Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-09
THE WANING SEASON
CAREFUL INSPECTION SHOWS THAT
THE FITTEsT SURVIVES.
PRETTY PARTNERSHIP IN MUSIC.
Arrangements for Appearance of the
Redpath Concert Compnny-The
Great De We're at Its Head-snpio
the Director.

There has been no musical event since
last summer that touches the approach
ing Redpath Grand Concert in i'm
portance, in perfection, or In value. Cast
ing ones eyes a-down the concert doings
Of the defunct year, and then glancing
up at the plan of campaign, ones refiec-
tons are not over sanguine; but, on the
other hand, they are not pessimistic, for
inspection shows that the fittest survives.
If the season cannot plume Itself on a
brilliant start, 1t may at least congratu-
late itself on the advent Of the above
named company. and on the fact that
the Wednesday Clubs May Festival is 10
be upon a larger and grander scale than
ever before in the history of that organi-
zation.
A pretty partnership in music is that Of
the Redpath Concert Company, all Of
the members being genuine artists of the
best school. Their recital on February
will be a thing of Importance, modelled
on the pattern OF those wholly delightful
programmes with which Madame Nordica
and those other artists of the notable
series Of concerts given here last season
have made us familiar.
Mr.. Walter d. Moses. who has engaged
this company to appear here, has learned
TO gauge the pulse Of the public very
quickly and this year his surprise Is the
introduction of one of the strongest COM
binations that has graced the concert
platform here for a long time.
A RISE IN THE STANDARD.
There is no leveller like art. The Metro
politan Concert Company. the mention
of which reviyes pleasantest recollections,
has been swept away from us in a year
Yet the world is never long at loss for
the lack Of any Individual. as the present
will surely show.
1t is not Imagination that leads the
writer to hint at perceptible rise in the
standard of the average professional.
The amateur follows on his heels; he is
either gradually choked off by his sheer
incompetency, or impelled TO heights un-
dreamed OF, by his earnestness. Here fol-
lows a, paradox. One must acknowledge
the Improvement ON the part Of both
classes, but the last-named is surely less
TO blame for bad music than the profess
sional. He, with his technic at his
fingers ends. is still able to lend an
aplomb and an atmosphere TO valueless
stun that misleads the amateur. The
same thing happens daily on the stage.
when a pretty gown and a finished man.
ner are brought TO veil a meagre dia-
logue. One often wonders how far the
average professional singer. pianist. and
violinist looks upon his liberty Of choice
in this matter as a responsibility. Merci
fully, the rubbish is being slowly hedged
in and limited TO the tumble concert. over
which the autolycus of harmony presides
These jumbles are the innumerlble
"muslcales," whose place Is purgatory
The forthcoming concert, It is safe to
say, will be a model OF taste and ex-
cellence. IL will have an educative as
well as an entertaining quality, and II
will serve TO present 10 the Richmond |
public five n0tables. whose names are |
written large on the page OF fame.
DIE VERB HEADS THE LIST.
Madame Clementine De We're heads the |
list. She was born In Paris, her father |
4 Belgian nobleman. and her mother, an
English lady. Isabel Hood, OF London. |
Her musical education was completed /
under the famous artist. Madame AL |
berthe Baucarde. in Florence. and she
made her operate debut at the early