New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-27
CINCINNATFS FESTIVAL ENDS
BRILLIANT CULMINATION OF THE
WEEKS MUSIC.
BERLIoz's REQUIEM MASS GIVEN WITH STIRRING
EFFECT-THE CHORUS DOES ITS
BEsT WORK.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rBrpryr &,

Cincinnati, May 26.-Amid scenes of extraordinary
spendor and enthusiasm the eleventh Cincinnati
May Musical Festival to an end tonight
The last concert was preceded by matinee with
a miscellaneous programme, at which the rising
tide of popular excitement which TO the full
at night manifest Nevertheless the culmlna-
ton passed all expectations. The Music Hall seats
about 1920 persons. and there probably 1000
more than that number in attendance to hear the
most brilliant programme of the week and cheer
Mr.. Thomas and the solo artists at the close. Gin
cnnatians pleasure-loving folk, and there
much to stimulate them to the high pitch Of excite
ment which prevailed all evening.
The chief number Of the programme was Ber-
liozs Mass for the Dead" which NEWCOMERS
know a highly sensational composition, with It's
crashing instrumental effects, introduced to give
vividness TO the picture Of the last judgments Mr..
Thomas made brave effort has yet been
made in the United States to realize the wishes Of
the composer in the organization OF the instru-
mental forces and the size and arrangement of the
stage enabled him to place the four supplementary
brass orchcstras 10 produce the dramatic
effect of the awful from the four quarters
of the earth which Berlioz had in mind when he
wrote his extraordinary work. The result
amazingly stirring The chorus. which has been the
cause of a fooiishly acrd discussion all week. was
strengthened by over 100 singers some OF them
members Of Mr.. Foleys Apollo Club which stands
for the best achievements in choral singing that
the city has to offer. and others members Of the
Dayton Society Of which the cholrmaster OF the
festival, MI. Blumenschein is conductor. The re-
suit was in a great gain both In volume and
quality Of tone, promptness OF attack and con-
ndence. so that OF the numbers were very
well sung. indeed SUI the wisdom and discretion
Of Mr. Thomas in emitting the unaccompaned
number I'm the mass. the "Quacrens me- was COM
mendab.e. Ii would have been venturesome TO at
tempt It, and a half-success would have marred the
performance greatly
The enlistment Of the men from the Apollo CLUB
and Of singers from the Symphony Club and the
Dayton Society may be entering wedge for
change the policy of the association with respect
10 the choir a return to something like the plan
originally followed OF encouraging the societies of
this and neiRhooring cities and combining them for
festival purposes. such a course would be advan-
tage0us TO n artistcay AMI financially. The expert
ence OF seven festivals has demonstrated the pract-
cal impossbility Of building up virtuoso choir at
the expense of all choral activity In the time inter-
vening between the festivals Osensbly the festival
choir devotes years to the preparation OF each
scheme. but. as a matter OF fact. the work Is all
done within the six months Immediately preceding
the festival
Mr. Ben Davies the solo tenor In the mass
and his beautiful singing OF the "Sanctus' was one
delights Of the week. The second part OF the
concert devoted to excerpts from "Tannhauser
and Die Meisersilger in which nearly all the s)l)
singers engaged FOR the festival participated
The cost Of the festival IL estimated at $4,000. and
the receipts VIII probably be 5000 or 5000 In excess
of that amount. Such result or course. insures Il
continuance of the festival H. h. K.