The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-04-20
Tho Arion Club.

After having once during this season
listened to the combined efforts Of the
speaking voice and the full orchestra In a
Midsummer Nights Dream" Provi-
depce audience should not have needed
the second effort made last night in the
first number Of the program presented by
the Arion Club to teach it that the
lyric and the histrionic art are
two widely separated and distinct
modes OF human expression. They appeal
to such different powers OF the mind that
thus far all attempts to blend them have
been unsuccessful. Felicien David's
desert" is descriptive piece OF music Of
great merit. Its passages are so pici ur-
esque and vivid as TO require no orator. ,al
description such as was given last night.
The human mind is imaginative and crea-
tive in its nature and it loves TO exercise
its powers i'm filling In the outlines OF
picture suggested by an artist, whether
the artist use palette and brush or
musical tones in which to present
hi, conceptions. To those Of an audience
who cannot for themselves understand
the meaning of Felicien David's music
without the aid Of an elocutionist, lack OF
musical cultivation would form an insur-
mountable barrier to it's appreciation,
while those who can interpret 1t for them
selves do not need to have its beautiful
effects marred by a sp ken description.
IL Is not intended by such criticism to
disparage the painstaking work OF the
elocutionist of last evening. Miss Louise
Smith, for she did her work with a care
aud earnestness that commended itself to
those who are fond OF inherent merit.
OF the score OF the "Desertn perhaps
enough has aIready been implied, Tne
work is marked by yividness of imagi-
hat atraa 4 m n
This is particularly true OF the passages
describing the march Of the caravan, in
which the music alternates between the
orchestra and the chorus. The virility
aud accuracy OF its presentation by both
chorus and orchestra left nothing to be
desired.
Leonard r. Auty, tho tenor soloist,
came to this city almost entirely unher-
aided, but he has In his first appearances
made for himself host of friends. both
among those who appreciate perfection OF
method in singing, as we'll as among those
who understand only the artistic tonal
effects which that perfection of method
tenor, of a rare, resonant quality. 1t Is
not voice Of great. power or
extreme high compass, but has yet
sufficient strength and extent for
all lyric music. Mr. Auty's enunciation
IL so clear and distinct rs to be ex-
CtDtiOUul hiIiOUk SluGcIS. lHtCtDTC-
tation of the solos in the Desert" aswell as
those of Mendelssohn's Hymn Of Para
disc" was as whole finished and artis-
tic, but his rendering of the weird in
vocation to allah" displayed fiexibil
ity of voice and power which fully meri-
ted the liberal appreciation which it
received as the gem Of the evening.
The transition from the Desert" to the
Hymn of Praise offered an opportunity
for that variety, which is always com
n.endable in musical program. without
lowering the high standard of work which
the Arion club ut its best is capable Of
presenting. The Hymn of Praise should
need no comment from us. Its splendid
sustained concerted passages and its
soprano solo and duet with chorus, II
waited for the Lord" are well-known.
1t Is sufficient to say that the
magnificent volume OF tono with which
the chorus interpreted the choral parts
surpassed at times all of its previous Of
forts. But local lovers Of music have
learned no longer to be surprised at the
work Of the Arion Club. Mrs. Jennie
Patrick Walker is not new to Providence
and her clear soprano voice and conscien-
tious work will always insure her warm
welcome.