Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-23
THE MUSIC FESTIVAL.
TT rs INAUGURATED WITH IN
MENsE SUCCESS At ACADEMY.
The WEDNESDAY CLUBS FINE WORK.
Celebrated SolOists Are Henrd-De-
but of Philharmonic Association
Festival Orchestra-Star spnng'e"
Banner Received With Applase.

The simple chronicler of events wouiu
have his hands more than fun 10 tell oi
the happenings at the Academy Oh MUSIC
last night, when the Wednesday Clup
inaugurated its fifth annual festival. Ihe
reader who can recall the incidents wnich
marked the concerts given unoer the
same auspices last May, Will require po'
little help to call up the pictures OF last
night. There was the same priiilaht
congregation of people in the same giac-
some frame of mind: the same deVout
listening To the music as IL 1t were al
evangel on which hung everlasting
things; the same steady growth OF ehthu-
sasm, but above and beyond all there
was an art triumph which transcribed
anything that had gone before. ana
which, while it invited and challenged
critical judgment. so that its real value
might become fully known, made the
duty of pronouncing that judgment wait
upon the record of the effect produced
Never has the Wednesday Club been
heard 10 greater advantage. the WORK
Mr.. Arthur Scrivenors direction. is
revelation of the possibilities attainable
with good materia, and regular drill I'M
der man who is a thoroughly capable
conductor. Mr. Scrivenor conducted
with fire, unfailing intelligence. and con-
sricuous skill. and nothing occurreI 10
mar the beauty of the genera! perform
ance. The Boston FESTIVAL Orchestra
was simply first-rate. Mr. Emil Mollen-
hauer is a keen and capable director ana
the orchestral performance was like the
entire performance-one of the very best
that has been heard in this city Tor
many years.
GORING THOMAS'S CANTATA.
The programme was Enthusiastically
of the ingenious stamp. and il gave very
evident satisfaction. The opening num-
her was the cantata, Swan and SKY
lark" and had Goring Thomas hlmseH
been present he could hardly nave ialled
TO be pleased with the excellent manner
in which his masterpiece was presented
There is great variety in the poem, Tor
such il is 1t Is I'm turn sOrro"iuI ana
joyful. dreamy and passionate, despair =
ing and triumphant. The attractions OF
light and shade are many, ana the ueI-
cacy with which the master mas man
aged to express the varying meaning Il
marvellous. The choruses wore sung ny
the Wednesday Club with volume oil
tone and graduation OF pnrasihg Oh uh-
| exceptional refinement.
Mr.. W. II. Rieger sang the tenor solos
He Is really worth listening to, not only
| because his singing IS free from that dls-
agreeable "bleat"-that open white
| tone which is so often heard-but also
on account OF his artistic methods. hnish-
| ed phrasing, clear enunciatioG, ana mu-
| steal temper ,men.. He is not the usual
cut-and-dried regulation oratorio tenor.
| for he is not choked by tradition, nor Is
ne afraid to show his feelings.
Mr.. w. \. Rowland sang the bass solo
| with taste and feeling, and the correct
ness OF his intonation was greatly ad-
| mired.
Misc snencer was also successful in a
| short number. winning hearty applause.
| The subject of common curiosity, born
| of dattering reports, was Miss Flora
| Provan. She certainly possesses a me
! voice though IL sounded unsympathetlc
| and slightly metallic in the eXtreheI!
| difficult solo "The Summer IS come
| The sympathetic assistance OF the or
| cbestra rounded out TO a full complete
| ness the work of the soloists and chorus'
| The accompaniment was most Judiclou9
| and delicate, and at no time dld the GUM
| bined playing OF the hfty instruments Ia
| The slightest degree overbear the singers
| A consnicuous attraction was the sing
inc of Signor del Puente basso his
| nrst number was the aria Ell lu'
from Ballo Mascheri VerdD, sung Dy
| reouest He was loudly applaudec, ana
| in resnonse TO an encore he sung the
| Toreador's song from Carmen Win I'M
| mense power and spirit.
| Miss stewart who posses a soprano
| voice of light lyric quality. sang the
| Shadow Song from "Dinorah,' ana IN re-
| snonse TO an encore, Reubensteins Ihou
| Art Like Unto a Flower" one OF the
gems OF the evening was the quartette
from Martha sung by Miss stewart Miss
Spencer. Mr.. Rieger, and Sig Del Puehte
THE PHILHARMoNIC's BOW.
The Philharmonic Association made It's
| antree I'm Blumenthars What Care
How Fair She Be-" with conspicuous
success The pieces was rendered with
infnite taste and discretion and showed
careful and conscientious study.
The printed programme concluded WIFI
| Beethoven's Hallalujah chorus, by int
club and orchestra, but moment after
| tha final chords the familiar notes OF star
|
| was sung with much spirit by all who
had taken part in the concert MISS
Provan being the soloist. Members OF the
club produced small flags which they
waved as they sang. The whole audience
rose 10 its feet and cheered 10 the echo
II was a scene of great enthusiasm and
| intensely thrilling.
The stage had been artistically deco
rated with palms and overhead hung
| score or more Chinese lanterns. The
boxes and the conductors stand were
! decorated with the Stars and stripes.
There will be two concerts to-day, the
| former at 2:9o and the latter at S:l5. II
the afternoon the great children's chorus
Of 275 voices will be heard with the festi
val orchestra and the following artists
Miss Spencer. Signor Rosa, Mr.. Johr
Powell. Jr., MIR. Alex. Heindl. and Mr.
Won Veachton Rogers. Tonight the mos
imuortant concert of the series will taxi
place. Ii will introduce Nine. Gadski ant
MIR. William LAWN, besides the club, as
ISOLATION. and orchestra, and Men
delssohn's unfinished opera will be ont
OF the chief features.