The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-22
PETERSBURG.
Opening of the Musical 4 estiyal-A COiOred
Woman Found Dead.
IsnnnInI 10 thn IInr. l

Especial 10 the TIMES
PETERSBURG. VA. May 21.-The Sixth
annual musical festival opens in blaze
Of glory to-nigh,, and with every seat I'm
parquet, gallery and annex occupied, il
may be easily conceived that the audience
is both brilliant and overlooking The
ample stage is handsomely decorated
with flags pictures and bunting mag
nifcent Weber piano, the gilt Of the
manufacturers, eXcites the admiration OF
all who admire superb instruments. It's
value is $1,000, and our local musical
association is very proud Of IT,
The festival occasions are always note
worthy for the splendid toilettes which
are displayed by the ladies' The dresses
tonight surpass description, and on all
sides the scene is a dazzling one, such ass
is not 10 be witnessed in any other Nir
ginia town I'm the audience are TO be
seen the faces of many who are well
known in the society circles Of Rich
m0nd, Lynchburg. and Norfolk.
All of these cities have contributed
generally to swell the vast crowd that
fills the Academy OF Music
until standing room is barely obtain
able. The flashing Of Jewels The
rustling of silks, the sheen of satin, all
these cOncOmitants hetOken an occasion
which is memorable. And so n is, and
IL will be surprising if everybody does
not know about il betimes, for many
Northern and Eastern newspapers have
sent their own representatives here, and
the story of tO-night's feast OF me 'ody
will be told far and wide by tomorrow.
Among the visiting correspondents is a
young lady who represents Baltimore
journal.
A few minutes after : Gail Ierrahn
takes his place i'm front of the orchestra.
The buzz of conversation ceases, and
there is a sudden hush, In a moment
there is grand concord of sweet sounds
Ii is not long before artists, orchestra
and chorus are rendering Hadyn's rich
est work. "The Creation which they
do grandly. and as it has never been
heard before in Virginia The audience
dwell entranced upon its beauties, and
when the last notes die away there is
rapture in the heart of every one who
knows what music is.
The chOruses were sung by $50 voices
the Petersburg Musical As
sOciatiOn. the Philharmonic Society Of
Suffolk, the Musical Associations of
Sidney and Abingdon, and
the Oratorio Society of Society of Nor
folk and Portsmouth. The vocal music
was accompanied by an orchestra OF
thirty-two performers, mainly taken
from the Peabody Institute or
hestra of Baltimore, and conducted by
Carl Zerrahn. whose name is intimately
with the well-knOWn festivals
at Worcester, Mass. The performance
attracted a large audience, The fact
that nearly every one was in full evening
dress gave a brilliant appearance to the
interior of the house.
Governor FOWles occupied box, and
his entrance was the signal for an en-
thusiastic demonstration. lie was ac-
companied by his private secretary and
some of his staff
The rendition of the OratOriO was eX-
cellent throughout, the chorus being es-
pecially applauded for It's spirited sing
ing of The Heavens Are Falling.
The work of the sOloists was also
most satisfactory. Miss Hamlin has a
beautiful soprano voice, and Mr.. Bah
cock is an artist of acknowledged
ability.
Tomorrow night Governor Lee will
be present, with two car-loads Of Rich
mond peOpie.
An old negro woman was found dead
on Dunlop street at a late hour last
night. The coroner held an inquest this
afternoon.
The police found, last Friday evening
a substantial looking trunk in street
near the Union depot They took charge
Of it and kept it until to-day, when, no
owner having appeared to claim it, the
trunk was opened 1t appeared TO be
the property of a person named W. IL.
Davis. The contents consisted OF sew
eral valuable suits of clothing and a
package of letters, which were discov-
cred indicated that the owner had been
TO Washington in search of an office.