New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-25
THE WORCESTER FESTITAL ENDED
FINANCIALLY A MARKED SUCCESS.
ITS DEFICIENCIES ON THE SCORE OF ART-THE
CLOSING CONCERTS

CLOSING CONCERTS.
WORCESTER, Sept. "a (Spec,dD. The music
festival oame to conclusion this evening with per-
formanco of Handeps Judas MaccabDus" The audi
ences excellent in point Of character as we'll as num-
bers endured to the END. and tho promise OF
surplus OF money held out By tho ad-
vance sale of tickets was fulfilled At both concerts
the fine largo hall crowded, to the delight OF tho
management and the great discomfort OF tho listenor'
for the weather to-day was warm and there about d
much ventilation in the cobcertroom az there Is In
drying-room while the practlsed In tho nliot
ment of space to each auditor would make
the most wretched miser In the world vote MS
life a failure. Eleven hundred mechanics own mo-
chsnics Hall, building OF which New-York wouia
be- proud Their concentrated and combined
inteecs ought to be equal to the problem now 10 ges
fresh air into their beautiful auditorium. and win tho
gratitude Of future generations The programme OF tho
afternoon concert slightly moro dignihed than us
predecessors The orchestra contributed GoldmarKs
glowing "sakuntala" overture. tho pastoral sym
phony, the dainty allegretto from the oahes
music composed by Schubert for "Rosamunde" ana
the March of the Pilgrims from BerlioZs "Hsrod'
symphony. These selections occupied the major part OF
the afternoon and left time only for two ford operate
numbers sung by Miss Sargent. and Dudley Bucks
"salve Regina" sung by Mr. Powers whose voice ana
manner much praised by worcester anna
tours Miss Sargent has an almost infantile
voice OF pretty quality. she mas peeh
ented young woman who has wasted five years OF her
life on the Lucas and Amnas OF tho Italian theatrea
Evidently she has musical aptitude for vocalization,
but she SINGS like pupil with answering
fidelity to the tawdry uaoi'iohs VI
tho italian stage. Now that she Is
back again in America, she Will probably soon fall 70
wondering what good her foreign experiences have
dons her To ths serious minded among tho festival
pstrons one of Miss Edmondss dignied. reposofu and
anly songs worth all the scales and tris ana
operatc furbelows which Miss Sargent brought back
from sangio-vanH and tho land OF macaroni anu
musical briganisge.
The oratorio in the evening not wholly salts
fvine The cuts we're many perhaps this should not
be- for Judas" is. at the best, monotonous and ono
must be devout Handente 10 RANK
IL "A whole with "The Messiah" or Israeli
Tho openng chorus finely and so was tho last
but much slovenly work In the more dimcuis
numbers The SOLO singers Miss Stone Barton who
sang the ford soprano airs; Miss Kehew,
who is an eanest, straightforward singer.
but m unfinished vocalist; Mrs. Coie'
who deserves favorable mention for smooth and inte
gent work; Mr.. Courtney. who respected traditons'
yocalzed commercially and got through "Sound an
Alarm praseworthy, and John II. Wilson. young
ta.s OF nae promise. The only cause for disappointment
in the Case OF Mrs. Barton the want OF VITALITY
| I'm her medium tones. Mr. Zerrahn. who has worked
individually zesiousy for the festival ana holds
tho admiration of ell concerned for his patience ana
good hunor deservsdly honored with an OVATION
he conduct the second pare OF the con-
cert.
| The festiyal has been financially o success
has addsd a considerable sum to the money already
in the excheauer tho Worcester County Musical Asso
citation aud thus given guarantee ior the
OF the festival enterprise. The result Is one III WHICH
the uubl,o of Worcester naturally rejoice though one
d.ss not need to far to hear the criticism
on tho management that money-making occupies Too
,erss place In It's thoughts There Is no question that
tho artistic value OF the festivals might be materially
Augmented II directors were to abandon some OF
their conservatism. The choir Is noble one' auu
dseryes TO be associated with equally noble solo and
| orchestral forces Here the mistaken pohcy OF
| the management Is most obvious. MI. lerrann'
who ia untrng In his to elevate the character
and scope had to walt for years pelore
| he could have orchestra worthy OF the name Inc
band during festival Just ended was fairly capable
one but 1t was not large enough cope with the chorus
in the choral works OF magnitude and future festivals
should at least tie men added TO It, The deects In ts
composou lie in the wind choir and might perhaps be
mended though they are tho defects wnlcn are
| with musical organizations drawn from Boston IN! me
Hub City has fine string ipayers, but In spite OF the
splendid iabors of Colonel Hggnson. Mr. Hensche
| and Mr.. GerIcke, IL Is stu weak IN inc
other elements of ,., symphG%n at,srm Sand viii
TO Stn the ersn imporatons which Mr. GercKe
| will make this year. . - .,
.ioned upon change OF policy which will substitute
desire for good singers to the prevailing desire oi
quartet OF really elDclent slubcIs ono "ouiu
think would give much Keener pleasure than dozen
of MEDIOCRE ability, To listen the afternoon
and Thursday evening concerts IN Mechanics Hall now
ID like listening trial OF applicants for positions IN
church cnOr. You hear all kinds of voices all kinds
methods all kinds OF music. The baladst predomnate
and unfortunately with greater appreciation thaf
tho singer OF gOo0 healthy music Let the latter Dc no
engaged aud it lis than likely that the second
set OF pieces Will be selected with view Z
winning the applause that the less dignlned aud con
carried away at the previous meeting
So bar IS raised against the progress OF the iesyas
or an Improvement OF the taste OF the public TIL
taste is strongly unctured with religious seDtimentay
The first phrase OF the instrumental prelude 4
Faure's "Palms" fails to conjure up
storm OF applause. Gcuuod's " Redemption" ought Z
achieve great popularity Worcester County. Tende
sensibities were once shocked by Berozs Damna
ton OF Faust 1t s said that paper Will not refuse ins
but student OF the Worcester festival would 10 JUST
fed In doubling whether the official programme conl
| be u ade TO announce excerpt from - Die Gotter
dammerung" the word has such profane look.
NEEDLESS RISKS TO BE AVOIDED