Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-20
IN M USICAL CIRCLE S
Matters of Interest in Reference to Man,
Washington Musicians.
Homer Lind Making Success In
En&la nd-PlensRnt Mention of
SOusa and Fanci0lli.

Mrs Nellie Wilson Shir-Clif made
great success at the recent musical festival
In Spartanburg, 8. c. She was engaged
but for tW o rights, but owing to the Illness
of the soprano. who was to sing on the
third night. Mrs. Shir-Cliff was secured to
take her place She had to study a long
part, which she had never before seen. in
one day. but she accomplished the task
and sang i'll such manner as to gain the
highest praise of the audience and of those
who were associated with her in the per-
Torrance.
Mr. VIM. T. Southard's piano recital at
Takoma last Tuesday night was the first
formal appearance of that gentleman as
public performer He played a program
that was quite varied. ard which required
great techr zeal skill. as we'll high mu-
sicianly intelligence, for it's proper inter-
probation. 1t included selections from the
works of Beethoven. Handel Mendelssohn,
Chopin. Schumann, Gottschalk. LisZt and
s. b. Mills. His audience was large, intel
Hgent and appreciative, the applause after
each number being liberal Miss Mary
Helen Howe assisted him. singing two
numbers. both of which were encored. AT
the conclusion of the recital both MIR.
Southland and Miss Howe were warmly
congratulated by many of those who had
listened to their efforts.
The Sunday evening musical services at
the Church of the Covenant have been
highly pleasing both to the pastor, Rev
DIR. Hamlin and to the congregation.
The chorus that has been trained by MIR.
c. j. Toof, the organist, is doing excellent
work, and the soloists have been agree
able. Mr.. Bernard A. Ryan, basso, was
tie soloist on the first Sunday. and Miss
Alice Pilsbury. contralto, sang last Sun
day. Tomorrow night Mr.. W. d. McFar-
land. tenor. will sing solo, and his reputa-
ton is Well known. Next Sunday Miss
Mary Helen Hove. soprano, will sing. The
organ Vcluntaries of MIR. ToOf and his ex-
quisite ecccmpaniments are features of
these services MIR. Toof has not been
beard in public save Al the church, but he
is one of the best performers in this city,
and only his modesty has prevented this
fact being more generally known. Next
season 1t is hoped nc may be heard in
concert
Homer Lind, the young baritone of this
city. who has had such successful season
with the Carl Rosa English opera troupe
In Great Britain, had intended to come
nome and spend the summer with his
parents here, but it is learned that he has
just signed a contract with that company
for two years more. and that Will prevent
his visiting America now OF recent Fer
formance by Mr. Lind of the part of Beck
messer in The Mastersinsers," the musical
critic of the Northern Gossip Of Newcastle
on-Tyne thus speaks:
But 1 think I am expressing the uni
versai opinion that the great success of the
performance was mainly due to the excep-
tionally fine reading of the 'Beckmesser'
part by Mr. Homer Lind.
The whole of the comical incidents of
the MaSterSingerS come IL the wake of
'Beckmesser-' The real Beckmesser, town
clerk of Nuremberg, was neither a fool nor
wit He was more of a knave, but the
good conceit he had Of himself outran at
times. his cunning and placed him in the
most ridiculous positions without being
aware of Ii. A great deal of versatility of
talent is required tG show such character
in its true light, and in most cases 1t is
burle5qued To represent the many ludi-
crous and ridiculous incidents in which
BeckmeSser gets mixed up in a manner to
be inimitably and irresistibly funny with
out bordering on the burlesQue is a mas
terly achievement. and in this Mr.. Homer
Lind fully succeeded Nothing could have
been finer than his assumed dignity as the
Marker. his grotesQue rendering of the
Serenade or the unction with which he
sang the stolen priZI Song. Mr.. Homer
Lind Is very clever ard conscientious
artistic Whatever part is intrusted to him.
be II large or a small one is bound to
receive a highly capable and Intelligent
reading. He carefully masters every phase
and detail of the characters he has to rep
resent, end thoroughly and faithfully por-
trays them OF all the psrts he has so far
portrayed. his 'Beckmesser stands out
most prominently. and all over 1t is con-
sidered to be one of the finest impersona-
tions imaginable. 1 have seen a good few
BeckmeSSers in my time, but never such a
good one Mr.. Lin Is"
Mr.. Leo Wheat. the pianist, has been
making successful tour in the south and
was particularly we'll received in Atlanta.
Ga. The Journal of that city says: For
several hours a large party of prominent
ladies and gentlemen of the beau monde
sat completely entranced by the wonderful
charm of this polished artists music His
Interpretation of the choice and beautiful
selections that he rendered, his tonal DOW
hoe
equaled in Atlanta. Every one present was
enthusiastic in pronouncing the musicale
one of the most pleasant and brill ant ever
given in this city
The Atlanta Constitution thus speaks of
Mr.. Wheat's work:
"One must hear this gifted genius to ap-
preciate the rare spontaneity and wonder
full expression he gives to everything he
plays. Music to him Is the language Of
love, and under his magnetic fingers the