Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03
IN W. SICAL CIRCLES
The Development of Amateur Opers in
This City.
Some Notable Performances IN Pass
fears-Other Matters Of later.
est To Musicfans,

III is always pleasant to note the develop-
ment of Washington talent, and Il IN san>
70 say that there are few cities that can
show more musical ability in every branch
OF the art. Better amateur operate per-
formances have been given here than m
any other city. From the first amateur
opera which was given in the building thar
stooo on the site Of Harris BiJou Theater,
IN 1870. down to the Juvenile "Pinaforss
gwen this afternoon at the New National
hea,er' All the amateur performances
nave been successful and some OF them
Mouio nave been creditable to professionals
OF extended reputation. That first opera
was Martha" and the cast included Nrs
lamp as Lady Henrietta; Miss Al
ole randall. as Nancy: Lionel, Mr. s. II.
Nltherow; Plunkett, Mr.. s. @. Young; SIP
tristan, Mr.. Ed. Harrington, and sheriff.
NE. w. & Hill. Miss Addie Randall has
since made success upon the professional
operauc stage, and the same may be saia
OF MI s. G. Young. Mr.. Harrington IN the
only one Of the cast who has died. ana the
others are still in the city. one of the moss
anol,ious amateur attempts was the
presentation of Faust" with Miss Eva
Miils as Marguerite, in which she surprised
and gratified her friends by her excellent
singing. 1t may be remarked that Miss
fore in this country when il was produced
at the Standard Theater In New York, and
mat she played the character with dis
lIhguished success for whole year. Il
may be further stated that "Pinafore' was
produced in this city by amateurs before IL
had Its professional representation in New
YORK The cast was: Mrs. Camp, as Jose
prime; Mrs IL c. Sherman, Buttercup; Mr..
5ohh ". Pugh, Ralph Rackstraw; Mr. w.
d Daniel, Capt. Corcoran; Mr.. Z. b. Hay.
CIR Joseph Porter, and Mr.. Howard Ny.
man, Dick Deadeye.
The performance this afternoon has de-
veloped one young Washingtonian In an
excellent degree, and that is Mr. Harry
wheaton Howard, who will WELD the baton
ana be responsible for the musical part OF
the work. Mr.. Howard is a young man,
who has given several years since he left
the High School to the earnest and con-
scientous study of music. He was abroad
Tor five years under the best masters and
he returned not only an excellent pianist
and organist, but he has proved himself a
composer of ability. His development as a
conductor is the natural result Of his thor
ough equipment, and the work he has done
with this large band of children shows his
power tact and magnetism.
The Choral Society is negotiating with
soloists and orchestra for The Creation"
the date OF which will probably be " ednes-
day, April 4. The question of the possi-
bility of giving Samson and Delilah" this
season is still undecided. but IL Is believed
that IL would be unwise to incur the adj
ditional financial responsibility during the
existing business depression. There has
been change in the officers of the society
the past week, Mr.. Stevens having resign
ed his position as secretary, and Mr. Nor
man ii. Camp. the efficient librarian be-
ing elected to the vacancy. MIR. Stevens
continues at the head of the finance COM
mittee OF the board Of directors, and 90
such in active charge of the business az
ialrs OF the society. Mr.. Camp will b
remembered as the secretary of The old
washington operate Association. and viii
Society the necessary experience and good
judgment. MIR. Camps sucoe -sor as libra
Ran is Mr.. p. e. ]. Treano- than whom
there are few better known in active mu-
steal circles. Mr. Treanor is connected with
the Capital Glee Club. and is manager of
the philharmonic Club we'll
The Mount Vernon Choral Society, with
Mr. @. w. Lawrence as musical director,
Is now enjoying a well-earned reputation m
one OF the foremost musical organizations
in the city Like Others of it's kind. Il had
many reverses during its earlier struggles,
which Were often discouraging but by the
untiring energy of it's director and officers
IL has gained the prominence IL deserves
Inc date OF its Organization was January
Il, lsssi. with a membership OF only twenty
voices, and In June last IL gave its first
concert, which was an artistic success Dur
ing the summer months the society dis.
banded, but was reorganized September I
with an increased membership, and was
for its good work as a part Of
the great chorus which took part in the
Capitol centennial celebration. Furnishing
Tor that occasion over a hundred voices.
Its second concert was given November q
last, and, like the first. was highly credit.
able. The society voted to assist the WASH
ington Choral in their production Of the
Messiah, given in Convention Hall. and
with about sixty voices added much toward
making the great oratorio an artistic sue
cess. and again won public approval. The
society meets every Thursday evening at
Mt. Vernon Place Church, corner 9th and
be given some time I'm March, for the bene-
lit of the poor of the city.
Inc sale Of seats for the initial per.
Iormance OF The Three Dukes" ON
Tuesday afternoon next. though delayed
TIL Wednesday last, has been exception
ally large. The audience will be a large
ana intelligent one. and in IL Dalti-
more and Philadelphia will be represented.
Reports come from those who have been
fortunate enough to attend the rehearsals
that The music is not only bright and
catchy, but SOULFUL particularly some of
the numbers in the second act. 1t is safe
to say that this performance win be one
10 be long and favorsbly remembered by
Mashington play goers; The following
named ladies have given the performance q
urn that will make il the social event to
,lose the season of Jollity before Lent: Mrs.
Secretary Carlisle. Mrs. Secretary Smith.
Mrs. Postmaster General Bissell Miss Nor
gan. Mrs: Calderon Carlisle. Mrs. B. II.
Warner Mrs. John joy Edison. Mrs. G T.
Bell. Mrs. n. s. Lincoln. Mrs. DIR. Kerr,
vi LII TtHllsS. MIS- w. u. tfurley, Mrs.
2. kurtz Johnson. Mrs. G. Lloyd Msgruder,
Mrs. +. b. Hay, Mrs. w. Il. Moses, Mrs.
Nm. c. Whittemore Miss Waite Mrs A.
4. Lpscomb. Mrs. n. +. Leighton, Mrs p
V. DeGraw. Mrs. Albert Harper Mrs A
n. Gait. Mrs. Dieudonne. Mrs. Henry L
West. Mrs. A A. Thomas. Mrs DIR. Ham
nett. Mrs. NJ. NJ. Parker. Mrs. John a.
Judd, Mrs. II. T. Davis. The cast IS as fol-
ows; Miss Grace Lynne McCulloch Miss
Alice Judson. Miss Fannie Alice Miss
Gertrude MeCulloch, Mr.. w. H. Harris.
Mr.. Frank Rebstock. Mr.. Charles Skerrett.
Mr. Felix Mahony, Mr.. Arthur Gardner.
NJ. Samuel Bruckheimer. MIR. w. Webster
'ullison. Mr.. r. T. Oliver and Master
Raleigh Luckett The chorus is represented
by the following ladies and gentlemen:
Misses BERTHE Reichenbach. Della Street
florence Mortimer. Daisy Joyce NJ Num-
tall. sara Higgins. Annetta Ford Marie de
fonceray, Hester Armstrong. Lille Stew.
UT. Annie Lovejoy NJ. McAlwee Minnie
iilligan, Sallie Shaw. Elinor Simonds w.
:. Barton. Lucie Mortimer. Gertrude Stew
rt Regina Baptista- Mamie Callan, Fan.
lie j. Campbell. Agnes V. Morgan, Gene
1eve l.. Ryder, Julia Shaw and Jessie Kap-
'eler: Messrs. Paul r. Grove Charles L.
Roy Howser Edwin ID. Flather, Louis H
rowe, William p. Churchill. T. A. Davis
edwin l.. Campbell. Paul w. Evans Geo
Fl. Mills. Charles Roberts. NJ. Hunter
ones. Morsell, J. Walter Morgan, Jesse @
brooke. Howard s. Burbank. J. A. Graham,
red y. Young, c. +. Mccoy. G. NJ How
I'd. Charles O. Martinez ~ = wtlsoo