The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-07

The Great Campanar Was the Star Last rht-Pof Gucken
berger RoundIy Cheered at the End s, Festival for
His Untiring WOrk-LocaI Tags Divided
Honors With the WSGs

son, a c.S it did not seem to tire the
Dirmif audience. On the contrary,
every = er was listened to with rapt
attep % Id the applause after the most
classica. orks was spontaneous.
This was the bill: Overture to Die Meis-
tersinger' (Wagnerl; piano concerto (Ran),
Miss Edna Gockel, soloist; aria "Androms
ache (Bruch) Mrs. Benjamin Quicken.
berger, soloist; Symphony No. (Beetho1
yen); children's cantata, Into the Worid''
(BenoiD; symphonic poem, Lies Preludes"
Niszo' .@.ll
The orchestra was In even better form
than it was Friday night, and Mr. Mollen-
hauers conducting was, as a rule, excel-
lent. With Wagnerians "Die Meister5
singer overture is, in point of popularity
next to "Tannhauser." 1t was finely In
terpreted. But the work of the afternoon
on the part of Mr.. Mollenhauer and the or
chestra was in the Beethoven symphony.
The conductors reading was decidedly
classic and he performed on his band just
as a skillful pianist would play upon his
instrument His rhythm was good and
where shading was required it was deli
cately done. The andante, the pathetic
theme of which is announced by the volas
and the celos in unison, was faultlessly
played. Not single string player or reed
player made Slip If there was any criti-
NAShA W NC ulduc Ou any part OIL the renQl-
tion 1t was in the last movement The tenn
po there was too slow. In order to pro-
duce jubilant effect many of the famous
conductors take 1t too fast. With this ex4
ception there was certainly no room for
criticism of Mr.. Mollenraures work.
Not Enough Interpretation
Liszts symphonic poem was well played,
but Mr.. Molenhauer.did not give it with
quite as much "interpretationS as he might
have done. -,
Miss Gockels piano solo with full orches,
trial accompaniment was one of the most
brilliant things on the programme. This
young artist has been heard often In pub
lie, but not until yesterday had she essay
ed any work sc important as a concerto.
She achieved a genuine triumph, and the
applause amounted to an ovation Her
playing was finished and graceful, and in
the strictest sense musicianly.
Mrs. Guckenberger's solo was extremely
classic, and 1t was sung In fine classic
style. In phrasing, expression and de-
livery she revealed the highest qualities OF
the vocal art. Mrs. Guckenberger received
great applause
The childrens chorus of two hundred
voices came UP to the fullest expectations.
In attack it was almost equal to the adult
chorus. Its crecendos were strikingly
good. And fresher, sweeter voices were
never heard
The Night Programme
The night programme was operate and
by far the most popular of the festival.
Campanari, the great baritone, was at his
best; and Miss Sara Anderson, the prlma
donna. was magnificent. while the chorus
surpassed itself The programme opened
with Wagners "Tannhauser" overture.
Then came Miss Anderson VINO sang
sfE,1izahath's To nh
This lady has a strong voice of singular
purity and flexibility and every musician
present must have been impressed with her
excellent method. She is what the north
erh press has claimed for her-a great art
list. Mr.. Whitney sang "Oh Thou Beaute-
Gus Evening STAR from Tannhauser and
then followed the march and chorus, Hail,
Bright Abode" from Tannhauser 1t was
in this number that the chorus achieved its
noblest success No chorus will ever sing
Hail, Bright Abode better. In attack,
In dynamics and in tone quality 1t could
not be improved upon by any professional
opera troupe.
The second part of the programme OPEN
ed with Campanarfs solo, II Pagliacci,"
by Leoncayallo. The signor has a splendid
voice, and is full of dash and dramatic
passion. No such baritone work as his
was ever heard In Birmingham before.
For an encore he sang the Toreador song,
and by request he gave in inimitable style
the Figaro song from the Barber of Sc
VILE" The audience went wild over him.
Miss Anderson sang Lies Adeux de
Jeanne dare" by Tschaikowsky, and
Miss Towle the contralto, gave the lovely
aria from Gluck's "Orpheus," "Che Faro"
Remaining numbers were Greig's "Olaf
Trygvasson' with Mrs. Chandler, mezzo-
soprano; Mrs. Sinnige, alto; Mr.. Burns,
tenor and Mr.. Handley, bass, as the So
loists; introduction to the third act and
Bridal Chorus" Lohengrin, and finale
from first act of "Lohengrin," with Miss
Anderson, Miss Towle, Mr.. Shirley, Sgnor
Campanari and Mr.. Whitney constituting
the solo quintette.
Mrs. Sinnige had the longest and most
dramatic part In "Olaf'-recitative, aria
and prayer-and she made tremendous
hit. Mrs. Chandler sang her part with
charming grace. The chorus was faultless
and its climaxes were marvelously we'll
brought out. "Olaf' was difficult to rem
der, but easy for the audience to follow.
No music on the programme was more
popular
Tne familiar Bridal Chorus was ro-
mantically sung, and was indeed a revela-
tion. Mr.. Guckenberger conducted all but
six numbers last night and came in for a
large sare of the applause.