The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-28

THE KNE1sEL CONCERT.

MUSIC AND DRAM IA.
THE KNEIsEL CONCERT.
The ladies who provided the concert given
by the Kneisel Quartette of Boston. assisted
by Mr.. ]. B. Ricketsop. tenor. In the inter
est of good music, at the First Parish church
last evening, may not reap much pec1niary
profit therefrom, but they have the satisfac-
ton Of knowing that they furnished an eve
ming of unalloyed enjoyment to about four
hundred ladies and gentlemen, all thorough
music lovers. The church itself is well
adapted to concerts of this nature. When
Prof. John K. Paine returned from his stud
les abroad he gave an organ concert In the
church and spoke highly of its capital acous-
tic qualities. Since Prof. Paine other emf
nsDt artists have appeared there. and all.
| whether vocal or Instrumental, have en-
dorsed the Professors opinion. 4
| Last evening the pulpit recess was very
prettily arranged. The Christmas trim
mings remained on either side. The pulpit
had been removed, In its place platform
erected for the musicians, and the light pro-
vided for them by three tall piano lamps.
Beethoven, Handel, Schubert. Sarasate,
Svendsen, Massenet, Purcell and Servais,
were the composers selected for the occasion.
The Kneisel Quartette is so well known
throughout musical circles. now, that ex-
tended criticism on their performances is un-
necessary. With what grace and daintiness
they gave the three movements from the
Beethoven Quartette In G minor? What
melody, what deep feeling were evoked by
them In the Schubert Quartette in d minor,
with what telling effect the variations on the
| theme? The delicacy Of treatment of this
number was especially remarkable. The an.
dante and miauet in the Svendsen Quartette
that closed the concert formed fitting ter
mination to the evenings feast So delighted
was the audience with the rendering Of tie
Schubert Quartette they persisted In an en-
core and were favored with the ever charm
| ing "Amaryllis."
One of the most acceptable features of the
evening was Mr.. Kneisel's two solos, a ana b,
the one romance for violin, the other a
Spanish dance. Only those who have So
journed in Spanish province can fully ap-
preciate the superb manner In which that
dance was played. One could see the white,
two storied, Fl It rooted adobe houses in the |
back ground, with their balconied and barred |
windows, the court yards with the fountain
aud waving palms 10 the foreground, the
brilliantly alfred Machachos with their gui
tars playing the accompaniment. while Car,
menclta poses. thro wing her graceful form
into all sorts of sensuous attitudes to the
clash of her castanets, while the crowd of
men and women blazing in the glvry of CO.'S
tunes In which red. yellow. blue and white
pred0mlnate, gorgeous sea of color, Loudly
| applauded. The enthusiasm that Mr.. Kneit
| sci provoked was spontaneous and emphatic.
| Mr.. Hekking, the 'cellist, was exceedingly
happy In his solo. He has a fine touch. great
expression, and command Of his intrument.
Mr.. Ricketson gave great pleasure. His
voice Is strong, clear and sweet, his style Is |
pleasing, and he gives the Handelian music |
non he was recalled and sang "The Palms"
with great fervor and expression. % II
UNION COURSE. Il
The next entertainment 10 the Union |
Course at Lewis ball, Woodfords. will be a
lecture by the brilliant pulpit orator. Rev.
Thomas Dixon, Jr., of New York, on the |
Southern Problem, or the Negro and the H
South" Mr.. Dixon is peculiarly adapted |
from birth and residence In the South to |
treat this vexed question. Rev. G. A. Bick- |
ford, editor of the Morning Star, thus writes
of him: .i gss re fe4
brightest and most interesting speakers now
on the American platform. He is radical,
plucky and brilliant Your people ought TO
pack the house TO hear him. 4
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA.
Subscription tickets for 1891 are now ready
and can be procured at Chandler's, Stock |
BRIDGES and of the members individually. |
In spite of a ries of discouragements, this |
organization has held together aud its per- |
Torrance of Tuesday of last week, demon |
strates that 1t is worthy of the support of |
our people. In musical sense the pros |
| poets are good Mr.. Chandler is a most eff |
| cient conductor and the members thrive UNI |
| der his charge. From business point OF |
view the future depends upon the substan- |
| tial assistance rendered by the public. +, Out
side places are making calls for the 0rches- |
ira. which Is evidence of merit. Take hold
| and place the institution on firm footing. |
PHILIP PHILLIPS. yosrI
Tonight will be the last of the engagement /
| of Mr.. Philip Phillips at Portland theatre.
he is well known as the composer Of many |
popular gospel songs. such as Eternal Life"
"The Pardon. ""Guard Thy Tongue" etc.
Mr.. Phillips lectures on his Journey around
the world, the lectures on each evening be.
Ing on different subjects. and illustrated by
scenes from scenes all over the world thrown
on screen by means OF strong light: His
songs are also illustrated and the entire en-
tertainment is most interesting and most In |
structive.
THE SEVEN AGES.
The ''Seven Ages" which will be seen |
here for the first time tonight, at City hall, |
has now been on the boards for two seasons. |
Mr.. Dixey's productions are free from all |
broadness which sometimes attaches itself to |
this department of the drama. His latest eff |
fort, the Seven Ages" has earned the un-
qualified approval Of popular critics. Al |
though built on burlesque lines 1t can hardly |
be termed burlesQue as whole. The idea |
Of the "Seven Ages of Man." as described |
by the immortal bard, Is fsllowed as closely |
as the license Of comedy will allow. Hence. |
there is delightful mixture of burlesque, |
spectacle, satire and very genuine and some |
times pathetic comedy. The company is a
large one. and everything will be done to |
make the production perfect 10 every detail. |
HOME TALENT COURSE.
The concert to De given Friday evening,
which Is the third in the Home Talent
Course will he largely attended by our musi-
cal people as interest increases in the course
and tickets are already having quite "a good /
sale. and many of Portland's favorite sing
ers are to take part The Schubert Male
Quartette has stood at the head of male
quartetts and sing finely. Mrs. Florence
Gardner is gifted soprano. Mr.. q. F. Bar
nard one Of the best teners, Mr.. J. P. Vel ch
jacobson the best futist In the State. Miss
Annie Wiley an excellent pianist. Miss Ly-
liam H0lley charming reader, and with MI.
+. L. Rankin, who could wish for better
entertainment? Good seats at Chandler's.
NOTES.
The Barry and Fay Company, one of tile
best comedy combin atoms in the country, |
Will be at Portland theatre next Tuesday |
and wednesday evenings. presenting their |
The Widow Bedott Comedy Company.
with Harry La Mari as the star, are making
tour of Maine, presenting "a New Eng- |
land Homestead"
49, s~.A r TN