The Portland daily press., 1889-07-11
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THE HOSPITAL CONCERT.


1t was an old-fashioned Cary night at the
City Hall last evening; just such an audi
ence was gathered as used to be seen there
before Mrs. Raymond left the stage, and
when as Annie Cary she was the queen of
the contralti. As far as that goes, she still
holds her throne in the opinion of all who
are occasionally favored with the notes of
that glorious voice, as those were who at
tended the hospital concert. And what
grand welcome that magnificent audience
gave hei. They applauded heartily when
she first appeared with the Berkeley Quar-
tette, but it was reserved for her advent in
her solo number for the house to show the
strength of its regard. The applause was
deafening, and above it could be heard
shouts of Gary! Caryw 1t was splendid
tribute to a warm-hearted, generous woman,
as well as a popular singer; the woman
whose benefcence to noble charity will as
suage the pain of many sufferers and restore
them to usefulness. OF course she was
loaded with flowers and encored, and she
gave My Heart" as she alone could give it,
but there was slight feeling of disappoint-
ment to many of her hearers that they were
NV ShooASu W hotSA OhCO dbdiu w tuC SWcCI
strains of way Down on the Suwanee
River" or the noble, dramatic notes of Sui
livan's Lost Chord" In the concerted mu-
sic, Mrs. Raymond was heard to great adj
vantage, and the final selection, the quar-
tette from "Martha," was of course admira-
bly, given by Miss Bissell, Mrs. Raymond,
Messrs Rieger and Whitney.
The other ladies of the Berkeley Quar-
tette-Miss Bissell, Mrs. Danforth and Mrs
Anderson-all possess fine voices, Miss Bis
sells clear, high, crystalline soprano being
especially effective. These three ladies sang
wallace'S "Tis Now the Festal Hour" with
exquisite artistic taste, and the Quartette, in
GLIDING Mrs. Raymond, were particularly en-
joyable in Hawley's "Margarita" All the
ladies received bouquets.
Mr.. Whitney shared in the ovation to Mrs.
Raymond. He was in superb voice, and the
audience wouldn't let him off without an en-
core to each of his numbers. Besides his
programme songs he gave "a Mariners
Homes the Sea-" and the old, familiar
Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep But
for perfection Of style and beauty of execu-
tion, in none did he surpass that of Kings
ley'S "rhree Fishers
Miss !O'Brion is a Portland girl, who is
heard but rarely at home. Her excellent
technique was shown to great advantage in
RaffS Queen Polka" and she kindly re-
sponded to the hearty encore.
Mr.. Rieger, the tenor, has good stage
presence. and voice of much power and
beauty. lie gave the recitative and aria
from Reginella with much taste and style,
but it was reserved for his encore Love
Lies Bleeding" to fairly touch his audience
and raise them to enthusiasm.
Mr.. Harvey Murray had difficult task to
perform in the accomplishments, but he full
filled every requisite to great satisfaction
There was a slight change necessitated in
the programme, owing to the non arrival of
trunk, but the good feeling and generosity
of the artists in the matter of encores more
than made up for the deficiency.
The directors of the Maine General Hospi-
tai, wishing to show their appreciation of
the services of Mrs. Raymond, Mr.. Whit
ney, Mr. Rieger, the Berkeley Quartette
Miss O'Brion and Mr.. Murray. have invited
them to take trip TO the White Mountains
today. Mr. Payson Tucker, with his usual
display of generous public spirit, has offered
to furnish free transportation. The party
will include the concert company, the hospi-
tai directors and the medical staff of the
hospital besides. Dinner will be had at
Crawfords, and the excursionists will have
an opportunity to see everything of interest