Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-01

Cantilena, a fiat ............... Wheeldon
tal Adagio, symphony Midor
tb) Finale, Symphony widor
CONCERT AT BoYD's LAST WIGHT.
Lnrgc Audience Entertained by Some
Exceptionally Good Music.
The first concert OF the series embraced
in the National Congress OF Musicians &C.
CURED last evening at Boyd's theater. The
audience was large and appreciative and
showed a discrimination in its applause that
indicated an understanding of music that
was highly creditable. The soloists were
all fully equal to the tasks they undertook,
and the entire performance was one OF the
most pleasing ever heard In this city. The
program began with the first movement
from the symphony in = fiat, composed by
Harry Rowe Shelly OF New York. 1t was
played by the Theodore Thomas orchestra,
conducted by Mr.. Arthur Mees, with n fin
ish that would certainly have pleased the
composer, could he have heard 1t. The
symphony is a work of which American
musicians may justly be proud. 1t is full
of pregnant ideas and their working out is
always musicianly. The next number
played by the orchestra was the well known
Prelude to "Lohengrin'' by Wagner. Sell
dom, IL ever, has it received a more per-
feet rendering than at the hands of the
orchestra and Mr.. Mees. Every musician
seemed to be inspired by its beauty. The
work of the orchestra in the accompani-
ments deserves special commentator. Rare
indeed is 1t that such a body Of musicians
is heard to play with such delicacy and
such care for the musical welfare Of the
singer. Mr.. Mees Is a fine ~accompanist,
and apprehends instantly the intention Of
the artist. To his skillful conducting may
be laid much of the success of the concert.
The first vocal solo was the aria entitled
"Pleurez, pleurez mes youx" from Lac
by Massenet, sung by Miss Anna Metcalf
of st. Louis in a manner that aroused en-
thusiastic applause. Miss Metcalf possesses
a clear, rich voice of considerable power
and long compass, and her use of it shows
careful training.
Miss Georgia Kober Of Chicago played the
first movement from the great concerto for
piano in A minor by Grieg, and after three
recalls responded with an encore. Miss
Kober is a pupil Of Mr.. William H. Sher-
wood, and possesses much natural talent.
Her touch is refined, and her technic sure.
Her Interpretation of the Grieg concerto
showed careful musical training and re-
fected great credit alike upon herself and
her instructor.
WI many - iSiio"o Va ANS" van 49,
tributed the famous aria from Faust en-
titled ''Salve di More by Gounod. Mr..
Fellows possesses a lyric tenor voice Of
more than ordinary power, and sings with
q mature style which bespeaks much ex-
! perience. The high C which he sang near
the end of the aria was actually startling
by its force. 1t is seldom that one hears
a real "chest c." Mr.. Fellows received four
enthusiastic recalls.
One of the gems of the performance was
the rendering of the aria from the "Crea-
tion,' entitled I'm Verdure Clad" sung by
Mrs. Gerrit Smith of New York. Mrs.
Smiths voice is a pure soprano. perfectly
trained, and her rendering of Haydn's IA
nous aria possessed a charm that was fas-
chatting. Mrs. Smith was recalled re-
peatedly by an enthusiastic audience.
Another gem was the singing of the aria
"A Vesta'' by Miss Rita Lorton of Ne
braska City. A purer, sweeter voice than
Miss LOTIONS is seldom heard and her
residence abroad and study under the SUI
pervision of Mrs. Katherine Fisk has given
her a finished style of which any artist
might well be proud. 1t is needless to say
that Miss Lorton was enthusiastically re-
ceived.
DR.. Albert Ross Parsons of New York
| COHtIlDuttu lnt OINSlto ~ ain III II
sharp minor, composed by Hitler. DR.. Par
sons is well known on both sides of the
Atlantic ocean as a mature musician and
great artist. His Interpretation of Killers
concerto was just such an one as would
be expected from a musician of his in
telligence and experience. 1t was a mas
terly performance and fully merited the
storm of enthusiasm which followed.
The number on the program in which
Omaha was especially interested was the
aria from Der Freischutz,' by Weber,
sung by Mrs. Martin Calm. Two striking
characteristics of Mrs. Cahn's voice were
observable last evening, The first was the
richness of the tone, the second its re-
markable power. The aria which she sans
is one of the greatest vocal compositions
ever written and makes large demands upor
the technique and Interpretation of the
singer. Mrs. Cain proved herself fully
equal to these demands and worked the
aria up to a climax upon the high B with
great dramatic force. She received JUS
such a greeting from the audience as nigh
have been expected.
The suite for orchestra, composed by MI
Forester, announced for performance las
evening. was postponed until Saturday even
ing.
The concert this evening will be giver
at the exposition Auditorium and the pro
gram will consist entirely of selections from
the compositions of Richard Wagner. A
the close of the concert 100 stereopticor
views will be exhibited, showing all thu
great scenes In the dramas and portrait,
Of a large number of the principal artists
who have portrayed the various roles.
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