Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-04-15

Last evenings concert by the
Woman's Musical Club, at the Opera
House, was conspicuous and deserved
success, despite most unpropiuous
weather The audience was large and
distinctly representative of the musical
culture and taste of the city, and the
reception rendered the visiting SOLO
lists, Mrs. Serena Swabacker and Miss
Russell McMurphy, was one according
well with their undoubted and con-
spicuous talent.
The Club demonstrated anew its
ability to give concert of the highest
grade and of the most successful ma
ture, without the aid of the sterner
sex, and President Mrs Caldwell Di-
rector Mrs. Williams, and their subor-
dinateS and assistants as well as tue
membership of the organization at
large, are to be heartily congratula-
ted
The programme was we'll opened
with the pilgrim Chorus" from
"Tannhauser, arranged for ladies'
voices, and was we'll sung. In fact,
the chorus throughout acquitted them
selves with credit The Ave Marie"
of Marchette, proved to be one of the
prettiest chorus numbers ever heard
here, and was particularly appropriate
by way of contrast to the effective cho-
rus by Chaminade, which closed the
programme. The concert, however,
did not end here for at the signal from
Mrs. Williams the chorus sang the
Star Spangled Banner" amid the APP
plause Of the audience.
Naturally the chief interest conferred
in the soloists. Madame Swabacker is
blessed with a voice seldom equaled.
Its quality is liquid and mellow, and
she uses it with rare skill. Nothing
could be more beautiful than her sing
ing Of the cradle song, Hush my lit
tie one" by Beviguani. Written by
such a master of the voice it is we'll
suited to show the taste and skill of
singer Madame Swabacker sang it
with exquisite taste and feeling.
Scarcely less enjoyable was the famll-
lar Hedge Roses" of Schubert, and
the Brahms "Sandmanchen." The aria
from "Traviata" and Willamette by
Dell Acqua were so well received that
as encores "Adieu, Marie" and Be
cause | love you. dear" were given.
The pianist, Miss Russell McMur-
ply, was warmly greeted for many
words of praise had preceded her from
Morgantown, where she is the leading
pianist in the State University. She is
still young, but her playing shows re-
markable skill and tone Of great
beauty and variety of color. The Raft
Waltz op. 11S, brought out this quail
ity, and the Spring Song, of Grieg, only
increased the favorable impression.
The Etude by Schutt, and Grieg's
Butterfly showed ample technique
and clean phrasing. The Chopin
Scherzo, op. 81, was so well received as
to call for an encore, when BeethOven's
beautiful Minuett, OPP. 10, No. g. was
given.
Mrs Ricardo Ricci played Madame
Swabacker's accompaniment with
skill, and Miss Anna Sage served in
like capacity in the club numbers.
The Womans Musical Club are al
ready planning for another concert
which will sustain their reputation as
givers of high class concerts.
! Following the concert, the CLUB gave
a reception to Madame Swabacker and
Miss McMurphy at A. o. Z. w. hall,
which was attended by not less than
one hundred ladies and gentlemen, and
was a most enjoyable feature of the
evening Light refreshments were
served in a dainty manner, and all
present had an opportunity of meeting.
the gifted and charming visitors.
This morning Mrs Serena Swabacker
Miss McMurphy, Mrs. George B. Cald-
well. President OF the Woman's Musical
Club, Miss Dee Pollack, Secretary, Mrs.
Clements, Mrs. Ricardo Ricci, and per-
haps a few others, will go to Mt. de
Chantal. for a little impromptu mus
ical recital for the benefit of the pupils
of the Mont.
Mrs. Flora Williams will sing F"i-
dav evening at the National Womans
Suffrage Conference, at Carroll Gun