The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-10-15
Opening at Bangor a Great
Success.
MAGNIFICENT AUDITORIUM WE'LL
FILLED WITH PEOPLE.
Director Chapman Given an Ovation
While Audience Went Wild when
Nordica Appeared-The Affair an I'm
qualified Success,
ESPECIAL TO THE rREss.]

ESPECIAL TO THE PREES.j
bangor, October 14.-The Maine Musi-
cal iestlval, or the Bangor share of it, be-
gan this evening. 1t is held in the build
ing whlchsthe Bangor people have erected
especially for it's accommodation. In
one respect this structure Is admirably
suited for its purpose. Inside it looks
like an enlarged copy of the Bijou skat-
ing rink, that Portland structure which
became prey to the flames number of
years ago. 1t stands near the entrance to
Maplewood park, where the Eastern
Maine fairs are held. 1t Is apparently
about the size of the big rink on Peaks
Island in Portland harbor. and its interi-
or is about as bare, the long rows Of cleo
trio lights which hang from the girders
and trusses making it's roughness only
too apparent.
However, when the great stage is filled
with the chorus of 800 voices and the au-
dience are in the seats on the floor and in
the galleries these things are forgotten.
The first evidence of the Musical Festi-
val which the late arrival finds is the fact
that he cannot get room in any of the
Bangor. hotels. All the sleeping accom-
modations were engaged days ago. 1t Is
said that the boarding houses are SINH
lariy crowded and there are many Bangor
homes in which the singers are being n
tertained.
Every train today has brought its addi-
tions to the ranks Of the choruses. It
was an amusing experience to ride on one
Of these trains. After leaving Augusta,
the singers began to be very much in evil
donce. In the smoking car, man
pulling away at a briarwood pipe, be-
tween whiffs, was holding forth to SYM
pathetic listener on the beauties of the
Hallelujah chorus. Back in one of the
coaches group of young people were RS.
hearsing one of the numbers on the pro-
gramme and in all the cars-except the
smoker-were evidences that the dress
| their skill. The singers were mostly
| women; the women were mostly young
| and for the most part they seemed to be
attired in brand new gowns. ~
AS prelude to the Festivaly there was
q rehearsal this afternoon to which the
public were admitted upon the payment
of twenty-five cents each. The portion OF
| the public which availed themselves of
this opportunity was not, perhaps, as
numerous as were the singers on the
stage. Those who went saw tier upon
tier of men and women, beginning with
the orchestra at the front of the stage and
rising to the rafters at the rear Mr.
Chapman has secured good musicians for
the orchestra and their accompaniment
are delightful feature of the Festival.
The afternoon rehearsal was an informal
affair. In several of the choruses, the
sharp rapping of the conductors baton
called halt and Il new start was made
to correct some fault.
1t should cot be inferred from this
however, that the work of the chorus was
anything but praisworthy. They sang
with spirit and precision and the volume
was great enough to penetrate to the
farthest reoesses If theiba like structure
Interspersed with the three or fou1
chorus numbers were solos.b Mr. Gwilym
Miles, the baritone, and Mr.. John M
Fulton, the tenor, both of which were
loudly applauded. The rehearsal showed