The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-09
The Festival.

The Central Vermont Musical Festival
Association has held its second annual fes-
tival, and the musc-lOving people of this
section of the state have had the rarest treat
of the kind ever offered them. Those who
comprised the chorus have received much
profitable instruction and, together with the
audiences, have obtained great enjoyment
from hearing the soloists. We have space
for but brief and very general notice of
the exercises of the week, and while there
were some little things that might be unfa-
vorably mentioned by the most critical, we
shall say only good words for all who par
ticipated, since we are confident that we
shall thus be voicing the sentiment of an
overwhelming majority of those who were
present To Mr.. Blasdell, the efficient con-
ductor, the success of the affair, musically,
is largely due. In all of the concerts he dis
played the superior abilities as a director
which those who had previously attended
rehearsals under him knew that he pos
sessed and none can say that his work was
noticeably inferior to that of Mr.. Zerrahn
at the first festival. Few people realize
what great help to chorus is found in
good orchestra, but all who attended the
festival know what good orchestra the
chorus had to help them. Blaisdells Or
chestra is one of the very best in New En-
gland, and its excellent reputation is far
from being limited to that territory. 1t is
fast reaching other states and the musicians
are kept busy the year round Mr.. I. p.
Ryder was the pianist and accompanst and
his constant good humor won him many
friends. The Schubert Lady Quartette of
Boston, which took part in the Thursday
evening performance, contributed greatly to
its enjoyment by those present. The voices
are well balanced and blend beautifully, and
the selections given here were all good
Miss Gertrude Edmands, the contrato solo
ist arrived upon the mail train Thursday
afternoon and reached the Golden Fleece
just in season to brush the cinders from her
clothing and go upon the stage TO take her
part in the matinee programme. She was
greeted with a burst of applause, and at the
close OF her song was eagerly recalled. She
is much the best contrato who has ever
sung in Montpelier, and the same modest
and unassuming ways which helped to Sc
cure so many friends when she was here
with the Mariana Opera Company were seen
| when she appeared upon the concert stage.
Mr.. John Thomas, the humorist, was also
| here Thursday, and created abundant amuse-
ment at both matinee and concert. Songs by
Mrs. f. l. Pitkin, Miss Alice Lowe and Miss
! Edith Adams, sopranos, and Miss jamie Kim
ball, contralto, all local singers, also formed
pleasing feature of the first matinee. Fri
day was The day of the festival, and the So
loists We're Mrs III. F. Knowles, soprano,
Mr.. j. G. Bartlett, tenor, and Mr.. ID. M.
| Babcock basso. At the afternoon concert
! the orchestra performed a part of Beeth-
ovens First Symphony and in the evening
| the " Creation" was given. Miscellaneous
programmes were also given at each of these
performances, the soloists, chorus and or
chestra all participating. Mrs. Knowles
best work was in Haydn's great oratorio,
and her rendering of the aria, With ver-
dure clad" was almost faultless AS when
here last winter Mr.. Bartlett was Miss Ed
mands most formidable rival for popu-
lar favor, so on this occasion she
was compelled to share the highest hon
ors with that lovely singer" The la
dies nearly broke their hearts in their
ecstases over his beautiful voice. 1t must
be long before another tenor meets with
such favor at the capital. The people OF
Montpelier and vicinity will receive with de
light the announcement that Mr.. Blanchard
has made arrangements for another season
of opera by the company of which MI Bart,
lett and Miss Edmands are members, and
that they will thus have an opportunity &c
| hear their faVorites again in the fall-prob.
ably in October That all that has been said
about Mr. BabcoCk in these columns was
fully warranted was shown by his grand
work as the basso of the festival, and proc
of the admiration which he won is found IN
the fact that while other bass soloists who
have sung here have rarely received any
real hearty applause, Mr.. Babcock wa
obliged after each appearance to respond tc
an encore. He is u noble singer and wa'
equally good in songs and oratorio, III may
interest some to know that he arranges tn,
orchestral accompaniments to his song'
himself, and this fact alone shows that h'
isa thorough musician. 1t is greatly to b'