The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-04-17
l THE G0UN0D FESTIVAL
-ARR1NG EMENTS COMPLETE FOR
THE OPENING CONCERT TONIGHT.

The Armory Transformed-Ladies I'm
Observation-Disclosures Klafsky Talks of
Her Career Bulow's Tribute
General Admission Placed at Fifty Cents.
The Gounod festival will begin to-
night at the armory at o'clock prompt
All the arrangements are complete and
everything promises an suspicious be-
ginning to the most important musical
undertaking ever known in this state.
Everything possible to do has been
done to make the affair great success.
The committee in charge has spared
neither time nor expense. The great
est artists in the country have been
secured. Both the Metropolitan and
Damrosch organizations yield their
biggest stars. Joseffy, Americas
greatest pianist, is to play. Two of our
best composers, Messrs. Parker and
Chadwick, are to grace the occasion
and contribute novelties to the pro-
grams. Finally Signor Agramonte and
the enormous augmented chorus OF the
Gounod society. 1t hardly seems posi-
BILE to have all this right here in New
Haven; but we are to have it this year,
and if we like it sufficiently to pay
our good money (not very much money
either) this time, we shall enjoy the
same privilege every year,
All day long yesterday a corps OF
workmen were laboring in the armory
erecting an enormous platform ten rect
high First broad platform for the
orchestra and soloists. Above this rise
nine tiers way up over the gallery for
the enormous chorus. Mr.. Agramon-
ties rostrum stands out in front OF the
whole. ,The front ana sides are draped
and the floor of the platform has been
CRASHED" The boxes have been aban-
doned as unfeasible and inartistic.
They were too near the platform for
the comfort of the occupants and 1t
was thought that the room they would
take up was too valuable. The box
holders have received seats in the body
of the house. They took the boxes with
this agreement.
The governor and the Boston peo-
pie are to be together.
Prof. Sanford will take a party of his
pupils.
The following arrangements have
been made for the dressing rooms: The
Foot Guards armory will be given to
the chorus, the parlor to the ladies and
\ the drill room to the men. The SOLO
| lists have the Grays' room. The squad
| drill room has been assigned to the or
chestra, The chorus will reach the
platform by the staircase on the right.
The orchestra and soloists have a
special approach from beneath the gal
| lery.
The ladies in the audience are spec
. tally requested by the management to
come unbonneted, or at least to remove
their head-gear if 1t will in any way OBJ
struct the view. This is especially nee
essary at the arnory where all the seats
are on the same level.
There will be force of twenty ushers
on hand to attend to the seating of the
vast audience. Yale students are to
| act in this capacity.
There are some 800 seats in the gall
lery. These will not be reserved but
will be sold to the first corners for
fifty cents.
The gallery will be an ideal place to
hear from, but there will be a. great
rush for these seats These gallery
tickets and general admission to all
parts Of the house will be placed on sale
at o'clock at the armory tonight.
The sale Of reserved seats goes on at
Steinert's all through the day up to 6
o'clock this evening, when the sale
will be transferred to the armory At
the armory the reserved seats sale will
\ coz fo, I, Of at1{- nf
town contingent. At the rush comes
on.
The sale was fine at Steinert's yester-
day. All day there was a steady line
Of purchasers, and the store was kept
open in the evening for the accommodate
ton Of those who cannot come during
the day. All towns people are recon-
mended to purchase their tickets at
Steinert's to avoid the crush at the
armory. There is not an undesirable
seat in the place. The seats for this
evening have nearly all disappeared
Over 5000 chairs from the Bowditch
& Prudden shop were delivered at the
armory yesterday. Two men were kept
busy marking the numbers on the
backs. They We're placed in position
late last night The aisles are broad
and there should be no difficulty about
finding the right seats.
The orchestra and Miss Stein come
this morning getting here just in time
for the rehearsal. The chorus rehear-
sal for tonight is at 3 o'clock this af-
ternoon. M Plancon will be here at
that hour. M. Plancon will return di-
rectly to New York after the concert
Ito sing in the great cast for the "Hu-
guenots'' Saturday afternoon.
The performances of Saturday prom
Use to come as near perfection as it is
possible to have things in this world
Campanari sings with Melba in opera
tonight, but will be UP here early to-
morrow morning for the rehearsal
Brema sings in Boston with Plunkett
Greene to-day and will arrive from
Boston either tonight or early to-mor-
row morning. Ben Davies is, of course,
to be here.
In another column will be found an
account of an interview with Frau
Klafsky and her husband, and some
news about the afternoon and evening
programs.
New Trial Granted.
Bridgeport, April 16.-Jordan, Marsh
b Co., wholesale merchants of Boston,