Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-02-14
MARY HOWE HOME AGAIN.
THE TESTIMONIAL CONCERT
To the Young Artist and her Brother.
An RveninE Of Choicest Musie and De
IFnhtful Memorfes

Iighiful Memories.
Another notable event in BrattlebOro's
musical annals long looked forward to, has
come and gone. Every expectation which
had been raised in regard 10 il was ahund
antly met, and the pridefu town has an
other to add to its full store Of pleasant
memories Of the young artist whom the
| Germans affectionately called "a singing
| flower but whose happiest boast is that
she is "a Vermont girl Every seat was
| filled on Tuesday evening, aud the town
hall has never held amore appreciative and
| sympathetic audience than gathered TO hear
the testimonial concert 10 Miss Mary Howe
and Mr. Lucien Howe. The opening num-
Der by the orchestral serenade from
Jadasshon-was a charming one, but
through it all there was little flutter Of
expectancy, and when at its close Mr.. Howe
led in his sister there was a quick warm,
enthusiastic outburst Of applause. It needed
no second glance 10 show that in the four
teen months last past Miss Howe has grown
much in womanly strength and beauty,
and she was a veritable vision Of delight as
she came down to the footlights in her
classic Greek gown Of palest pink with bou.
| quet Of roses 1t certainly did not lessen
the sympathy or the admiration Of the
audience because the girl showed touch
/ VI tulOllOu Us she ueEhu llOulLeltl s ARIA,
| 'Regnava mel silenzio," but this was soon
| gone, and her tones came full aud strong
in this number, which was admirably chosen
TO show the range Of her voice in both the
lower aud upper registers For an encore
she gave the Nightingale song" with its
brilliant cadenzas recalling her first APP
pearance at home after her return from
her studies in Germany.
The next number set for her in the pro.
gram embraced two songs by Cowen, and
there was evident wonderment among the
audience when, amid the overwhelming
applause which greeted them the Beethoven
club came in and arranged themselves by the
/ piano. But the wonder gave way 10 graft
| fled expectancy when Miss Howe appeared
and Mr.. Allen, standing at her right, and
accompanied 10y the strings aud piano,
| played the uplifting melody Of the Ave
Maria the young singer taking up the
melody in her turn and working up to the
inspiring climax in concert with the instru-
ments The picture at this moment was
one never to be forgotten, aud eye aud ear
were alike entranced
For Miss HOwes third number, the last
but one Of the evening, was chosen PrOchs
difficult theme and variations, and for an
| encore to this was given the Echo song
Both these numbers were heard from Miss
| Howe when she was last at home aud they
therefore furnished in some respects, the
best means Of estimating her progress dur
ing her year Of study in Paris Without
attempting detailed criticism, it is 10 he
said Of her work AS a whole that she shows
a general artistic development in a marked
degree, and notably in the fulness and
rounding out of her voice throughout At
| first we thought this especially true of her
/ hut h.V 80,
were heard it became evident that the in.
crease in hexibility, pureness Of tone, and
/ ease and assurance Of execution in the eN
| IRENE upper register was no less remarka.
/ BILE. The greater ease aud rapiditv of her
/ stacCato notes was clearly shown in PrOchs
/ variations, with its almost impossible runs,
| trills, and arpeggios and it was equally 70
be seen in the Echo song when, at its eli
max, at the end Of the cadenza she gave
| like a bird the trll on A followed by high d.
| Indeed revelation as this number was when
! given by Miss Howe a year ago last August,
the improvement shown in its rendition on
| Tuesday evening was no less a revelation
In ease aud dignity Of personal bearing
Miss Howe has gained no less than IN her
vocal culture aud one now feels in her the
power and repose Of the finished artist, Civ
ing her Brattleboro friends greater assur.
ance than ever Of the successful career
which lies before her
Mr.. Howe was given "A warm reception
when he appeared in his song, 'Norrei
morir,h by Tosti, which was appreciative
no less of his personal worth as man and
an artist than for his watchfu care Of his
sister and direction Of her studies, which
have been so large factor in her success
Mr.. Howe sang in a clear tenor voice, well
developed in its lower tones, and strong,
sweet and firm in the upper registers For
an encore he gave a pretty serenade of his
own composition. The young May moon"
| His second program number was IA song Of
his own, "Adown the river sung with
true feeling aud expression. This was Mr.
| Howe's first appearance as a vocalist in any
public place, and his success was all that
could be asked.
In their concerted numbers the Beethoven
club delighted the audience no less than on
their appearance here at Miss Howe's fare
well concert in November, 1888 Mr.. Van
| Santvoord, in his flute solo, revived the
| pleasant memories Of that occasion with his
/ full, rich tones, remarkable facility of exc
cution, and dignity of personal bearing.
| Miss Pray's solo upon the viOlJncello was
marked by clean, strong execution, pure
ness Of tone and refinement of phrasing
Both artists we're warmly encored Mr.
! Allen, the leader OF the club, was ON this
occasion, as always, the ideal embodiment
Of the true and refined artist To the cor
dial applause given his solo number, a 70.
nance and rondo 10y Wieniawski, he era
ciously responded with the celebrated air
from Bach played on the q string
Miss Stewart accompanied Mr.. Howe in
his songs in very acceptable manner
We reproduce herewith the Springfield
Republicans criticism of Miss Howe's per.
Torrance, written 10y Mr. Whiting, the
well known musical and dramatic editor of
that paper, who honored the young artist
by his presence.