Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-08-28
THE PRATT CONCERT.
A Cordial welcome TO BrattlecOrO's
Young aud Rising Artists.

NOung ana Rising Afistss
The testimonial given on Tuesday even
ing to Mr.. and Mrs. +. r. Pratt by the cit
liens of Brattleboro was in all points a
brilliant success. The main interest of the
occasion naturally centred in Mrs. Pratt, it
being generally understood that this was to
be not only her first but her only appear
ance i'm public during her short stay in this
country. As an additional attraction, Miss
Mary Howe, together with her brother and
Mr.. LAWN, rising tenor of New York,
generously volunteered their services, and
the New York Philharmonic club as will
be seen from the following program, was
down for four numbers.
PROGRAM.
Sextet, Pastoral" Theo. Gouvy
New York Philharmonic Club.
Aria de la Refine de saba Gounod
Mrs. Pratt.
q. Evening Star, 'rannhaHserN r. Wagner
b. Souvenir de Paris f. Gillet
New York Philharmonic Club.
Miss Howe.
Aria de la Juive,'' Halevy
Mr.. Pratt.
Calm as the night. Bohm
Mrs Pratt.
Violin Solo. Polonaise No. 2 II Wieniawski
Mr. sam Frankie.
Aria from La Giaconda. Ponchielli
llr LAWN.
Flute Solo Nightingale Serenade Vim. Popp
Mr.. Eugene Weiner.
Aria de Carmen" Bizet
Mrs Pratt
Schesische Leder b. Bilse
New York Philharmonic Club
This was enough to tempt forth all the
Judges and lovers of music within call, to
say nothing of the great company of inter
ested personal friends of the local artists
taking part. As a result, the seating ca
pacity of the hall was inadequate to the de
mands made on it.
Scarcely had the first number on the
program been rendered with precision
and deicacy characteristic of the perform
ances of the Philharmonic club through
out the evening. than a thrill of eXpectan-
cy ran through the audience This was
soon changed into the heartiest of greet
ings as Mrs. Pratt. with her Od-time, un-
affected charm of manner, advanced to the
/ front of the stage. In rendering her first
/ selection, Gounod's aria from the "Rene
| de Saba, the singers magnificent voice
and impassioned delivery showed to the
best advantage, and took the audience by
storm. 1t was soon apparent that Mrs.
| Pratt had gained in more directions than
| one by her recent study in Paris. But to
/ us her most notable triumph is to be found
in the even quality which she is develop
/ ing in the entire range of her voice, eX-
cept little narrowing of the tone in the
upper notes. a defect which future study
will overcome.
Besides the real improvement in the
quality and power of her voice, Mrs. Pratt
has gained still more, perhaps in breadth
of style and dramatic force. With sym
pathetic voice capable of filling a large audi
"a of 10 hs. a io
tinctly above full orchestral accompani-
ment; with dramatic ability of high or
der, combined with youth, health, energy
and fine stage presence, the possibilities
which lie within her grasp can hardly be
estimated. Her place is unquestionably in
oratorio, and more especially in dramatic
opera, where she should eventually make
her mark. 1t is hardly necessary to add
that the favorable impression male in hel
first selection was continued to the end Of
the evening.
In direct contrast to Mrs. Pratt is Mis-.
Mary Howe, whose clear, liquid notes carry
us out where the singing of birds, the sof
ripping of waters and the thousand en-
chanting voices of nature gladden. our
hearts. To say that this rare singer sur
passed herself on this occasion, would bu
express the feelings which swayed the en-
tire audience at her exquisite rendering, a.
an encore, of "ThOu brilliant bird" Will
flute obligato.
Twice happy Brattleboro, to posses,
these gifted daughters Too genuinely ar
tistic and generous to be rivals even 4
their distinctive paths did not render tn,
slightest approach to comparison mpOssi
BILE, they march steadily forward, each to
ward her own goal, conscious of a God
given mission to charm and solace man
kind.
Not to be behind Mrs. Pratt in respondin.
to the kind interest manifested by the citi
zens of BrattleborO, Mr.. Pratt appeared il
an aria from LA Juive,' the rendering o
which, although Mr.. Pratt suffered OF
Tuesday evening from severe cold
showed much careful and conscientiou
study, and called forth an encore from hi
many friends. The enjoyment of tn,
evening was greatly enhanced by the alto
gether delightful rendering of an aria
from LA Giaconda" by Mr.. LAWN,
singer new to BratteborO audiences. r,
a sympathetic tenor voice of peculiar sweet
ness and power, Mr. LAWN adds dept
and fervor of expression which rank hin
very favorably with the foremost artists o
the day. As an encore he presented tn,
favorite air of all tenor voices, ether
you'll remember me" with charming ef
feet.
Perhaps the choicest bit of instrumental
ton of the evening was the Evening Sta
from 'Tannhaiiser,' with violoncello obi
cato. Mr. Frankie brought ont on his VIC
lin with great delicacy and effect Wieniaw
skis charming Polonaise No. ?, while Mr.
Eugene Weiner captured the audience il
his flute solo, Nightingale serenaden
OF Mr.. Lucien Howe's indispensable,
part in the concert it is unnecessary to say
that the accompaniment were played will
the delicacy, refinement and sympathetic
expression which Brattleboro audiences
have so well learned to expect from him
1t should be added that each of Mrs
Pratt's three numbers was enthusiasticall,
encored, and that the floral offerings to he
and to Miss Howe We're profuse and beau
tiful. NJ.