The Portland daily press., 1897-05-08
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Watkin-MiIls Concert.

Hlled by an audience of musical people
who were thoroughly delighted with the
magnificent voice, and superb method of
NJ. r. Watkins Mills, the CELEBRATED bari
tone. Mr.. Mills undertook feat that
few singers of his rank would care to at
tempt, that of giving an entire concert
with the assistance of pianist and
achieved marked success.
The programme which has been pub
lished, included a long list of selections
ranging from oratorio to ballard. In the
Handelean roulades as in..'' o Ruddier
Than the Cherry from "Acis and
Galatea," and the noble "Hear Me Ye
Winds and Waves" the grand school in
which Mr.. Mills received such careful
education was heard at its best. There
was such clearness of articulation and
phrasing, such fullness and resonance of
voice, and dignifed bearing that the ar
fist furnished a magnificent lesson to
singers even of long standing. His rem
dering of Mendelssohn' S I'm a Roam
err" from "Son and Stranger, that
has not been heard here in concert for
long time displayed his voice to great adj
vantage and aroused the enthusiasm of
his audience, greatly. The "Toreador"
song brought forth such a hearty encore
that he kindly replied with a song of
Sullivans that he gave with great spirit
81 would were king fair maid" But
it is needless to go into the programme
more extensively, although we might
dwell upon Schubert's "Wanderer,
Schumann's t'Two Grenadiers'', and his
capital descriptive singing of the could
Plaid Shawl
Mr.. Harvey Murray accompanied with
great taste as he always does, and his de-
lightful playing of the Chopin's ballad
in A fiat, brought forth a tumultuous
encore to which the pianist merely
bowed.
The Old Homestead.
1t is astonishing what a hold 1.-THE
? Old Homestead" has upon the theatre
going public. 1t has been on the board
for long time and yet it is almost as
big a drawing card now as it was when
Denman Thompson first appeared in the
title role. Archie Boyd is the Josh Whit
comb in the present company and he ap-
peared to be very satisfactory to the big
audience. Will Greasy was the Cy Prime,
Blanche Dayne the Rick ETY. Ann, Charles
H. Clark the Henry Hopkins, Bobby
Richardson, as Eb Ganzy, set every foot
to beating time as he played the fiddle
for the dance. Bobby grows little
s5outer and little grayer every year but
he is still the same old g Bobby of Chan
dler's band, and he got a good hearty
hand of applause when he appeared. The
Old Homestead Quartette headed by H.
j. Jose sang finely, and Katherine Mil
Ter delighted with HRock-a-By' with the
quartete as chorus.
There will be cowded audiences at the
matinee and evening performances today.
Sacred Concert.
At Portland theatre Sunday evening,
Chandler's band will give their
third concert, assisted by Mr.. John P.
WEIGH baritone, Mr.. F. o. Welcome
trombone; Mr.. ]. III. jacobson flute, Mr.
Fred J. Chapman cornet and Mr.. J. w.
: Woodbury. accompanist. The following
will be the programme subject to slight
changes:
Overture, Zampa IL Herold
Selection-Litt1e Christopher, Kerker
Duet-The Swiss and his Lass, Popp
Messrs. Jacobson and Chapman.
(al- Spanish Serenade, Yradia
(b)o Pitec Characteristique, Klein
hobold, Eilenberg
Song-Cavalry, Rodney
Concert Walton the Beautiful Blue
Danube, Strauss
March introducing Adeste Fideles
fT1bo 10 CT oo,,,,,ocitioy, oo,,s7uo+od Nv +ba
late P. S. Gilmore.)
Grand Selection from The Huguenots,
Meyerbeer
Trombone Solo, s Selected
Mr. Welcome.
Idyll-The Mill in the Forest, Eilenberg
Song, Selected
Mr.. WEIGH
March-The Old Club, (Request),
Schremser
Excerpt, from Robin Hood, DeKoven
Concert Caprice, E. G. Blanchard
Ethel Tucker
Next Monday evening the Ethel Tucker
and H. P. Meldon company will begin a
week of repertoire at Portland theatre
and no doubt it will be very entertain
ing and popular one. A standard play
will be produced at each performance and
clever specialties will be interspersed.
Popular prices will prevail. The Salem,
Mass, News says of the company:
''Its strongest feature is formed by the
capabilities of the leading lady, Miss
Tucker, and the leading man, Mr.. Mel
don. Never in a repertoire company
which has visited Salem has there APP
peared more finished actress than Miss
Tucker, and again and again her work
was applauded last evening. Her enun-
citation is well nigh perfect, and every
word she utters can be easily heard, while
she possesses that great faculty of not
overriding things in the strong emotional
parts. Mr.. Meldon was also we'll re-
ceiyed, as his work deserved. He has a
pleasing presence, good delivery, and
his voice is admirably suited to. the parts
he plays" ssF
Cherry Blossoms.
Early cherry blossoms appeared May
9th, one day earlier than last year and ten
days earlier than the average. AS the
elIns and cherries blossomed each ten days