Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-01-18
THE MAINE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
WILLIAM r. CHAPMAN AS AN ORCHEs-
TRIAL CONDUCTOR ONLY LESS GREAT
THAN WILLIAM r. CHAPMAN THE
FAMOUS CHORUS CONDUCTOR.

The concert In Portland last Friday
evening amply demonstrated the above
statement-proved Il beyond all shadow
Of doubt. II need never again be said
that Chapman IL one-gift man. He has
shown US that he Il more than q great
commander Of vocal masses-the great
est In our country. He has accomplish
ed feat almost incredibly startling 10
Its character. To say that It was dar-
Ing and dangerous venture TO attempt to
give symphony concerts with body OF
untried players, Ia q state where such
performances are almost unknown, AZ
fords a very inadequate idea of the mag.
nitude OF this undertaking. And yet
that all this has been done-done In q
manner perfectly astounding-any In
te ligent lover Of music who attended the
concert In Portland must admit. We
may well echo the statement Of the Port
land Daily Press: "All honor to whom
honor Is due. For endurance, energy,
and enthusiasm, the one who leads is
Mr.. William X. Chapman"
The playing of the orchestra Was real
ly beyond praise. Such brilliancy, such
abandon, such accuracy and forceful-
ness Of attack-such delicacy and refiu-
ed nuance In phrasing-such ethereal
pianissimos-such stupendous fortes--
these are qualities which one expects TO
find only In orchestras OF many years.
standing attained by constant practice
and long training. The verdict Of Hans
kronold who described the work OF the
orchestra as "really wonderful" is by no
means an exaggerated one. Really won
derful work II was, rejecting the great
est credit on players and directors alike
The "Msssaniello" overture was de-
livered with great spirit, and taken at a
tremendous tempo though never once
impsiring the clear and incisive utfersnce
of the difficult violin figures. In the
waltz for strings only, which Was the
next orchestral number on the program.
the phrasiug Of the viollns was delight
fully clean and crisp, the men following
the fluctusting beat Of the conductor
without the least hesitation. And then
the symphony. How happily caught
WAS the bright naive spirit Of Hsydn's
dear old music. The sprIghtly little ag-
ures Of the first and last movements, the
tender romance Of the poetic andsnte,
the graceful flow Of the Menuet, all re-
ceived full justice at the hands OF Mr..
Chapman and his men. And rs II to
prove that his orchestra could do equal
Justice to the richer and more elaborate
style Of modern writer's, the number
next given-Prelude to the third act OF
wagner's "Lohengrin"--wss delivered
with breadth and sorority so over
towering that one seemed 10 be listening
TO the huudred-voiced thunder OF Seidl
or q Thomas Ii would lead US too far
to speak 10 detail Of the poetic render
ing Of the ..TrAumerei" OF Schumsnn, or
the brilliant and passionate deliverance
Of the Carmen" selection and the
'Queen Of Sheba" March. Suffice IL to
ssy that In each Of these numbers Mr..
Chspman's orchestra confronted us with
more and more evidence OF Its capsbility.
Blauvelt was again the Blsuvelt OF the
festival, arousing the same enthusiasm
by the charm Of her wonderful voice and
the brillisncy Of her faultless technique.
We doubt II there IL another soprano
living who combines Ia such marked
degree the gifts Of poetry and virtuosity.
After both her numbers the audience
seemed to be perfectly carried away with
delight.
No less enthusiastic Was the reception
rendered TO Herr Hans kronold the
yioloncellist. The moment he appeared
there WAS veritable storm Of plaudits
to greet this great and true artist. His
selections were we'll calculated To display
not only that astonishing technique
which he possesses In 40 marked
degree, but also TO exhibit TO the full his
poetic and artistic sensibility. His Is
that high art which can so conceal Itself
thst we cease 10 admire and wonder,
and find ourselves lost In contemplation
OF the beauty OF the Interpretation. In
place Of his second number Mr..
kronold gave q new Romance" for
cello with string accompaniment COM
posed by the Rev. Marcus II. Carroll
and dedicated to him. The composer
IL high honor to hear bis
work so alphabetically and beautifully
rendered.
Indeed ii Is difficult to say enough In
praise OF the indefstigsble lsbors Of Mr..
Chapman 10 making this series OF con-
certs possible. He has begun = splendid
work among US, and IL Il ours now to
show that We appreciate what has been
done for US. May this first grand sue
cess OF the Maine Symphony Orchestra
be but the beginning OF long series OF
triumphs which will eventually place
the musicians OF Maine beside those OF
New York and Boston.