The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-10-20
THE LATE MUSICAL FESTIVAL.

HIN AAIE MO DUAL 4AS -
"V," the correspondent Of the Musical
Age. speaking of the Maine Musical u g.
tival, says:
sit has long been known that Maine Is
q musical State, but not until 1897, when
William Rogers Chapman. himself a
native of the Pine Tree region. conceived
and developed q plan for organizing
Maine musical talent. did the State real
ize its own capabilities. The first Maine
Festival was more than q surprise 1t was
q revelation.
They tell a story of rustic, who, after
some one had taken him to hear q great
violinist, was asked if he could play on
the violin himself. 81 d'no." was the
native answer, 81 never tried" Maine
was this rustic, William R. Chapman
the questioner. Thanks to the indomit-
able energy and irresistible determination
of Mr.. Chapman, Maine has "tried, /"
and Maine has succeeded admirably.
Last year thirty foreign musicians
played In the festival orchestra; this year
but twelve. On both occasions the Choir
us was recruited from among Maine
singers. Last year the greatest success
was achieved by Lillian Nordica; this
year by Charlotte Maconda, both Ameri-
cams. These are the significant facts that
must ultimately appeal strongly to must.
cal America. These are the principles on
which to assure permanent financial sup
port for the undertaking.
The first concert offered little of surpas-
sing interest save Mr.. Miles's Verdi num-
Der, which was exceedingly we'll done.
The other soloist. Mr.. Waterhouse. was
trifle amateurish. Miss Harriet A. Shaw
earned appreciatiye applause for her ar
tistic harp playing The evening concert
opeued with the "Meistersinger pre-
lude, done with invigorating rhythm and
precision by the orchestra. The Halt
lelujah" chorus was sung with rare spfr-
it, and the other mixed. choral work OF
the evening. Mendelssohn's Departure,
was also excellent: Tho mems pilgrim
Chorus from eta nnhau user" was less
happy. Mime. Gadski, Gwylim Miles and
Evan Williams were also very well re-
ceived at his concert.
The second evening conoart was in some
respects the artistic climax Of the festi-
val. "The Lost Chord" for women's
voices, was an extraordinary bit Of tone
shading, and the mixed Messiah" selec-
tion has seldom been better done. Rosa
Green. NINE. Gadski and Mr.. Miles sang
on this evening, but their efforts were al.
most forgotten In the perfect whirlwind
Of applause that greeted Miss Charlotte
Maconda's singing of the mad csena from
Lucia" The last afternoon concert
showed Mr.. Chapman at his very best.
The Beethoven Symphony was led wien
conviction and authority. The men were
under splendid control, and their leader
swayed them at his will. Miss Kicker.
new quantity, made quite q favorable
impression with her unusually fine con
tralto voice. The final concert en- braced
Mendelssohn's "Elijah." and resolved it.
self into an individual triumph for
Bfrangcon Davies. He is the ideal "Eli-
iah," Mr.. Williams coming near to be-
ing the ideal "Obadiah.
And above all these shines the name Of
William Rogers Chapman. He was al
ways alert, always commanding. always
efficient. To him, and to him alone, the
Maine Festival OF 1898 owes its brilliant
MoOeaa.