The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-05
'LUCIFER" PROVED A SURPRISE
BEAUTIES OF THE ORATORIO CAP.
TIVATED THE AUDIENCE.
Mr.. Bispha ms Great Success-Wagncr
Concert Observation-Disclosures in
Prices of Many Seats.


The tenth annual May festival opened last
night under almost thrilling circumstances
and the evening of song concluded with
magnificent burst of patriotic melody, in
which the several thousand auditors, led
by Nine. Jacoby, Nine. Juch Mr.. Bispham,
Mr.. Ehrgott and Mr.. Hamlin joined the or
chestra, organ and chorus in two verses of
the "Star-spangled Banner" Over the heads
of the magnificent body of choristers blazed
Old Glory in electric lights. adding to the
eclat of the brilliant inaugural of the festi-
val. Ex-President Harrison, who occupied
front seat in the balcony, was one of those
who led the audience as 1t rose in wave
all over the immense hall to join in the
"Star-spangled Banner Here and there
through the audience were sprinkled a few
of the soldier boys from Camp Mount, add
ing to the patriotic atmosphere in which the
evening seemed to pass. The singing of
America in which the big chorus of 1898
first presented itself to the public, the
signal for as hearty an outburst of applause
as has ever made the rafters of Tomlinson
Hall echo, and one verse was not enough
for the audience, Director Van der
Stucken turned to the chorus and orchestra,
and again repeated the national hymn. Just
before the first notes of the orchestra num-
Der were sounded the flag over the stage
blazed out and surprised the audience, which
Immediately gave the emblem hearty
welcome. Incandescent lights had been
strung the width of the hall and covering
the entire stage. The design of these light
globes was not apparent till the electric cur
rent was turned on, and then "Old Glory
was at once recognized. The red and white
stripes, with stars of blue, made up the
design. Besides the decorative effect this
array of softer lights toned down the glare
of the arc lights.
The jubal overture by Weber furnished
the opening for the festival, and as it con-
cludes with God Save the Queen" the
air identical with that used for the Ameri-
can hymn, the singing of America" by the
chorus came in very appropriately and
without the slightest pause or hitch. The
stately grandeur of this favorite hymn
never seemed so manifest as it did last
night with the full tones of the string and
reed Instruments and the laundering
brasses, the several hundred voices filling
out the mighty wave of sound, for which
even so large an auditorium as Tomlinson
Hall found an overtaxed capacity.
'LUCIFER" A SURPRISE.
although not so large probably as will mark
the remaining nights of the season. Musical
critics say that. the country over, it is
difficult to interest audiences in choral mas
terpieces, although the musical taste is de-
veloping more and more each year. and
promising eventually to assure large crowds
for these long selections written for many
voices. Indianapolis audiences have proven
IN nj nd fI,a
festival management has been painfully
aware of this in years past, when 1.-The
Messiah 1.-THE Creation and other favor
lite large works drew only scant audiences
comparatively speaking, but the presenta-
ton of "Lucifer' last night, for the first
time in America, certainly marked an
awakening. The beautiful passages of the
oratorio. SO finely rendered by the soloists
and choir, were received with sincere
warmth and appreciation, the different
parts in the score being punctuated with
discriminative applause. Those people who
went to hear the work through the partial
prompting of curiosity were soon lured into
a hearty admiration of the work itself, its
scope, it's remarkable descriptive passages
and the weird and unusual harmonies that
characterize it.
David Bispham was revelation to festi-
val attendants So large and eminently So
norous a bass voice has never been heard in
the hall before. and it is doubtful If there
exists such another male voice in all Amer
lea. He not only sang the part of Lucifer
but he was Lucifer for the time being His
clarion calls to the elements to aid him in
his Vaccinations against man, conveyed in
song. what the awe-striking words of Mil
ton convey in the poets masterpiece. feel
ing which the students of Paradise Lost"
well know, and one which challenges de-
scription. Mr. Bispham sang the same role
in London ON one notable occasion. with
chorus and orchestra of 1000. He thinks it
is one of the masterpieces in the worlds
history of song.
THE AUDIENCE.
A brilliant audience listened to the first