Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-13
FESTIVE INAUGURATION
of Pittsburg's Great Musical Feast-Supe-
rior Arrangements of Mechanical Hall
Excellent Work of the Chorus-A Critics
Review of the First Concert.


rior Arrangements of Mechanical Hall
Excellent Work of the Chorus-A Critics
Review of the First Concert.
Frou a musical standpoint, the series Of
imposing miscellaneous concerts that con
stitute Pittsburg's Music Festival was
last night inaugurated in right festive
fashion. AT the outset there is mat
ter for congratulation in the fact
that Mechanical Hall, as fitted up fol
this event, is acoustically and otherwise su
pcrior to any of the temporary auditoriums
we have had for similar occasions in the
past. In all parts of the house to the re'
motest portion of the gallery, as the writer
personally discovered, the music can be
heard in greater effectiveness than one
would expect to be the case with an area OF
naarly 1000 seats partially part1tloned on
IN the middle of the big building.
These facts ofthe size and acoustic quality
of the hall make it practicable, and in every
way desirable, to realize Manager jerks. de-
sign to make this a great popular FESTIVAL,
as evidenced by his innovation of offering
nearly 1900 of the seats at so and % cents
apiece. 1t is gooG missionary work to spread
this information among those who would
surely take advantage of it, did they
only realize what an opportunity Is
for the first time offered to them.
Of the house were crowded, there was room
last evening for over SEQ persons in the sec
tion where a half or a quarter of a dollar
would give them very nearly as good a
chance to enjoy the music as those who paid
five or ten times as much. Many prominent
musical people, by the way, were noticed to
be sensibly ensconced in these cheap and de-
SiIable seats.
One Point Scored Over New York.
Pittsburg's Festival in the very beginning
scored at least one point over the similar
New York event of last week; it was opened
4+o,, nr
especially for the occasion. In the judg-
ment of at least one competent critic, who
arrived in time to hear it las the present
writer, unfortunately for him, did not), Mr..
-Toerster's Festival March is of finer fiber
than occasional pieces are apt to be. Con-
tIapuntal skill, varied and forceful instru-
mentation and fine dynamic variety are
given as the characteristics of the compost
TiGn, which is described as suggesting in
rhythm and spirit the well-known march
from ''Tannhaeuser," without, however, being
atall an imitation. The march was given with
great effectiveness and careful attention to
every detail by Conductor Anton Seidl and
his valiant body of players.
The one choral work of the even
ing, Haydn's Third Mass, rounded out
Part l. of the programme. 1t is
ap faS Geson 1ae the D. haqMr mass 6Ss in SGme Fn
glish-speaking lands, and called the 'Nel-
SON mass in Germany, because performed
for the naval hero on his visit to Haydn
same late period in the composers long
life that prod ICED his greatest choral
works, the &C 7eation" and Seasons, with
which it possesses in common not only the
musical style, but the cheerful, unaffected
lliety as well, that are so clearly stamped
upon all the late works of Papa Haydn.
Mr. Retter conducted the mass, and, though
ne took several numbers quite too
fast, proved his mastery alike of the music
and Of the entire performing force.
Excellent Work of the Chorus.
The chorus sang with all the precision and
power that could reasonably be expected
from body of about 400 singers gathered for
the single occasion and with scanty time for
rehearsal. 1t is so manifest that the finest
choral work must needs be beyond the reach
OF a corps thus circumstanced, that
to hear this chorus do as well
dynamic shading. The result was highly
creditable 20 Mr.. Retter's powers as a drill
master and it came quite near enough to a
wholly adequate performance of Haydn's
portunity for enjoyment to anyone not
critically disposed. The solo quartet for
the Mass included Miss Clementine DeFere,
Mrs. Rosa Linde, Mr.. Andreas Dippel and
Mr.. Emil Fischer. Mrs. Linde's noble con-
tralto seems. if anything, fuller and purer
than when it was reckoned among Pitts
burg's musical treasures; she made ar
tistic use of her opportunity in the
AgaUS Del. The others contributed
their full share in the Mass tthe
Latin words were used, luckily for the two
Germansl, though each had a better chance
Tor display later in the programme.
Wagner's "Meistersinger" prelude, with
life in sixteenth century Nurem-
berg, opened the second part. Mr.
scidI's finished and enthusiastic
reading brought out with rare vividness as
well the pomp of the Mastersingers' Guild
the busting crowd of playful 'prentices and
the tender passion. of the pair of lovers
whose fate was happily sealed on that feast
high stage-the brass being still higher than
the strings-was, perhaps, the reason why
the former department so overbalanced the
latter While this was not so noticeable from
the balcony as in the parquet, it is q matter
that calls for Mr.. Seidl's attention.
Peculiarly Fitted for the Occasion.
Mr.. Franz Rummers heroic school
of pianoforte playing peculiarly
fits him for such an occasion
as this. Liszts brilliant concerto in E fiat.
with its brisUling difficulties. has never re-
in this city, nor could it
claim q more 1nusicianly interpretation
Mr.. Runmel's stupendous power was the
special feature, of course; in hall of that
size the finer qualities of the pianoforte
would be lost. Miss De We're was in
excellent voice last evening: the rich
organ found ample scope for display in the
elaborate mad-scene fromThomas Hamlet -
Her dazzling VOcallZatiOn as well as her
feeling delivery of the simpler ballad meas
ures were altogether admirable and earned
for her the lions share of the evenings ap-
plause.
1Ir. Fischer's sonorous base and broad, |
manly style are well remembered from the |
Festival of 1859, and they were delightfully."- |
manifest in the weilEnown noble aria |
from Mozart's Magic Flute" Mr.. Dip |
pei proved to be the possessor of |
n ringing tenor mostly of an agreeable |
quality and of no little power throughout its |
extended grange. The flowing, passionate |
strains of WdNer'S prize song from the |
''Meistersinger,' while it revealed his de- |
1iciency in true legato was made the vehicle |
of much warmth and feeling.
The remaining two numbers are toleTably |
familiar even in orchestTally benighted |
Pittsburg: Grieg's characteristic and fascin- |
ating "Pcer Gynt' suite and Liszts sumptu- |
Ous tone-pOem. "Les Preludes." Each re-
ceived g careful and spirited Interpretation, |
tie Hungarian blood of Mr.. Seidl flowing |
with particular warmth through the Lisztian
measures.
Mr.. Retter is to be heartily congratulated |
upon so brilliant and successful an opening
of the Festival, which his ambitious and |
public-spirited enterprise has called into be-
ing. C.WS