens,
Cincinnati has the biggest music hall in the
country, the biggest organ, the biggest mu-
steal festival, with the biggest chorus, the
orchestra, and the biggest conduc-
Everything about the concert tonight
was big. The audience, numbering per-
laps seven thousand persons, the enthu.
,lasm over the performance and Signor
Campanini's success, were all OF the big
,est.
As for the audience, it was not only one
,f The most numerous ever assembled in one
building at the same time, but was one Of
he most respectable" and appreciative of
be good things provided for their enjoy
nent. FinaDcialIv, therefore, the big fes-
ival promises well. The total sum likely
o be realized during the four days cannot
all far short Of 100000.
THE CHORUS,
which has been thoroughly well drilled by
Otto Singer, and during several days
)a.t fully rehearsed by Mr.. Theodore
Thomas, is made up chiefly OF residents OF
his city, members Of various English, Ger
nan, and Welsh vocal societies. including
hirty well-trained voices from Urbana. Ac-
TO the division Of the voices, 14S
sopranos, 90 second sopranos, 50 first
ltos, As second altos, IS first tenors. SO
econd tenors, ia first BASES, and 81
iecond basses-the total number OF the
.horus singers is GAS, but there were
eyeral vacant chairs, and it is doubtful
whether the number exceeded 600. Their
training and good quality were
proved Enthusiastically by their behavior in
Iandels Jubilate tonight, the perfect time
nd Unbalanced tones In which would
ave put the Handel and Hadyn Society OF
Boston to the blush.
Too high praise cannot be accorded to the
orchestra, not because Of its bigness mere
it is hall as big again as that OF the
asst festival when the great hall was OPEN
because Of its completeness and ex-
~eIlence. IL was made up as follows |
r~wenty-six first violins. twenty-six second
rollins, twenty violas, nineteen yiolonceiIos,
contra basses. four harps, four
lutes. four Oboes, one English horn. four
larinets, one bass clarinet. four ~bassoons, |
ne contra bassoOH, eight horns. two cor
Iets, two trumpets, one bass trumpet, three |
eaor %trombones, one bass trombone, one
uba, two kettle.drums, one bass drum, one
mall drum, one pair OF cymbals, one TRAN |
total OF 156 pieces, and every individ-
lal player a ~virluoso. Their performance |
I Mozar;s Symphony in c, known as the
Jupiter Symphony" was something to
e remembered.
Gagged by to.night's success, it might he
opposed that the festival directors had also
ecured
THE BIGGEST s0LOIsTs
be obtained, but it would hardly be Just
make such a claim. or the five soloists
rho took part in this frat concert only
l~ree-Signor Campanini. Miss Annie
.ouise Cary, and Mr.. Nyron W. Whitney
old such high positions IN the world of
ocai art as 10 entitle them 10 the dIstinc-