New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-03
FESTIVAL NOTE2

AT O'CLOCK labJ night the Festival ColCclO
room presented an exceedingly gay and animated
appearance. 1t was hardly TO be expected that Mr.
thomas would be able to enforce the
same promptness at monster les
tival that he does at his concerts
of less magnitude, and there was therefore, little
surprise when the advertised hour found a portion
of the audience unprepared for the beginning of the
concert Within twenty minutes after o'clock,
however, Mr. Thomas was In his place, and
with only single acknowledgment
of the tribute of applause paid by the chOristers
and audience land that given with an air which
plainly said that more important matters asked
attention. his baton fell upon the music-stand with
an admonitory rap. the chorus rose, and the great
undertaking was safely, smoothly and eiiectualy
launched.
The audience numbered 5000 persons, and the
prcmptness and decorum with which they settled
down to an enjoyment of the music, as if it were
really the chief business of the evening, spoke vol
umes in praise of their character and the complete
ness of the hall arrangements.
In addition to the changes made heretofore in the
drill-room, the unoccupied portion of the stage
made to accommodate a chorus twice as
large as that which appeared last night,
was filed with small pine trees and
potted plants and festOons of evergreens
hung gracefully from the railing which borders the
amphitheatrical chorus-stage. Upon this stage the
singers were massed with view TO bringing
out the full measure of their effectiveness,
the tenor voices always the weakest IN
American choruses, being brought well down TO
the front in the middle Of the stage. Three
organizations were represented the local Festival
chorus and visiting societies from Worcester and
Reading and the appearance here and there,
throughout the mass, of groups of women IN light
colored dresses suggested that the identity of the
bodies had not been entirely destroyed in the demo
cratic disposition Of them.
full view of the stage was had from all parts of
The house thanks to the wise plan Of raised floor,
and the fortunate occupants of the front rows of
seats in the various sections had view over the
audience as well, which was thrillingly impress
sive The acoustical properties of the room
met all reasonable expectations; in the Symphony,
even the daintest effects of the soft-voced wood
instruments heard at the Lexington-ave.
end of the house. and the tutti effects
Of the united forces were carried without
loss of homogeniety CT tonal quality TO every part
of the hall.
Miss Cary's illness was published to the audience
by printed notice distributed through the house
which also stated that in consequence of it
Miss Emily Winant had kindly consented
to take her place for the concert Besides this,
neatly printed sheetprOgrammes and the Official
book of the Festival were distributed but without
the Fostering cries which are usually heard at the
opera as n discordant vocal accompaniment
to the overture Outside the hall there was bust
ling activity Of this kind, spurious books being
haw ked industriously and nOisely, ticket agents
soliciting purchases, and scores Of men and boys
distributing ugly advertising sheets in which
the programmes of the concerts were
concealed 1t would be well if these could be kept
out of the concert-room. They are unweldy and
noisy and ali the valuable information they con-
tain is given in the tasteful programme distributed
eratuItously INSIDE the building.
The Worcester and Reading societies that partici-
pated in the concert last night are privileged TO re-
main in the city to-day and attend the afternoon
concert occupying the chorus seats. The first body
came on the steamer Stonington, on board Of
which the most of the singers lodged last night.
She arrived Yesterday morning and the singers
after breakfasting board ship culled out holt
day Between 3 and o'clock theh dined at the
pense of the association at FleIschmans Cafe. spe-
cial menu having been prepared for them Under the
rrangements made by the committee OF the Festi-
val Directors the singers were privileged to 90 10
hotels those doing receiving rebate from their
bills which is paid by the association