Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-04-23
THE COMING MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
Tho Finest Festival Ever Given In Buriing-
ton In Prospect,

prOachlng May festival OF the Bhllhar- |
monte society of this city. We want our |
outside readers and our brethren of the
Vermont press who take any interest in |
music also to know that the arrangements
for the festival are now complete, and that
everything presages the finest musical
convention ever held in this city or III Yer
mont. We say this knowing that many
of them will remember that the society
has held four previous highly successful
festivals conducted by the prince of lead
ers, Carl Ierrahn, and marked by
the presence of some of the best
vocalists in New England and by the pro
duction of some of the great choral mas
terpeces of all time. But the coming
festival may reasonably be expected to
surpass all of these, because an ampler
fund has been provided for it, in advance
it will be held at more favorable time OF
year and the chorus will be much larger;
while the preliminary rehearsing has be-
gun with more spirit than ever before,
and is proceeding under the able leader
ship of Mr.. Blaisdell, with promise of the
most satisfactory results. The solo sing
ers engaged are the best that could be Sc
cured in New England. Two Of these will
make their first bow to Burlington audi
dence on this occasion But though hith-
erto little known here, it is qulte.plain that
the managers have been fortunate in Sc
curing them. Miss Kehew was known
to musical people and professional must
clans in Boston as one of the most
promising of the rising singers, when she
sprang into public notice, by her singing
at the last great Worcester festival, and
especially by her very remarkable render
ing of the Clear we Israel in Mendels-
sohu's "Eliiah.' She now, in the opinion
of discerning critics, ranks among the
first singers in New England. Her voice
is pure soprano, clear, full and SYM
pathetic: and her execution shows fine
training, great breadth and power and
true artistic feeling and finish. We be-
speak for her a cordial welcome and we
are confident that the only disappoint-
ment on the part of her hearers will be an
agreeable one Miss tia Welsh, the con-
tralto, is no stranger all who heard her
two and three years ago remember her as
genuine artist, and delightful singer.
She is now the contralto in the famous
uuartette of the Church of the Immacu-
late Conception, Boston She has gained
in power and execution sin e she was
here. and she is the best oratorio contralto
y
of Boston is easily among the first tenors
in that city. He is especially satisfactory
in oratorio and we have had no better one
here at any festival. Mr. Babcock is by
common consent the leading basso now
singing in oratorio, in this country; and
to those who have heard him at the three
previous Philharmonic festivals, his name
will be description enough.
b,.s T.
secure his services, and it will probably
be his last appearance in Burlington, as he
has made engagements for strictly
oratorio work in larger cities for next sea
son, which will put him beyond the react
of country societies. Blasdell's fine
orchestra will furnish the instrumental
accompaniment, with Miss Kate f. Ma
comber as pianist. Miss Macomber ha
been prosecuting her musical studies il
Boston under the best teachers, and sh'
will be found fully equal to the place
The great feature of the festival will b.
the production of Handel's oratorio o
Samson" which will be presented for tn
first time in this city, and so far as w
can remember, the first time in Yer
mont. Handel composed this next afte
his Messiah" while he was in the YER
marked By many of the grand characters
tics of the Messiah and is ii magnificen
oratorio. The presentation of this grea
composition will awaken extraordinary in
terest. 1t will occupy the las, evenin
of the festival and bring it splendidly t
its close. Amon4 the attractive feature
will be the giving OF Rossini's "Staba
Mater" the spirited and admirable dri
tic cuft tut la, pf 'nir Dr Ia leo
of Lucknow" and choice variety
solos and choral and orchestral gems.
Singers will understand, of course, tina
the primary object of the festival is nC
the giving of pleasure to the large and Gu
tivated audiences which will gather at il
meetings. though that would be worth
object. Its chief purpose is the cultivi
ton oi vocal music, the increase of int
est in it and the elevation of musical taSt
in the community, 1t is II convention {
singers, met for musical study and prd
tice, under the very best instructor on til
continent and assisted by the presence an
example of leading vocalists in every par
Such an occasion is for students of musi
while it lasts, what the summer schoo
of languages are for students of the Ia
guages-a forcing school in which, undo
the special drill and common enthusias
OF the occasion, a degree of progre
and proficiency is gained in a short tim
which, under ordinary instruction, won
take months or years The sin
ers Of Vermont and northern Ne
York, if they only knew it
as some certainly do-cannot afford
lose the advantages Of such festive
They will meet here Il large number
trained no Ik-il II in b.. Ia
ard Opera House the finest music hall
all this region-and there is none finer
its size anywhere-to meet in They W
he cordially welcome to Burlington. T
hOte.s and boarding houses will ma
Spacial for thair tartu IN, ai