Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-24
How the May Festival of 1891 Will
Be Looked Upon When 1t Is
a Part of Local History.
FINANCES OF THE UNDERTAKING.
An Explanation of the Fact That Gilmore
and His Band Never Fail to
Please the People,
THE AMERICAN ARTISTS IN LONDON
Success Of Pittsburger in Munich and Musical Cos.
sip of General Interest.

Not much need be added in the way of
ready appeared in the columns of THE Dis
PATCH. This occasion will 60 down into
local history as companion piece to the
Festival of 1889. Both were brave attempts
by Mr. Retter to do the best he could under
existing circumstances, attempts for which
he deserves the heartiest thanks of the
musical community, especially in view of
the unfortunate financial results in each
case.
This time the soloists-to begin with the
least important department-weren not quite
up TO the standard set before. There was
no such artist this year as Lili Lehman,
and others of the solo personnel fell below
those heard before. This, however, was
nobody's fault; the best artists in the coun-
try were here, and they were altogether
adequate TO the work in hand, at
any rate. This deficiency, such
as il was, was mnch more
than made up by the greater
efficiency of the orchestra, much more i'm
portant element in the festival. Instead of
being, as before, a mixed body of players from
various sources, it was practically the same
orchestra that Mr. Seidl has constantly
had in hand at the Metropolitan Opera
House and the Brighton Beach and other
concerts for the past two years This made
considerable improvement in the finish
and fnesSe of all the orchestral work, al
though a larger number of strings would
have been a further advantage. Mr.. Seidl
himself is better conductor for general con-
cert work than before, and altogether the or
chestral end of the festival was highly salts
factory.
The chorus, of course, was not. And this
through no fault of Mr.. Retter and his
singers. Except in the "Gypsy Life"
they did Just about all that could be asked
under the circumstances, and in many points
much surpassed all justifable expectations.
But the fidelity and zeal of an
attempt may be cordially commended
and yet the attempt be recorded
unsuccessful, as in this case. Not only was
it absolutely impossible to prepare the great
works that should figure prominently
in every genuine festival scheme,
but the necessarily haSty formation
of the chorus admitted much
''dead wood" and the exceedingly short re-
hearsal period gave no time for needed
practice in singing as such, every minute
being needed to learn the pieces in hand.
Really artistic results are simply
out of the question under these
conditions. The choral work should be the
chief element in a true festival, and we will
never have an event worthy of that name
in its highest sense until We have a per-
manent, carefully chosen body of singers
and an abundance of time for rehearsal
However, leaving aside the ideal festival
standards, we did have a series of impos-
ing miscellaneous concerts which interested,
delighted and benefited thousands of peo-
pie, who seldom have such an opportunity.
That fact is clear, in spite of =
all criticism of this or that de-
tail; and that is much to be
thankful for, a genuine help to the cause of
music in our community. Aside from the
unavoidable absence of great choral works,
the programmes were very skillfully and
those of 1889 There was more
legitimate concert music, fewer frag-
ments from the musico-dramatic stage;
the golden mean between popularity" and
pedantry was very happily maintained.
The earnest and public-spirited labors of
Mr. Retter and Mr. jerks richly deserved
financial return, where, unfortunately, they
are confronted with loss of nearly, if not
quite, $1,000. The figures are not all in,
but, as nearly as could yesterday be
ascertained, the principal items of
expense were as follows: Hall (including
$500 rent). s4,155 10; soloists and conductor,
s., 500; orchestra, 1881; railroad fares,
S1,07S so chorus expenses Exclusive of
printing!, 81, 1,362 81; advertising, 81, ,S3c To-
With the othCtitems the total expense foots
up within hundred or two of $40, 600
The total receipts, as far as known, were
S16, ,346 50, with between $500 and 800 still
to come This leaves the S, 900 deficit, and
not penny for all the work done by Mr.
Retter and Mr.. jerks. Indeed, Mr.. Retter is
still the Festivals creditor for $500 advanced
out of his pocket for early expenses, besides
$500 more that he turned in during the past
week from his share of the profit from the
Gilmore concerts.
1t is deemed possible that the Exposition
Society may voluntarily return some of the
$500 rent paid. But the bulk of the loss
will have to be met in some way. The lady
patronesses are now considering ways and
means and viii probably formulate a plan
during the week. Success to them.