The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-18
THE MAGNIFICENT PROGRAMME
OF THE MINNEAPOLIS MAY
MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
BARRON BERTHALD WAS ILL,
BUT MIME. BLAUVELT IAND SIG.
CAMPANARI SHARED IN THE
HONORS.
BOSTON FESTIVAL . ORCHESTRA,
Mrs. BloodgoOd and Others FIJI Out
Concert ProgrammeIOf Rare
WORTH l-'e


WorthI l
Choice music interpreted by rare art
lists filled the spacious auditorium Of
the Minneapolis exposition building
with "the concord OF sweet sounds"
last night. It was, from an artistic
standpoint, a worthy and most ausp1-
cious Inauguration of the MAJ 1lCsical
festival Of the Northwest. 1t c uld not
be otherwise with such artists as Sig
nor Campanari, Nine. Lillian Blalvelt
and Mrs. Katherine Bloodgood on the
programme, supported by the Boston
Festival orchestra under he direction
of Emil Mollenhauer. Nothing was
lacking to render the concert work. en-
joyable but the presence of solo tenor
of equal rank with the, other artists.
There a disappointment was in s.r1e.
Barron Berthald, whose singing Of the
prize Song from die MeisterSin2er'
was awaited with .nticipa:ions cf
much delight, did not appear. He was
suffering from a cold, it was announc-
ed His absence was much regretted,
especially by those who had heard him
with the Damrosch Opera company, and
the lack of his vibrant tenor was most
noticeable in the seXtette from Lucia,
though Campanari sang with the en-
ergy and volume of four ordinary men.
Signor Campanari and Nine. Blau-
welt were the stars Of the evening. That
is indisputable. Campanari, hn1shed
artist and musician that he is sang
with a fervor and intensity that cap
tivated all. His first number was the
exaeting prologue from II Pagl1acc1,
which is away beyond the capacity OF
many a baritone singer Of more than
average culture. Those who have heard
baritones try to sing this compoSltloh
should hear Campanari sing it. 1t IS
so different" to express 1T In the pop
ular phraseology. In response TO an
emphatic encore, Campanari sang the
Figaro song from "Fhe Marriage OF
Figaro" While essentially of humor-
GUS and pattering character, this song.
too, is the property of none but artists
of the first quality. So effectively did
Campanari reveal it's rollickng gayety
that he was not allowed to escape
without responding to a second encore.
When. after repeatedly bowling his ac-
acknowledgements, he finally returned TO
sing, and the dashing symphony OF the
'Toreador'' song foretold what was
coming. the audience applauded in ad-
vance Campanari sang only one verse,
hut that last note will never be for
gotten by those who heard it. Such
resonant, musical organ under the ao-
sol1,te control of a consummate artist
affords rare pleasure.
IF Campanari carried away his near
ers with the "Toreador," Nine. Blau-a
Welt certainly captivated them Wnen
she sang that dainty, exquisite waltz
from Gounod's Romeo and Juliet
Nine. Blauvelt is gifted with a soprano
voice of unusual sweetness Of tone, ,crys-
ta1line in quality and invariably true
and accurate. She sings with the ease
and facility that bespeak the artist.
Her execution is smooth and adequate,
her trills musical, and her high notes
round and clear as a bell. 10 her ac-
complishments as a vocalist Mme
Blauvelt adds the graces Of a pretty
face and attractive stage presence.
1t is a long, long time since the de-
yotees of music have heard In the
Northwest such rich and mellow con-
tralto voice as that possessed oy MIS-.
Katherine Bloodgood. This highly
interesting artist likewise un1tes
beauty of person and the gift Of song.
Ii she did not arouse the enthusiasm
inspired by the more fortd and ORA
matte character of the arias sung by
Mime Blauvelt and Campanarl, MIS-.
Bloodgood certainly did win the ad-
miration of all for her beautiful voice
and expressive singing. She possesses
a pure contralto, of singularly rich
and resonant quality, and absolutely
free from the suspicion of a break or
division between her upper and lower
registers-a rare virtue in, co-traltos.
Mrs. Bloodgood sang the sweet and
plaintive aria from Saint-SaeIs 50 M
son and Delilah,' and as an encore was
insisted upon, she repeated 1t.
In the absence of Mr. Bcrthald, Miss
Jennie Mae Spencer, of Boston, sang
an aria from the maid OF Orleans"
The final vocal number WaS me I'M
mortal sextette from Lucia, wlich
was splendidly sung and was StCG,ed
with enthusiastic applause, though the
substitution Of a female Voice for the
second tenor part nec< salily foooea
the number of it's full eject.
Though the concert programmes has
received first attention, the festlval
opened with the singing of Rossini's
magnificent ''Stabat Mater -l-2le.
Blauvelt and Mrs. Bloodgood and J.
H. Mckinley tenor) and He-nlleh
Meyn (baritone) were the suioists.
The chorus numbered over 800 youn5
ladies and gentlemen, comprising the
State University Choral Union, assist
ed by other competent singers. The
work of the chorus manifested
marked Improvement over that noted
at the concert given at the Peoples
church last fall. The final number
the soprano solo, with chorus-of the
"stabat Mater proved the most eff
fective. Nine. Blauvelt sang it bril-
liantly. Mr.. Mckinley is to be com
mended for his singing of the "Cujus
Animam,' which he interpreted with
appropriate spirit. Mrs. Bloodgoods
voice was most effective throughout.
The quartetts were finely shaded.
The orchestra numbering about Sky r1eces,
acquitted itself splendidiy.. In addition 70 sup
porting the vocahsts, the orchestra Payef the
.sDie Meistersinger'' overture, and Sveneson's
Carnival in Paris" To D
While the audience was highly apprec.atlve,
1t cannot be said that it vas .arge, thoirsh
goodly number were present, I7ae attendance
will unquestionably show noticeable increase
tonight, when Calve, the queen cf a | CaImens
and star Of the first magnitude, will appear
and sing. ep g
-..