Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-06
THE MUSIC WORLD.
How Lack of Light Affected the Mo-
zarts in Their Ballad Concert.
HALL In WHICH PATTI SUNG.
"reminiscences of the Great Diva's Previous
Appearances Here.
THE COMING OF THE GRUESFELDS

The Mozart Clubs annual ballad concerts
have peculiar charm of their own. They
are family affairs, as it were; soloists, chorus
and audience all meet upon familiar basis
and share in the unconstrained enjoyment of
the occasion.
Even the burning out of the electric light
fuse before last Tuesdays concert, leaving
old City Hall in darkness save fringe of
sickly gas flames along the side walls, could
not cast a damper over the spirits either of
the singers or of the audience that filled the
room. Indeed, one of the soloists-one that
outdid himself in singing-was heard to saw
gleefuily as he left the stage, "why, when
got up there in the dark and found that the
audience could hardly see my face, didn't
care rap for anything, and Just let her go.'
Back mong the chorus, however, the semi
darkness was another matter. Chorus
singers are not expected to get along with
out seeing the notes and words, as every
soloist ought to be prepared to do. Natur-
ally the novelty of the evening, Miss Kate
Occleston-Lippa's anthem, ''God is NV
Helper" though intended for the
place of honor, was made by this
cause the least satisfactory perform
perhaps eight or ten minutes in perform
ance, is written for solo-quartet and
chorus. with accompaniment for organ or
pianoforte-playedo on Tuesday by Mrs. .Lippa
herself 1t would be manifestly unfair to
Judge the anthem by this performance but
even as thus given il appeared to be a we'll
written piece, in the Anglican Church style,
and likely to be very effective addition to
the repertoire of the better chorus choirS.
Ethelbert Nevin's beautiful musical set
ting OF Eugene Fields Dutch lullaby. though
once before given by the club, was another
sufferer from the lack of light. Had the
singers been able to see the music, they
would doubtless have interpreted more
faithfully the changeful moods and vary
ing shades of this romantically conceived
music-which desired result was further
hindered by Conductor McCollum's differ
ing from the composer as to the proper
tempo at several points.
Under the conditions noted the interpre-
tation OF Eaton Faning's chorus. "Day-
break" was one of extraordinary excel
lence. The technical biemishes were few
and trifing, while the dynamic shading was
refined to a rare degree and the spirit of the
lovely words and music was admirably
realized. Mr.. McCollum and his valiant
singers deserve all praise for this achieve
ment.
Mrs. Emma Bfngler Wolfe received, and
from her retirement of the past year or two.
Nj. ANDERSON was particularly successful
on this occasion, especially with his encore
piece, "0ne More" " by Somerset. Miss Edith
Harris was unable to appear, though all the
other newspapers said next morning that
she did appear. Noorchestra was present; the
pianaforte accompaniments were by Messrs.
John Pritchard and Rinehart Mayer, who
did the best they could in the dark. Beyond
mentioning these salient features it is un-
necessary to 90 further into the details of
this pleasant concert. The programme read
thus:
..r,,-,,..
Iay break ,,-.-.:---. .Fan1ng
ohiS oiloe MORE -: ......-'--....-.-.holr
Mr.. Ed Edstrom.
''when Know That Thou Art Near Me-.
Miss Irene Sample, Mr.. John Horner.
sunset Buck