The Portland daily press., 1898-10-13
,ork excellent throughout the festival,
.4o,diIv yx,itb o1ch parTarro


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uork excellent throughout the festival,
bos in,nroved steadily with each perform
.no, and reached it's eliminating
,,o,,ar in Eliiah. We could but wonder
if the audience realized III whaV great
measure the success of the festival vested
with the orchestra, which must LEAD, Iol-
low and sustain, as the OCCASION demands.
When their short time OF organizauloh Is
loonsidered. it is not extravagant praise TO
saw their work has been most phenome-
nal; their pianissimo was wofUny VI
Thomas's orchestra; in fac5 an eheir
dynamic shading showing hem to be ex-
ceptional musicians. Nine. Gadski IN ii
striking costume of black satin, spark
ling with cut jets, sang the paro Oh 'he
widow with deep feeling, her voice rlng-
ing out in pleading tones to the prophee,
for her child's life. Her great triumph
was in "Hear o Israel" which was mar
vellously suited, to her voice and style anu
proved her to be the great artist IN ora
torio. There was not a person IN the 'aso
audience but felt "a personal prlde anu
| pleasure in Miss Rioker's most artlstlc
success. Her deep, rich, contralto was
never heard to greater advantage tnan
last evening; and while much was ex'
pected, her voice has strengthened, ana
her style SO broadened, since she last sang
! in Portland, that her many friends were
both surprised and delighted. Her SOLO
"Woe to Them" revealed the tragic pos
slbilities of her voice; while "Wait
Patiently for Him. was given with such
sweetness and persuasive power, that she
received perfect ovation.
very beautiful bunch Of Jaqueminot
roses was presented at the close OF her
number.
The one unfortunate drawback to the
completeness of the evening was the sud
den attack of hoarseness OF the favor1te
tenor Mr.. FL. Evan Williams. Much de-
pended upon him, and unwilling to dis
appoint the audience he sang, with only
slight apparent huskiness his exquisite
aria eff With All Your Hearts," but
after his second number. it was only too
evident that in spite of his desire to con-
tinue his part, he was physically unable
to do SO. Mr.. Williamss singing was
most thoroughly enjoyed by Portland peo-
pie and they eagerly anticipate hearing
him again at the festival Of '99.
| The part of the youth, taken by Mrs.
Lou Duncan Barney, while short, was
difficult to sing; her voice has freshness
which made her Interpretation most &C.
ceptable.
| The chorus work WINS all SO admirable
that it is difficult to particularize. The
first number "Help Lord" was taken
with precision Of attack, and steady
evenness of tone. that showed Mr.. Chap
man had them we'll in hand, and would
get from them their best efforts The
Baal numbers were sung with spirit and
abandon, while "Thanks Be to God,
closed the first part of the oratorio amid
thunders of applause from the audience,
who throughout the entire evening gave
the closest attention. The ever beautiful
trio cliff Thine Eyes," Sung by Mes
danes Gadski and Barney and Miss
Kicker, must have inspired the chorus
| to unusual effort, for in "He Is Watching
! Over Israel" they sang in exceptionally
good tune. The chorus work in Elijah
| is difficult. 1t was an ambitious oratorio
for many comparatively new singers to
undertake, and that all went as smooth.
ly as it did, is matter of hearty congrat-
ulation for both Mr.. Chapman and the
chorus. 81
Unouestionably the second festival OF
Maine has been great musical success
and we trust financial one. Mr.. Chap
man can not complain OF the encourage
| mept he has received in Portland, for
morning, afternoon and evening, the
Auditorium has been crowded by our
people. Our debt of gratitude to Mr..
| Chapman is large, but we have given him
our hearty cooperation and support IN
the past, and we doubt not 1t Will be his
| in the future At the conclusion OF the
| oratorio basket of beautiful flowers were
presented to the popular conductor. while
| three hearty cheers were given for Mr..
Chapman, and three equally hearty for
| his wife. with the chorus's most en-
phatic sforzando foruissimo.
1t is inconceivable that any one can
listen to the inspired oratorio on FllJah
| without being enriched not only musical
! ly but morally. 1t rouses, 1T stimulates,
| it fills us with boundless enjoyment,
making us long for goodness, and llfGlng
mind and heart up to the highest. We DO
not write of ourselves alone but we know
| many to whom Mendelsshon's Elijah
speaks in music of things that are unut
terable in words. If he but knew U.S.
would Mr.. Philip Hale feet commisera-
tion that We can discriminate so little,
| that we belong to the vast number Win
whom Elijah is popular, q popularity
which he finds nexplioable. II SO, in our
turn we pity the critic who cannot enjoy
the whole, because he must dissect each
part, and to whom censure comes more
continually than commendation.
| While Mr.. Chapman himseif wouiu ~
| the first TO saw the chorus work was not
faultless. yet it seems to us that any suoh