River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-04-29
THE AFTER-EAsTER CONCERT.
A Charming Musical Festival by a
Charming Corps of Artists.

Charming Corps of Artists.
Altogether the most delightful
event of the year, musical or social.
was the After-Easter Concert given
Friday evening at Opera Hall by Miss
Hopes Violin and Mandolin Orchestra
of st. Paul. The Eastern Star,
under whose auspices the concert was
arranged, were well aware Of its fetch
ing merits, and saw to it that no
lover of good music should lack a
seat at the Hall. BY reason Of this,
and the instant enthusiasm that
sprang up in our midst, on the arrival
from St. Paul of a bevy of young
women safely conveyed by two chap
erones, there were not a great many
seats to spare when the program
was opened at about eight O'Clock
by a resounding symphony. Begin
ming with this mber, with its four
vlolins, six mandolins and double
accom- paniment, the enthusiasm of
the audience already grew noisy, and
before a half dozen numbers with
inevitable encores) had been run of,
what, with sweeping airs from the
orchestra, rich voices and winning
ways, the girls had quite turned the
heads of half the town.
There was, in fact, so keen a
sympathy and so cordial an under
standing between the entertainers
and their audience that the encores
in each instance seemed to be the
very thing called for, the exact com
plement of the program number.
There was, besides distinct novelty
in the program; it had strength, and
gaiety and classic finish and wealth
of volume, and all these in what
seemed just the right proportion and
in refreshing variety. For why
should we remark, much less com
plain, that Miss Godfrey's violin
solo-the concerto No. went a
trifle oyer the heads of most of
us; this disturbed us only because
(as some one pointedly put it, "we
really didn't expect more than our
moneys worth, and felt compelled to
leave an extra quarter at the door. "
Or why should it ever enter our heads,
after the concert, that the program
lcas really trille long;-for didn't we
insist on doubling it?
To comment on the program in
detail would be a bit confusing, but
certain things persist in ones memory
and compel word or two. The
orchestra was always uplifting and
won smart applause, and the violin
numbers were most cordially taken
Miss Alcott after her first solo, the
Ave Maria, was given a decided 0ya
ton. There was in her voice 6
willowy suppleness and certain
sweet resonance that won instant
admiration. BY feryency Of utter
ance and gesture, and an intuitivC
frankness of the eyes, she locked
interests with her audience and held
them spellbound.
Ted Simpson was hearty fayorite
and Miss Dora Simpson in her read
ings. especially the encore, quite
captigated her hearers. The Estu
diantina as sung by Misses Alcott anC
Hope was both the admiration and
despair of our own delightful Sapphos
who sometimes sing the piece. The
two voices, soprano and alto, gave tC
the theme winsome dash and volume
that made the limits of the old hal
resound with an unwonted melody
The closing number but one, was a
solo 10y Miss Alcott, sung in the
liquid Italian syllables and with hel
usual magnetic force. She ha6
already been encored again and again
and upon the applause breaking out
after this number, simply returned
bowed, and finally, with bird-like
kiss. Now this airy salute, innocent
enough in itself, caused such conster
nation in certain stout hearts in the
pit. that at least one good citizen
whose voice has been heard ia the
austere halls of the nations capital,
must perforce make an early-morning
pilgrimage to the depot to discover,
if possible, for whom the kiss was
| intended.
The concert, indeed, could scarcely
have been more enjoyable, and judg.
ing from the reports that reach us,
each home that entertained the
young ladies was perfectly willing to
adopt them and very 10th to let them
go. As for the young ladies each one
stayed at ''just the loveliest place in
town." and all are quite willing, it
would seem, to come again. For our
part, we say heartily, MAY it be
| soOn."