The times., 1898-04-18
LAST NIGHTS CONCERT.
Chris Arth's Entertainment De-
lightfuI Surprise.

HghtfuI Surprise
When the disfavor with which Sunday
night performances are looked upon in
this city is considered, the audience that
greeted Chris Arth's Washington Mil
itary Concert Band last night at the
Academy was nothing short of wonder
full. From the standpoint of the enter
tainment's just deserts, it may be said
that house twice the SIZE or Manager
Rapley's could not have held the crowd
that should have been present to show
appreciation of so delightfuI a perform
ance. Mr. Arth has by his work as di-
rector of the Academy orchestra, won a
high place in local musical circles, and,
even though he never did better than
yesterday evening, his reputation would
soon be doubled. His leadership last
night was thoroughly careful and sim
cere and the perfect control under which
| he kept his admirable organization
showed genius rarely equaled. Great
things may be predicted for the new as
| pirant for concert honors.
It is undoubtedly true that in forming
his band Mr.. Arth has had far better ma
terial to work upon than is vouchsafed
most directors. His musicians are men
Of experience and talent-artists whose
engagements in the different theater or
chestras of the city has left them ad-
mirably able to cope with the new test.
Each of the members of the organiZas
ton showed, in little SOLOS and in ensem-
BILE work, true artistic temperament and
genuine ability But the blending was
done by Mr.. Arth, and perfectly done.
While possessed of faults that little
more rehearsal will do away with, the
band played with spirit and finish equaled
by few and surpassed by only one such
organization in this city. For a first as-
pearance 1t may be said that the enter
tainment last night has never been sur
passed anywhere, and delighted au-
dience appreciated and applauded every
thing.
The worth of the organization was
shown from the very first, the attack up
on the first number, Hail Columbia,
being nothing short of the wonderful
in a band of so little concerted expe'
rience. koia Bela's Hungarian overture
was also well given, though the brasse:
predominated in too great a degree, anc
. Sousa's STARS and Stripes Forever con
| tributed as an encore, did not serve tn
: purpose of satisfying the audience in tn
least Excerpts from Herberts "Sere
made" We're played beautifully, the eli
maxical shading being especially fine, ant
a blending of Marching Through Geor
! gia" and Dixie" in an excellent patrol
brought first the Northern, then tn
Southern and finally both parts of III
audience TO an inspiriting burst of enthu
siasm. A Conradi descriptive, which
really turned out TO be an operate med
ley, was followed by a unique bu
] thoroughly pleasing arrangement of Hu
, Smiths Listen to My Tale Of Woe
with odd orchestral effects. The gran
J fantasie from "Lohengrin'' was not S
! well given as the rest Of the program
but still had much merit in the render
ing, while half a dozen other selection
were up TO the general high standard.
Miss Bertha Lucas and Mrs. kitti
> Thompson-Berry were the soloists of tn
= evening and each created the usual goo
impression. Miss Lucas played on tn
a violin a dreamy bit by Wieniawski and
charming caprice by Bohm Her finger
ing and bowling in each was mastery
l while the feeling exhibited greatly er
e hanced the charm of her solos. Mr.!
5 Berry rndered pleasingly songs by D
Koven and Raddington.
A feature of the entertainment was tn
}. number of patriotic selections given. \
less than four numbers of that sort WEI
a played in all and each was enthusiastica
ly received. q