Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-17
New York's New Music Hall Certainly
the Finest for Its Purpose
in the Whole World.
THE FEATURES OF THE FESTIVAL.
Lillian Russell in the New 0peretta, Apollo,
Is Giving Lovers of the Art
Rare Treat,
PATRICK GILMOREs ANNUAL VISIT.
Gossip From Across the Sea and Items Of Local and
General Interest

New York had a considerable musical
juhilation during the five days beginning
on Tuesday, May 5. 1t was called a
Music Festival. and for some cities might
very fairly have answered to the term in its
full meaning; but, so far as the programmes
themselves are concerned, the metropolis is
too well accustomed to Just the same grade
OF concerts occurring singly through the
season to permit a half-dczen of them to-
gether TO constitute for it genuine Fes-
tival of Music
There were, however, two elements of ex-
traordina1g note. First, of course, the
superb Music Hall, for the dedication of
which the series of concerts was arranged.
The entire building, with its main, recital
and still other halls for all manner of musical
and social uses, was fully described in
these columns some weeks ago. But no one
could know until the opening night what
the transcendant merits of the great audito-
rum (seating 5000, holding 4000) would
prove to be. The beautiful effect of its SIM
pie lines and chaste colors, the absolute COM
fort (as to seats, temperature, lighting and
easy vision of the stage) secured to each
member of the audience, and, above all, the
exceptionally perfect acoustic qualities it
possesses-these points, which contribute to
make it certainly the foremost con-
cert hall in the world, were first
demonstrated on the night of May 8. No
man in the country had better cause to be
proud and happy during that week than
Mr.. Carnegie, whose gift the hall is, and
who formed, with his gifted wife, a natural
center of interest to the huge audiences that
assembled for each performance
The other extraordinary element alluded
TO was the presence and conducting of the
great Russian composer, Peter Ilitsch
Tschaikowsky. While only one or two of the
works which he conducted-his own, of
course-were novelties to New York, there
was an inspiration in his genial, forceful
personality and vigorous incisiveness in
his beat that literally wrought wonders with
the orchestra. 1t seemed like another BODY
when he welded the baton and his intensely
characteristic and nationalistic compositions
were given in manner to be remembered.
Mr.. Walter Damrosch, the regular con-
ouctor Of the Oratorio and Symphony
societies that formed the Festival ensemble,
shone chiefly as chorus master. There was
much choral work of a high rank in the
Elijah" and in Berlioz's grandiose Te
Deanl, otherwise inadequately given on the
opening nigh The final work, sIsrael in
Egypt, with its nearly continuous choral
numbers (many of them double), proved,
however, too much of task for the same
proportion of finely finished work. Dr.
Leopold Damrosch's "Sulamith'' and the
archaic ''Seyen Words From the Cross, " by
Scholtz, were the other leading choral works
performed.
The Solo;sts for the most part have been
heard to vastly greater advantage in Pitts |
burg this past week; the prevailing Teu-
tonic infections and the lack of the true
oratorio spirit made most of the solo work |
IN New York uninteresting, where 1T was
not ridiculous
-
A Bit of Honest Music.
The Casino has scored another hit in |
"Apollo." No one could ask heartier signs |
of favor than were continuously showered |
upon the fair Lillian and her associates by |
the large and brilliant audience of the first |
night-which was Thursday evening, the 9TH |
inst. Pittsburg may be on the look out for |
an incursion of these Greeks when they get |
on the road, and will no doubt give them |
welcome on the strength of the following |
extracts from Mr.. Krehbiel's review in the |
Tribune:
"Apollo, or the Oracle of Delphi" is an |
operetta by virtue of its music. This COM |
posed by the younger HellmYeesperger of |
comment and suffers from a monotony OF |
rhythm which is inexcusable in a product |
coming from the city that has been |
the home OF the wizards of the dance /
for three generations, but it is 1
honest music music adapted to the pur- 1
poses to which it is applied, music that |
charm, music that is well written for the in /
st1ument as welt as the voices, in short, |
artistic music, which music-lover can listen 1
to without feeling ashamed of himself.
Not only in the music of "Apollo," but /
also in its book, is there evidence of re-
turn to the ideals of musical farce which
FsNvNST tod
form OF entertainment. Classical stories
and classical figures were the stock in trade /
OF operetta when the Satyr of the Bouffes
Parisiens danced and piped for the amuse-
menJ of the world. Herr Hellmesberger has
not had librettist like 0ffenbach'a collab-
orators, who utilized the old tales for the
purpose Of Scourging the foibes and follies |
OF the Second Empire; with him the Greek
apparatus is chiefly picturesque, but when
ii is turned to such excellent account as it
has been in the new production at the |
Casino little disappointment will be felt
The stage furniture, costumes and group |
ings OF Apollo" are delight to the eve, |
Lillian RUSSELL in her Greek robes, is statu-
esquely beautiful, and the posturing and
dancing of Louise Beaudet and Grace Golden, |
while frequently suggesting the historical !
reputation of the women of Corinth (tbev |
lmpersonate two "Damsels of Corinth') are |
yet charming and in strong contrast to the |
ordinary devices of the operetta stage
Harry Maedonough, Max Figman and Edgar
Smith have added a new character to the
list OF fnn-provokers by their grotesquerie
as Athenlan fops. and, though the action is
so scanty as to compel Messrs. De Angels
and stevens to work hard to be amusing,
they accomplish that end. On the whole,
Apollo is welcome and ought to please ali
summer. splendid audience was in at
tendance and the operetta was heartily en-
joycG.
-
Pat Gilmore's Annual Visit,
That astute and enterpriSing bandmaster,
Mr.. P. A Gilmore, pays his annual visit to
pittsburg this week accompanied by his