The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-03
FOR THE MAY FESTIVAL
CAMP MOUNT WILL BE OPEN TO VS.
ITORS THIS WEEK.
Big Rehea rsal Last MISUNDERSTANDING
JacOby Arrfves-Duht's
Illness.

The May music festival, which will open
tomorrow night, and the war excitement
are dividing public interest just now, and
they promise to get together when the
stirring patriotic songs are sung at the fes-
tlVal by the great artists engaged for the
various nights and the big chorus. While it
is all war, so far as outward appearances
go, at Camp Mount, it is all festival around
the Denison House. Yesterday morning six
ty musicians. comprising the Cincinnati
Festival Orchestra, arrived at the Denison
tc remain all. week. They did not have
much time for light seeing, for yesterday
afternoon Mr.. Van der Stucken kept them
busy rehearsing at the German House, it
being necessary to go there, because the
workmen were making a lot of noise at
Tomlinson Hall, putting up the extra stag
ing and hundreds of additional electric
lights, so that the illumination of the great
auditorium will be brilliant.
The first of the festival artists to arrive
was Nine. Josephine S. Jacoby, who
reached the Denison yesterday morning.
Her reputation as the leading contralto now
engaged in festival work is well known to
musical people, and, in addition to her vo-
cal attainments, she is a strikingly hand
some woman. Il have heard so much of the
indianapolis musical festival she said to a
Journal reporter last night, that I am
much pleased to have the opportunity to
sing here with SO many noted artists. Your
list of singers includes all the famous ones
now in this country, and your festival
should be a great success on that account
if for no other"
ILLNESS OF MR.. Duff.
The festival directors were much disap-
pointed yesterday when they received a.
telegram from Carl e. Duff, the basso en-
gagged for two concerts. that he was sick in
bed, and that his physicians had ordered
him to stay there. Mr.. Van der Stucken.
Who was at once consulted. said that there
was a basso-baritone now in Cincinnati,
Mr.. oscar Ehrgott, who was not only a
fine singer and thoroughly experienced in
FESTIVAL and o~ratorio work. but happened to
be familiar with "Lucifer,'' as he had been
studying 1t recently. A telegram was sent
10 MIN to come here at once, and he re-
sponoed In person later in the day. He is
q man OF excellent appearance, and has
sung with great success at notable must
cal events throughout the country. Mr..
Van der Stucken says that he will sing the
basso part in 'Lucifer' as we'll as Mr..
Duff or any other man in the country
fGsonuaaoo;;, Mr: DUETS place in the miscel-
supplied by some other festival artist.
SOLDIERS AND SINGERS.
Governor Mounts order, made yesterday,
that Camp Mount, at the fair grounds
should be kept open tomorrow and during
the remainder of the week for the benefit
Of out-of-town people who want to come to
the festival and see the soldiers as well,
was much appreciated by the festival direc-
tors, who had made the request, and there
IS now reason to expect a large attendance
of out-of-town people. The Governor, Cen
eral Mckee and the ~Iatter's staff have been
formally invited to attend the opening con-
cert tomorrow night, and seats nave been
reserved for them.
The announcement that a reduction had
been made in the prices of the rear rows of
the main floor for all the concerts to 81
served to stimulate the demand for these
seats, and there was. a good sale of them
yesterday. The general sale of seats also
showed an increased demand yesterday, and
a still greater increase is expected to-day.
Those who attend the opening concert of
the FESTIVAL tomorrow night will not only
enjoy a great presentation of Benoit's mas
ter work, "Lrcifer," but they will hear pa
triotic music as well, for the concert will
close with 1.-THE Star-spangled Banner
sung by Nine. Juch, Nine. Jacoby
and the big festival chorus. At each of the
festival concerts there will be patriotic
music sang by the soloists and chorus.