The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-05-16
1T WAS GRAND.
The Presentation of the Cantata
of Ruth at the Opera House.
Friday Night.

/ Friday night witnessed gathering of
the elite, beauty, wealth and culture of
Sedalia, TO hear the rendition of the can
tata of Rnth, BY the Lafayette Park Choral
Union, OF st. Louis. The hall was packed
and the galleries held as many as could be
comfortably seated
No such audience has graced any enter
tainment this season is was this, and TO
such rare treat has been presented for
many a day in Sedalia as the cantata
proved.
! The author Of the production is Mr..
Eben A. Andrews, attorney for the Mis-
souri, Pacific, who was present, and most
skillfully and artistically directed the rem
di,ion Promptly at the appointed hour,
Mr.. Andrews took his place in front
of the stage, and, waving his baton, opened
the exercises by an exquisite instrumental
, prologue BY the splendid orchestra. At a
tap of the bell, the curtain slowly rose,
and there was presented to- the audience
large group Of ladies and gentlemen,
dressed in oriental costumes.
| Criticisms had been made that this can
tata would have the same fault that other
similar productions posoess-a tediousnesS
and slownc>s, which make them lack =.
power to attract and hold ttentiOn close
! w. But the author of Ruth" most hap
PLY escaped this fault, and has given
production which is sprightlv and spark
| ling, while there is enough of Statelines~
about ii to impress the nearer with the
beauty OF the story and the mournful de-
votion of hearts bowed with great sor-
row Founded upon one of the mos
touching and delicate revelations in ali
history of woman's love and cOnstancv,
the gifted author has presented a charming
expression of it in STRAINS almost divine,
which more wildly portray the chief at
fractions of the story than does the cold ~
cital in prose.
One OF the rare features of the evening
was the Instrumentation of the orchestxs.
Perfection marked every performers Ell
fort, and the delight to the audience afford
ed by them was we'll shown by the breath
less attitude of each listener Such plsy-
ing is not often heard anywhere, and the
laurels won Friday night were generously
and heartily bestowed upon these splendid
musicians.
In the choral parts there was not dis
cord or break. All were given with an
exquisite grace and intense feeling which
none but true artists can give. The choral
Louis, who make music study and DE-
light. They were listened to with pleas
ure and applauded with sincerity.
But the characttr Of Ruth. personated By
Mrs. Reismeyer, lady possessing
wonderfully rich soprano voice, was thu
gem of the evening. This lady not only
sang with matches grace and power, bu;
her conception OF the character assumed
was intensely captivating as 1t found ex-
preston i'm face and movement. As che
sang her plea to Naomi, many a tear was
started, many a cheek moistened in SYM
patty for her. There was pathOs in her
voice, an elOquence in her quivering lips,
power in her expression, which enchanted
her hearers and riveted the closest atten-
ton When the songstress ceased, there
was a moment of GREATNESS suspense, amt
then relief was found by the audience IN
rapturous applause.
As Naomi, Mrs. Hardy revealed fine ar
tistic training, her lovely alto ringing out
like silver bell on balmy air. Fully ap-
precialing the character assumed, the lady
was especially fortunate and happy in her
parts, winning golden opinions from RI
audience.
1t would have been greater pleasure to
have heard more OF MISS ScnuiefS WI
tralto voice in solo than she was permitted
to give in the character of Orpha, but
what little was thus heard gave IN
limited pleasure.
Grand in physique, Mr.. Poindexter, ~
Boaz, was grand i'm voice also. He seemed
veriiable monarch, and his deep rich
basso tones rolled like waves OF thunder
through the hall, reminding one OF the
lordly roar of some mighty, but majestic,
cataract And yet his enumeration was
perfect, clear and easily caught. He makes
a royal BOaz
Mr.. Maginniss is the possessOr OF tenor
voice which shosld be his pride. He had
an ample opportunity to display it as the
"Overseer," and without Ostentation he
gave full scope to its strength and range.
He was warmly greeted by the audience.
There was but one criticism to be heard
as the large audience left the opera house,
and that was that the feast had ended VOC
soon, the enjoyment was too short-lived.
With this exception, unstinted praise was
upon all lips, and on all sides was the wish
expressed that these sweet singers would
come again. May the wish be grati6ed
very soon.
The Distinguishing Charm.
delightful fragrance of freshly gath
cred flowers and spices is the distinguishing
charm of FlorestOn's Cologne.