The Portland daily press., 1897-06-09
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
Concert by the Haydn Association.

Last evening @ fine audience was drawn
to City hall by the knowledge that the
Haydn association would give concert
at which selections from the music to be
given at the grand musical festival in
October, would be sung, and the choruses
directed. by Mr.. w. R. Chapman of New
York, the manager of the festival
Mayor Randall introduced Mr.. Chap
man to the audience. He spoke briefly,
but to the point. He explained what the
festival would consist of and what it
meant to Portland. He complimented
Mr.. Chapman on his energy and perse-
verence and said that he did not think in
his vocabulary there was any such word
as fail. He hoped Mr.. Chapman would
be heartily supported by our business men
who would put their shoulder to the
wheel and help the enterprise along.
Then Mr.. Chapman came forward and
was warmly applauded. He made very
bright witty speech in which he ex-
planned the details of the festival What
Mr.. Chapman said is in great measure set
forth in another part of this paper under
the head of sThe Musical Festival" Mr..
Chapman spoke of the desire expressed
by Miss Cary-Mrs. Raymond-and Nine.
NordIca that he should come to Maine
and see what he could do for the state
unsteady. He said that Maine may know
more Greek and Latin than other states,
but that musically considered she is fifty
years behind the times He referred to
the great festival to come off in New
York at the beginning of the twentieth
century and he wanted Maine represented
in the chorus. He spoke of the fact that
this festival would be worth $125, 900
during the days of the performances. He
said THAI $50 ladies and gentlemen of this
city would receive an invitation to be-
come the patrons of the festival at So a
season ticket; and they would influence
the general public to attend. He made
some sharp hits at the solo singers who
decline to sing in chorus because they
would be afraid it would spoil their
voices, and yet the great singers in New
York didn't hesitate to sing in chorus.
He begged all of them to remember that
never again would such chance be
afforded at such prices to hear such a
class of singers, or such an orchestra at
the coming fall, unless it was a great
success, guaranteeing future festivals.
If Mr.. Chapman-who was heartily ap-
plauded at the close of his speech-thought
Maine audiences were chilly, must he have
changed that opinion before the close of
the evening. The Haydns seemed in
spired by him and the most Of their
chorus work they shaded we'll, attacked
with spirit, and the voices harmonized
well. The number Evening was
beautifully given and deservedly encored,
and they gave the Hallelujah churus with
old time vigor. The soloists were all in
excellent voice and enthusiastically en-
cored. Miss Sallie Akers gave the air
from philemon and Baucis" with adj
mirable voice and phrasing, and for en-
core quaint ballad. Mrs. White sang
her Song Provencal' as she especially
knows how to do, and for an encore a
song of Harvey Murray's, who accom-
panied so delightfully."- throughout the eve
ming. Miss Crafts friends were strongly
in evidence and she gave for an encore,
after her dignifled rendering of the air
from "La Gioconda" spring song.
Mrs. Fellows was warmly applauded after
her solo work in Rossini's "Inf1amma-
tus," and Mr.. Coyle was equally favored
in the ''Battle Hymn" Miss Rice sang
several of Mr.. Chapman's songs charm
ingly, and Mr.. Barnard's fine tenor
pleased in Handel's "Total Eclipse" Mr..
Macy's rich bass was heard to great adj
vantage. The sextette from "Lucian"
was omitted.
Mr. and Mrs. Homer Chase of Lewiston
were in the audience and were warmly
applauded when Mr.. Chapman referred to
the hard work Mr.. Chase was doing for
the festival.
Whittier's Comedians.
Whittier's Comedians who occupy the
stage of Portland theatre all of next week
constitute one of the best repertoire orga-