Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-22
THE MUSIC FESTIVAL.
1T OPENED VERY AUsPICrOusLY AT
THE ACADEMY LAST NIGHT.
The HYMN OF PRAISE TIE FEATURE,
Miss Sara Anderson, Miss Towle, and
Mr.. Evan Williams the Soloists-
Orchestra Do Splendid Work.

1 a.
was given a. the Academy last night.
The audience was large one in spite of
| the strongest OF all counter-attractions,
| and the outward tokens cf success. con-
| sisting In most hearty applause, and
| triple enthusiastic recalls, were as fiatter-
| ing as they were deserved.
| When concert gives such an amount
Of solid pleasure and legitimate satisfac-
ton as that last night afforded, a critic.
| who has thoroughly enjoyed himself. is
sorely tempted 10 scamp his work as a
| professional fault finder. In any case,
the obvious flaws In the performance
need not detain one long.
The principal feature in the programme
was Mendelssohn's Hymn OF Praise"
| The Wednesday Club sang il two years
ago, and at that time it was given with
splendid effect. In the light of that per-
formanoe last nights rendition was
something OF a disappointment. The first
part, indeed, was finished TO a degree
ana raised no little enthusiasm. The
Nolume OF the chorus and It's precision
We're superb, and Mr.. Evan Williams's
man, VIII the Night Soon Pass?" was
one OF the grandest features of the con-
cert and fairly carried the audience
away. The one blot on the fair escutch-
con OF the evening, however, occur
req In the choral, Let All Men Praise
the LORD. The first part OF that number
was admirably rendered, but the chorus
became confused By the accompaniment
IN the latter half, and went literally all
to pieces on the opening Of the ascrlp-
ZION. Lack of proper rehearsal was un-
doubtedly the cause. and for this there
can be no excuse, though it is probable
that had Mr.. Scrivenor directed this
choral as he afterwards directed the clos
ing chorus the shortcomings would not
nave been so painfully obvious. His beat
at this time was nervous and ten
tative. and the Accompaniment being
difficult 10 follow, the chorus was heavily
handicapped. The effect of the catastro-
phe was felt until the end. and the closing
chorus was altogether spiritless.
MISS ANDERsONs VOICE
For the rest. the concert was unoues-
tonably one of the best given I'm this
city '''''
Miss Sara Anderson made her first an
pearahce In Richmond under the happiest
"a
bit OF n disappointment. She was cold
constrained. and her voice. desplte lis
evident purity and breadth. seemed 10 lack
Characterization. But when she became
thoroughly aroused. what a revelation
she proved 10 be. She has not exactly
what the French call "the grand man
her' but she Is a vocal yirtuoso of the
nrst rank. She IL mistress OF all the
hnesse OF her art, and she sings with such
unapproachabe audacity and volume
that il is little wonder the audience nj
the Academy thawed out and gave her
an ovation.
Mr.. Evan Williams. who sang the reci-
tatiVe Deeper and Deeper Stlll. and the
d1la 'Wafther Angels" from Jeptha. he
sides the tenor part i'm the Lobgesang
was earnest aud effective. The beautiful
quality of the tone and the charm and
elegance Of his phrAsing were matchless
only the other day it was published that
Mr. Williams had sung "Mendelssohn's
Scotch symphony" Well one can almost
believe II Of him. This versatile artist IS
as Noltalre said OF Habokkuk. capable
de tout"
Miss Blanche Towle sang conscientious
~, and enlisted the sympathies OF her
audience. Her voice is round and full.
and possesses a sensuous beauty all it's
''fi' .ii' was ltelu 10 advantage IN the
aria che Faro from Gluck's Orpheus.
but was somewhat disappointing I'm the
duet in the Hymn Of Praise.
THE ORCHESTRA GRAND.
The Boston Festival Orchestra filed
four numbers on the programme, besides
playing Mendolssohn's symphony, which
precedes the Hymn Of Praise" No words
OF condemnation can be too warm for this
admirable organization. Mr.. Emil Mol
lenhauer. the director, Is a thoroughly
capable musician, and his orchestra shows
the result Of careful training Mr.. Arthur
Scriyenor, the director Of the Wednesday
Club and the festival, has every reason
TO feel grathed at the result of his intel
lgent and painstaking work The success
OF the festival rests I'm a large measure
upon his shoulders, and when the balance
has been set. Mr.. Scrivenor, at least. is
not found wanting. The club Is a most !
choir Of singers, and |
the present festival shows that 1t Is pro-
gressive and capable to a very eminent
degree.
The afternoon and evening concerts to- |
day will be particularly attractive The |
Chlldren's Chorus will be heard at the |
matinee. together with several Of the |
artists and the orchestra, and tonight !
the club Will sing Hiawatha's Wedding
Feast and the forty-sixth Psalm. The art
lists who will appear at this concert are
Miss Anna Lohbiller, Miss Gertrude May
Stein, Miss Blanche Towle, Mr.. Clarence |
Shirley Mr.. Myron w. Whitney, and |