The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-12-08
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The seid1 Festival.


The Metropolitan Opera House orchestra of
New York, MIR. Anton Seidl, conductor, made
its first appearance in this city last evening in
the Stockbridge Course before large and de-
lighted audience Besides musical people OF
Portland, there were large delegations present
from other cities in Maine, and they were well
repaid for their journey.
Portland has been favored with all the great
orchestras, from the first organization of Theo-
dore Thomas to Anton Seidl, together with Gill
more's and Sousa's great bands, and it must be
admitted that, judging from the numbers Sc
lected for last evenings programme, the Metro
politan Orchestra takes rank with all of them.
From the overture, No. 8, to Beethoven's FL
delio-which is generally called the Lenore,
No. 3, because Beethoven wrote several over
lures to the opera and this one was the third
to Massenet's ballet music to LIE Cid, every
number received the most skilful treatment and
admirable Interpretation. The quality OF the
orchestra was excellent; strings. brass and
woodward were all of the best with their ricn-
ness and volume OF tone, superb coloring, deli
cate shading, grandeur of climaxes. as COM
bined under the magic baton of their conduc-
tor. The overture to Lenore is more than an
overture, it is fantasia in the variety and bril-
liancy of its score and its rendering was re-
warded by hearty applause. The familiar
'sPeer Gynt," first produced here by the Boston
Symphony Orchestra, and very lately by Sou
sa's Band, reused the audience to the greatest
enthusiasm and Mr. Seidl was twice
recalled, but no encores at these
concerts are permitted. The double
number, "Traumere" and "Bluette," gave to
their hearers in the first selection Schuman's
charming trif1e which Theodore Thomas in
troduced here, while the second sprang into
favor at once. The delicate yet tender passion
of the first contrasted delightfully."- with the airy
grace and daintiness of the second. Wagner's
"Ride of the Valkyries'' was the number of the
evening 1t was not only grand, it was thrilling.
How thrilHngly the strings rendered the mad
rush of the valkyries. One held his breath as
if fearful that he would be borne down in the
irresistible onset of the phantom host The
march from Saint Saens' "Henry VIII.'' was
sufficiently bizarre, and of much warmth of
expressive, and the ballet music from LIE Cid,
like all of its class, taking and effective.
Miss Fabris has delightful voice, which the
superb Accompaniment, made great addition
to- 1t is of large compass, exceedingly flexible,
anu Ill uOTIttlI6 udo tdb CudliDo lOl ulSpidy.
In her second number by Meyerbeer the harp
and flute had great effect The lady is hand
some and of fine stage presence.
Mr. Emil Fischer's grand bass voice, his cor
rect singh and admirable method were heard
to great advantage in his aria from Halevy's
"JeweSs.''
This afternoon popular concert will be given,
and tonight will be Wagner night.
The White Squadron.
Great interest is manifested in the coming en-
gagement of the patriotic and romantic
drama, 'The White Squadron" at the Portland
Theatre next Monday and Tuesday evenings.
The play requires an enormous amount of
scene ry and accessories, and in one act, the
third, there are over 100 people Oh the stage at
once. The play is full of scenic and patriotic
attractiveness, and the box office returns indi-
cate highly prosperous engagement. Robert
billiard, the fay0rite heroic actor, and May
Wheeler, the beautiful and talented emotional
actress, are members of the cast.
Notes.
The Samaritan Association will bring out the
opera priscilla with Mr.. Kotzschmar as con-
ductor and with a number OF the leading sing
ers of Portland in the cast.
The Cecilian Quartette sang last night in the
Yarmouth Congregational church. Friday eve
ming they will sing for the Knights OF Pythias
at Brunswick.
Next Thursday Dockstader's Minstrels will
be seen at Portland Theatre.