Evening star., 1897-03-08
THE LAST CONCERT
A Big Crowd at the Pension Building Satur-
day Night.
Effective Work of the Chorus and VIC
tor Herbert's Band-COngratulate
by Chairman BELL.

Although the crowd in attendance upon
the last promenade concert at the pension
building Saturday night was not as large
the one Friday evening, 1t was, never
the!ess. sufficient to make walking around
the great court almost impossible, and to
cause some uncomfortable though not Sc
rious crowding at different times during
the evening" The bad weather undoubtedly
operated to keep down the attendance. but
such as il was the number is estimated to
he about 5000, only 200 less than on the
previous night.
The crowds began to arrive early, and
shortly after 3 o'clock over two-thirds of
the ball room was filled by close, compact
mass of people, waiting for the opening Of
the concert. A goodly number of evening
toilets were in evidence, and the scene. as
viewed from the first balcony, was an ami
mated one. The stand which the 800
singers were seated had been built directly
in front and connected with the band stand.
being draped in the prevailing colors white
and yellow, and the scene at this end of the
hall was pleasing in the extreme. All OF
the members of the chorus were in full
evening dress. and the splendid golden
gateway rising behind both band and
chorus made background that harmonized
or contrasted with the bright dresses of
the sopranos and altos to a marked degree.
By the time the first number was given al
mCst every inch of space on the floor, with
the exception of the far west end of the
court. and in the two galleries, was utilized,
and waking about was made extremely
difficult.
The program which had been selected
was one of the best of the series. the band
being assisted by the chorus of 800 we'll
trained singers. under the direction of Mr..
Percy S. Foster. The first number was
America. given by both band and chorus,
after which Nevn's "Narcissus' was given
by the band alone. medley of American
patriotic airs being played for an encore.
The chorus then sang two numbers. God
Bless Our President, and Americas Ma
tional Anthem The latter is the product
OF TWO Washington men, A. Tregina writ
ing the music and John Treanor the words.
The number was well received as was. in
deed. every selection the program. 1t is
stately hymn. full of power. and it was
given in the best style possible. Victor
Herbert's trio for cornets Polka Bril-
liante, followed. after which the chorus
gave the grand mach from 'Tannhauser =
u was in this number. perhaps. that the
chorus showed the best work of the even
ing. and well was it given that an en-
phatic encore followed, the number being
repeated Other band numbers were Mas
sanets Scenes Neapolitan, and selections
from The Wizard of the Nile the latter
being followed by three encores before the
crowd would be satisfied. The chorus also
sang the soldiers chorus from Faust" ar
ranged for mixed voices. and SO well was it
gwen that II aroused perhaps the most en-
thusiaStic demonstration of the evening
The large body OF singers did ample justice
10 the beautiful number the parts being
well balanced. and the encore which it re-
ceived was well earned in every sense The
last number was The Star Spangled Ban
ner. given by band and chorus and i'll
which the audience was requested to join
The members of the chorus waved small
flags during the singing. The band then
F,&yed Aud Lang Syne.' for which 1t was
app!auded heartily.
just before the last number Mr. Foster
stepped upon his stand and presented Judge
John c. CLANCY. chairman of the music
committee. Judge Chaney thanked the
members of the chorus and the band for
their efforts in making the concerts a
musical success. and said that the commit
tee was more than satisfied with the way
each had performed the duty assigned to it.
Chairman Charles J. Bel of the executive
committee was then introduced, and he also
added his thanks to those of Judge Chaney.
| Although the concert was over about IL
O'Clock. the people did not all leave the
| building until long after that hour, and the
| lights were put out before some had left
| A lumber of people were detected in the
act of stealing articles to be used as souv-
enirs. and some few arrests were made
| There were eighty-two policemen on duty
| but their services Were not required at all
| save in the stairways and at few corners
| during the concert.