The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-06
THE WAGNER NIGHT
SECOND CONCERT OF THE FESTIVAL.
A SUCCESSFUL ONE.
Were the SOIOists who Distin-
suished Themselves.
A FINE TANNHAUSER NUMBER
MIR. HAMLIN's BEAUTIFUL TENOR
VOICE MUCH APPRECIATED.
Mr.. Bispham's Thrilling Rendition of
the Battle Hymn of the Repub-
Iic-TO-Nights Concert.

The second concert of the May music festi-
val was almost as notable a one as that
which so auspiciously marked the opening
OF the season of song. The Wagneran
mrsic, which composed the principal part Of
the programme, was excellently rendered.
and at no time in the previous history of
the festival has the third act of Tam
hauser been so effectively given as last
night. There is a large portion of the festi-
val goers who insist on Wagner night each
season, and with the advancing years. as
the beauties Of this master composers
works become more and more familiar to
the general public this contingent is largely
augmented, until now it would be Hamlet
without the Dane to give festival without
a wagner night. The. array of artists for
the 'Tannhauser" act was one to we'll sus-
tain the solo parts, and the admirable bal
ance and cooperation between soloists, or
chestra and chorus was the happy feature
of the evening. 1t brought about the artis-
tic realization for which the directors have
striven this year. The audience which was
not as large as the artistic performance
merited, entered into the spirit of the night
and the hearty and discriminative encores
which characterized the first evening were
much in evidence again last night, lending
JOY 10 the hearts of those who have the
festival interests at stake.
Nine. Johanna Gadski has been heard in
indianapolis before, but since her last APP
pearance her fame and scope as an artist
have widened until she is one of the German
opera celebrities of the world Her voice
last night seemed to live up to the high
standard which it has obtained in the great
musical centers, meeting readily and
triumphantly all those exacting demands of
a Wagnerian score, with which so many
artists, well schooled in other roles and
familiar with other masters, fail to meet.
Mr.. Hamln came to indianapolis stranger
to an Indiana festival audience, but we'll
vouched for by the best of musical critics.
His opportunities in tLucifer' were limited
by the nature of the role he assumed, only
a small part of it allowing him to display
the beautiful quality which lends enchant-
ment to his rare tenor voice. Last night his
voice was a revelation to the auditors, so
sweet and pure was it in every tone, and
so responsive was it to the emotions which
are portrayed in the character of the miser-
able "Tannhauser." Nowadays a tenor of
any capacity is practically d stranger to the
American stage, and Mr.. Hamlin finds it
possible to easily overshadow all other
American tenors. His voice has the dra-
matte fire vouchsafed seldom to men other
than those of magnificent robust physique,
the type that seems indigenous to Germany
alone. In recounting the successes of In
dianapolis festivals Mr.. Hamlin is entitled
to place the roll of honor. 1t is to be
regretted that he has not been engaged for
other concerts of the local season.
In the middle of the programmes distrib-
uted to the audience last night was an in
scription, I'm Memoriam to Anton Seidl,"
Immediately under the funeral march from
Gotterdammerung," which many consid-
cred the orchestra's piece de resistance.
Conductor Van der Stucken, moved by the
association of this great elegiac compost
ton with the recent death of the famous
Wagnerian conductor in New York, threw
his soul into his directing last night. There
was a personal note in his music; he made
it a personal tribute to the great Seidl.
This funeral march, favorite with Seidl,
than whom no greater Wagnerian con-
ductor ever came to America, was rendered
in most impressive fashion at the services
held in New York in memory of the mu-
stefan. 1t was at Mr.. Van der Stuckens
suggestion that the march was put on the
programme last night, to be played as a
memorial to Seidl. And it was only a few
platform occupied by Mr.. Van der Stucken
last night and directed his matchless New
York orchestra.
When Mr.. Bispham stepped to the front
at the close of the programme last night to
sing 1.-The Battle Hymn of the Republic,
as he had been requested to do by the fes-
tival directors his triumph of the night be-
fore was recalled to him by cheers and
braves from the chorus and audience.
There was intense desire to hear this mag
nificent singer again, and there was intense
curiosity 10 hear how he would sing the
stirring words to so commonplace an air as
that which is fitted to Julia Ward Howe
national hymn. Though Mr.. Bispham had
the misfortune to contract a slight cold
after the Wednesday nights concert, he
valiantly came to the front 10 sing the song,
through the hall in an immense volume,
thrilling the auditors to such a point that
they joined him with right good Will In
the chorus, participating more generally
than on the preceding evening, when the
"Star-spangled Banner was given. Mr..
Bispham has the Indianapolis music lovers
at his feet, and he can have almost any
thing he desires from them. The directors
consider themselves fortunate that they
have him on the programme again for to-
have appeared at Indianapolis festivals,
Campanari held the palm by virtue of his
hit at the season two years ago, but all
this is forgotten in the coming OF the new
crown it ALL is a native of the land over
which the star-spangled banner waves.
The Amphion Club distinguished itself
last night in the Pilgrims Chorus" sung
doors of the corridors. The sounds of these
rilprin voices in the distance lent the real