The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-07
I'll NAY FESTIVAL.
Review Or the works 70 BE Presented
ut Event.

music ~ tie prospects, that u.s.
nuaI series of entertainments this year are
more encouraging than ever before. From
a purely artistic standpoint, they say there
is no doubt of the anticipated success.
With the greatest array of artists of any
festival in the country, with a carefully
drilled chorus of 100 trained voices. and pro-
grammes that will present the representa-
tive works of the great composers, there
is promise of much better things than even
Indianapolis has enjoyed before In the
nature of things these festivals are purely
a public enterprise for the advancement
of the musical culture of the city and State.
and their limitations have been fixed by a
necessarily restricted patronage. For this
years festival these limitations have been
almost entirely dispensed with. for the local
managers of the enterprise have engaged
two of the greatest artists in the world,
at a very high price, and a number of
others, who have high regulations. and
are particularly fitted to that part of the
work that will be intrusted to them.
The arrangements for the festival include
six concerts, four nights and two afternoons,
May IL, IA, Is and 16. This is one more con-
cert than has ever before been given, and
this is added so as to give all the artists
engaged an opportunity to display their
capabilities. and to present representative
y - ti~ a -
opening night there will be given a mis-
cellaneous concert, of which Nine. Melba
down or the programme for two arias and
the duet from 9Th Creation with Mr..
uous triumphs have demonstrated the fact
that Melba is, perhaps, the greatest lyric
artist in the world. In New York and
Chicago she was easily the queen of the
grand opera seasonal distinction which
easily obtained. at st. Louis last week, also:
At all these places on the "Melba nights
seats were sold at a premium, ana even
then there were not enough to supply the
demand. A gentleman from this city who
went to Chicago to hear two or three of
the operate performances paid SIS for two
seats on the night Melba was in the cast,
night, when Emma Games was the prirna
donna, he paid but So. After the close of
comes from New York to indianapolis for
her appearance here, and then directly back
to New York, whence she will sail for
England to sing in grand opera at London.
She has refused almost all the concert and
festival engagements that have been offered
her, and the local directors regard them
selves as having been particularly fortu-
nate in securing her services, although they
will have to pay an enormous price to get
Tuesday night of the festival will be 'Ro-
mantle night" with a highly diversified
Inlay Day and sFair Ellen" the latter
being Max Bruch's dramatic %cantata, which
be repeated in accordance with many re-
quests, and because it is one of the most
stirring, compositions ever written. It will
be recalled that Nine. EameS did not score
very heavily in it here last year, probably
because she did not make any particular
effort to do so. This year Nine. Nordica is
to sing the soprano part, and she is much
too thorough an artist not to do it admira-
bly,. Nordica's surprising vocal attain
ments, her personal attractiveness, her
gracious ways, have made her the most
popular singer who comes to indianapolis.
and on account of this she was not only
engaged for the great Wagner concert that
is to be given at the festival. but for an
Ellen"
ing, the piece de resistance being Saint
Saens's great work, samson and De-
lilah." This choral work. as it VIII be
than an hour, with an intermission of ff-
teen minutes between the first and second
acts. For it Mrs. Julie L. Wyman, one of
engaged, because of her having made a
great hit in it wherever she has sung it,
especially tutored in it by Sain-Saens, the
composer, whose pupil she was for many
lieve that the presentation of this work
will be the greatest accomplishment of the
are enthusiastic about it, the music is so
stirring and spirited. Samson and De-
lilah'' is the principal work being given at
all the Eastern festivals this year, and
selections from it are being heard in nearly
all the big concerts, The Boston Festival
done it eight times before they get here.
The crowning concert of the festival will
es,a the nWa sran, ing hlgn 1esaa wnlcn wo WIKI i af 1he
great composer, presented by singers who
are especially fitted for this style of work
clude Nine. Nordica, Max Heinrich, Will
liam H. Rieger, Miss Gertrude May Stein
and Mrs. Jennie Palink Walker. Of these
Mrs. Walker and Mr.. Rieger are new here,
but have made regulations for themselves
as singers of Wagnerian music in the East.
Miss Stein is a charming vocalist, while
Nordica is acknowledged to be the greatest
singer of these works in the world. a dis
~tinction that was universally conceded to
her after her triumph at Bayreuth last
summer. She will appear four times in the
Tie advance sale of seats for the festival
will not begin until Friday, May 3. The
prices of season tickets for the six con-
certs will be $4 gallery, S., So and $40, ac-
cording to the respective locations.
Musical Notes.
Special music will be given this evening
at the Second Presbyterian Church.
The Pomeroy quartet will assist in the
music at the First Baptist Church this
evening.
Prof. A. Ernestinoff. of this city, and his
pupils at Kokomo gave a successful con-
cert Wednesday evening in that city.
On account of the illness of Mrs. F. NJ.
by the CrescenGo Club for a reception TO
Mrs. Hunter, who is president of the club,
have been recalled.
The quartet choir of Meridian-street NJ.
E. Church has resigned, and Mr.. Max
Leckner will have charge of the music. A
chorus choir will be organized from men,
bers of the Y. P. S. c.. e. The quartet will
continue together and await another en-
gagement.
Modern composers were considered by the
Amateurs yesterday afternoon at the meet
ing. Hummel Czerney, John Field and
Moscheles, the chosen ones. and Miss Will
liams, Miss Marmon and Miss Wilson read
the papers. The musical programme was in
charge of Miss Katie Levey.
The Misses Akass gave a musicale at
their home on North Meridian street Thurs
day evening in which the participants were
Misses Grace Watson, Estelle Spencer
King, Minnie, Lolita and Grace Akass. the
Anola Mandolin Club and Mr.. R.. r.. Bu-
chanan. The musicale was for the benefit
OF the Talbott-avenue Mission
On Thursday evening Mrs. Henry A..
Beck entertained the members of the SUI
preme and Appellate Courts, with their
wives and other friends, with an informal
musicale in honor of Miss Nellie Ahern. re-
firing State librarian. Mrs. Beck had gath
cred about her artists and musicians of
note, and the affair was one of the most
enjoyable musicales given his season.
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