The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-18
1T WAS THE BEST YET.
Seibert's Opening Concert at the
Metropolitan. =.

The very first test proved the wis
dom Of Director Seibert in procuring
the Metropolitan opera house for his
Sunday afternoon symphony concerts
. Environment adds hundred per cent
to the success Of an occasion IL the sur
roundingS are attractive. But it was
not wholly the environment which
made yesterdays concert the best Of
the season, and perhaps the best in two
years. 1t was the excellence of the
work Of the orchestra, and in fairness
it is well to state that Mr.. Seibert pro-
poses to maintain the standard for the
rest of the season which he set for him
self yesterday. 1t was the first time
this season that the vocal numbers of
the programme came up to the expec-
tations of the audience. The singers
were under the direction of Prof Emil
Onet, and the excellence of the vocal
portion of the programme again
showed the wisdom of the arrange
ments, and proved that vocalist can
lead singers better than a director Of
an orchestra. -.-.--.s -~.. zs--
The esprit de corps of the orchestra
was a characteristic of the afternoon
work, coming after some of the failures
of weeks past. The men played with
more real interest, and seemed to feel
the spirit Of the pieces they played.
There was less mechanical work.
The first two numbers are always faa
vorites-the march from ''Tannhauser''
and the overture from william Tell y
The numbers were better adapted to
the large opera house than they were
to Conover hall, where the same num-
bers have been heard before at a dis
advantage, owing to the small space.
-Four short numbers by MaSSenet fol-
lowed, and the strings came together
for the accompaniment to the contralto
solo by Mrs. Allen Krieger
Mrs. Krieger sang from the opera
Linda di ChanouniX," by Donizetti, In
the Italian. She certainly scored a
success. Mrs. Krieger has a voice of
rare quality, and it's tones were well
suited to the music and the language
Of sunny Italy. Mr.. Onet personally
conducted the orchestra as the latter
played the accompaniment. Mrs.
Krieger graciously gave an encore. a
popular ballad, which showed other
and equally Fascinating qualities in her
voice.
The orchestra played Mr.. Seibert's
arrangement of Nevins' "Narcissus
The peace is we'll known and is a piano
favorite. At an orchestra number it is
rather catchy but would have been
more satisfactory had it been played
with more emphasis, and, perhaps,
faster.
A. P. Quesne1, always popular local
tenor, sang La Donna Mobile by
Verdi There is an earnest enthusiasm,
a fire and a contagious sympathy in
Mr.. QuesnePs singing which would
make him a success in almost any
country. By birth he is French, and
there is just enough of an accent in his
enunciation to make his songs in Eng
1ish very fetching. Mr.. Quesnel gave
an encore, and was asked for another,
but did not respond. Prof. Onet is Ge-
serving Of praise for his direction of
the singers.
The concluding numbers by the or
chestra were grand selection from
Verdi's opera "Traviata" and Suppe's
overture 3nRique Dame" These two
numbers showed conclusively that the
orchestra has been putting in some
hard work. and has been augmented by
new blood. If Mr.. Seibert will keep it
UP the public will show it's appreciation
in the proper manner.