Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-01
The rse-Blamphin Concert


thar gathered in Old City hall last Friday
evening was thoroughly satisfied with the en-
tertainment afforded by the -Blamphin
Concert Company-so well satisfied, indeed,
that the encore pieces demanded almost made
complete double bill of the programme.
MIR. Frank Milton Hunter, being one of
PIttsburg's boys and this his first appearance
at home after prolonged studies abroad, was
naturally the central object of curiosity and
attention. This peculiarly trying position
amply explains certain nervous excitement
observable in Mr.. Hunters singing on this oc-
casion, and just allowance must be made for
1t in forming an estimate of his powers. In the
teeth of these circumstances, Mr.. Hunter
achieved a gratifying success. His voice is of
the true tenor timbre and range; in the lower
and medium registers the tone is notably pure
and resonant; the highest tones, while easily
reached, were marred on Friday evening by a
''throaty" quality, that may well have been the
temporary result of nervous contraction of the
muscles, and would not seem to be ineradicable
above the average, while it did not appear at
all phenomenal. Mr.. Hunter sings with much
taste. feeling and spirit All that he does is in
the right artistic direction: having at the out
set OF his career accomplished this much, there
is every reason for an altogether hopeful prog
nostication as to his future. when experience
shall have added those arts and graces that
breadth and repose, which, ordinarily, expert
ence alone can beget.
Miss Hortense Pierse proved not only to be
even more attractive in person than her
pictures, Dut 10 De the poSsessor OF exceptional
artistic resources as well. Her voice is a rich
full-toned soprano. delightful alike in its
quality (barring the few highest tones) and in
the rare ease of its delivery. She vocalizes
well, through she is to be assigned rather to
the dramatic than to the cotordtur school, Her
style. while eminently reposeful. has sufficient
warmth of feeling. A special word should be
spoken for the clearness and simplicity with
which Miss Pierse sang the old ballads, with
harp accompanlment-a very pleasant feature
of the programme.
MIR. James Blamphin rescues the harp from
milady's boudoir and restores it to Tara's halls
or some other place where strong men assem-
Bile. he is dstinctively a masculine player of
an instrument that has been growing effem-
mate. in ociaion, at least. Such broad
massive chords, such a variety in Jone-color,
such clean-cut treatment of themes and figures
of a character more often associated with the
piano than the harp. have not been heard
from any harp player in this city in years. Mr..
Blamphin's selections were, moreover, of a
musical interest, quite out of the ordinary.
One could well forgive certain lack of deli
cacy, dnesse and poetry in Mr.. Blamphin's play
lEg for the sake of his revelation of the
broader capabilities of his instrument
Miss Kate Vashti Baxter deserves hearty
word of praise for the exceptionally skillfuI
and discreet accompaniments she furnished
throughout the evening. as also-ln a slightly
less degree-for the interesting piano solos
with which she opened each division of the
programme.