Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-17
CLOSED In. THE COLD.
Chilly Wind-Up of the Successful
May Music Festival of 1891.
MELODY UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
The Last Concerts Equal to the Standard Of
Their Predecessors
POPULAR AND HIGHER GRADE MUSIC

The May Music Festival of 1891 lost its final
cadence in the coldwave. That creeping
chilliness that hung threateningly just over
the heads of the first two audiences, and
then seemed to be disappearing, settled
down to the floor last night, enfolding per-
formers and listeners alike in its unwelcome
embrace. The fact is pertinent because of
its effect upon the performance, which
constitutes the proper subject of
review. Mr.. Guile had cold
evidently so bad as to justify the
request made for an indulgent reception Of
his brave efforts at singing, and most mem
bers of the stage force were similarly affect
ed to greater or less degree.
The audience, one of the largest of the
week in its total numbers (though the boxes
and parquet were less full than on the pre-
vious evening", seemed to accept the situa-
tion with the utmost good humor. So did
the performers; indeed, there was rather too
much good humor and nonchalence at times
upon the stage, especially during the perform
ance of the Intentionally sacred work at the
close. The situation was such that no one
could have objected to the decision to ter
inmate the "Stabat Mater" with the In
ttamnotus. though it suppressed the most
nearly devotional strains Of the whole work
occurring in the unaccompanied quartet,
Quando corpus-as well as that brilliant fugal
Audlc, tut AHteIb CuOTuS.
A Presentation to Carl Retter.
The general good humor was largely en-
HANGED by the unexpected incident of the
presentation to Mr.. Retter, just after the in
termission, of an exceedingly handsome
diamond stud. Mr.. Percy F. Smith, on be-
half of the subscribing friends, spoke
the graceful words that acknowledged the
musical community's deep indebtedness to
the zeal and public spirit shown by Mr.. Ret
ter in organizing this and former festivals
The whole thing took Mr.. Retter completely
by surprise; after much applause and calling
of his name, he made brief response that
was the more eloquent in feeling through its
broken, informal utterance.
The evenings programme opened with
Goldmark's still new "Prometheus" over
ture, which needed no title or other hint of
programme" to give significance to its
dramatically powerful portrayal OF the over
anguished outeries, pathetic meanings
and the gentle expression of sor-
rowful resignation. 1t was most carefully
and vividly performed under Mr.. Seidl's
magic wand. LISTS second Hungarian
Rhapsody, in its orchestral garb, received
startlingly effective interpretation; the
blood counts for much in this national
music, and Mr.. Seidl's inborn sympathy with
it was made clearly apparent In the latter
portion, where he almost ran away with
everything. 1t was not unnatural that so
exciting performance, and one in which
Cu6 6COuQuCbOr own perSOndl1Cy was so PROM
inent, gained him the most enthusiastic trib-
ute Of applause that has been paid to him per-
sonally during the week.
The Noblest Efforts of All.
The other orchestral numbers were wag-
ner's. The marvellous Funeral March," in
which, while Siegfried's corpse is being
borne away, his whole heroic career is re-
viewed, deserved and received the noblest
efforts of conductor and players. 1t
% was masterpiece in every respect
FSe Psnre sse seres And ges t6s
wondrous prelude and finale from Christian
und Isolde" calls for much the same COM
mendation for the intensely passionate,
If Anton Seidl is Hungarian by birth, he is
German of the Germans by second nature.
The chorus recorded yet another step in
ADVANCE adv Sss last night Clearly, the singers
familiarity with the stage conditions
under which they had to sing what,
as it now seems, they had so diligently
rehearsed; .1s In he the he.,, opening number Of
ons ens sone and no little eeesiSe
ness in shading were displayed. The
BASES distinguished themselves in the ESa
mater and the entire force delivered the
weli-known bstan,n,atus with stirring tonal
Mr.. Fischer's remarkable Lieder sing
ing, as shown in Schubert's WAN
derer" and q simple love song, was
the solo feature of the evening.
Mrs. Wyman's lovely voice and warmth Of
feeling shone to advantage in Saint-Saens'
Samson ct Dalila" aria, and Mrs. Walker,
though somewhat more affected by the
chilly atmosphere, gave thoroughly credit
able rendition of Mendelssohn concert-aria,
"Infelicep'
The Last Matinee Well Attended.
OF the afternoon performance, which
about $500 people attended, buta bare men
ton can be made. Mrs. Mielke in Web
er's famous ocean" aria, Mr.. Reichmann
in the baritone aria from Marschners"Hans
Heiling'' Tin place OF, the "Roi de Labor"
extract) and both of them in the
great "Walkuere" finale, displayed to
the best advantage their eminent abilities,
vocal and musical. Mr.. Seidrs readings in
the "Tannhaeuser'' overture and bacchanale
were positively electrifying. and manifested
an originality not expected in these familiar
measures Mr.. Wilczek showed his pure,
sympathetic tone and musical sensibility
in Wieniawskis D minor violin concerto,
while Miss Agnes Vogel quite outdid her
own best efforts of the past in the ex-
cerpt from Bruch's "Flight into Egypt" The
chorus of women completed the effective
ness of the latter number, Mr.. Retter con-
in the "Stabat Mater of the
greatly increased spirit and