The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-08
The First Packed House of the Entire
Music Season Was Present
Last Night.
THE DEFICIT UNDER $4,000
WAR THE PRINCIPAL FACTOR IN EN-
BARRAssING THE FESTIVAL.
Artistic Success of the Event Com
pIeteIy DemOnstrated-Chf
Chorus in a Cantata.

If the May festival of 1898 had had sew
eral such audiences as that which graced
the closing concert the directors Woulo nave
been very happy men indeed. The festVal
itself was perhaps the most artistic event
of it's kind In the history of the organlza-
ton, and there seems to be an unusual
unanimity on this point, but the dollars dlo
not come into the box office in commensur-
ate numbers. The war was the great FAC
tor operating to the embarrassment or the
festival in financial way since 1t was al
most impossible to get people to read any
thing about the festival works and artists,
or about anything else, for that matter
while exciting war bulletins were hlllng
the newspapers every day and distracting
the public mind from the more gentle
things of life. Added to this were distress
ing weather conditions, which, it has always
been observed, have decided effect on the
festival balance sheet The directors eX-
pected a considerable loss before the fes-
tival was opened, but bravely went ahead
to make the most out of a discouraging sit
uation
The deficit this year will probably be I'M
der $1,000, sum not so large as the guar
antors were called upon to meet on pre-
vious occasion, when the guaranty fund was
only $4,000 This year the fund is $4,000,
number of public-spirited men who have the
interests of the city at heart making it pos
sible to raise so large sum by subscribing
for $500 each. Only once in the ten years
of the festival history has there been sur
plus, and that was merely slight one. On
this occasion the greatest singers of the
world We're to be had, and famous star
each night aided in packing Tomlinson
IInII fha fpcf
not begin to approach in artistic excellence
festivals Of other years. The directors have
not yet determined on a festival for next
year. The guarantors will probably be first
consulted. There does not seem to be much
better chances for coming out even in 1899
than in 1898, and little encouragement can
be held out to guarantors that they will not
be called on to make up a deficit if a season
of song is given next year. Year after year
these men have responded to demands on
them for the support of the festival. They
readily understand the extensive advertise
ment given the city of Indianapolis, and
take a pride in the advanced position of
Indianapolis in the musical world. In the
East and abroad it is recognized that four
great festival cities exist in America. These
are Springfield Worcester, Indianapolis and
Cincinnati. Travellers from London and
Berlin frequently hear Indianapolis and it's
festival mentioned in musical circles in
those centers.
Ysaye was received by an immense audi
ence last night, and his. rank as leading
violinst in the world entitled him to it. Had
he occupied as equally a prominent posi-
ton as vocalist the people would have
been clamoring at the doors for admission
long after the last ticket was sold. An
instrumentalist is not so good a drawing
card as a vocalist. The Belgian was given
ovation, and it can be said without fear
of contradiction that no such master of the
prince of instruments has been heard in this
city before. His hearers went wild over his
playing. The singing of America by the
audience was as fitting a close to the fes-
tival of 1898 as it was an introductory.