Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-12
THE COMING MUSIC FESTIVAL.
IL VIII he Given at the Academy OF
Music Next Week.

The scheme Of the forthcoming music
| festival, which is TO be given at the Acad-
envy of Music by the Wednesday Club on
Friday and Saturday. the Dist and 22d Of
April, is the result of unusual care and
| study The programmes contain no trivial
| or unworthy composition, and their num-
! bers are of such varied and interesting
music that all tastes will find much 10
crafty and please. The casts are made
| up Of artists fully competent for the work
| required. The musical features OF the fes-
| tival are. indeed OF such high character
as TO give the club a standing that Will
| insure 10 ii a support adequate and sat-
| isfactory.
The Wednesday Club is a smaller, close
| ly-tralned choir OF all good singers, every
member of which has met the require
ments Of the committee. The chorus, as
| It is now constituted, includes $50 voices,
and the annual festivals of the Wednes-
day Club, occurring with unerring regu-
| larity are Of such worthy character that
they have attracted the attention Of peo-
pie musical and otherwise, in all parts OF
| this country. The association is the ex-
ponent OF the best and noblest in choral
and orchestral music. Amid numerous
smaller societies about US il stands con-
spicuously as such, and as such Is held
sharply up 10 a standard that II has been
steadily ii may be unconsciously, build
ing for itself until now it holds repu-
tation that any organization may be
proud OF.
The Boston Festival Orchestra, which
has been engaged was heard here last
year and the year before. 1t was organ
lied for Just the purpose 10 which 1t IL
now being put and has been engaged TOT
years in Just the class OF work that VIII
be required of it next week.
Miss Sarah Anderson. the soprano, who
heads the list Of artists. is the daughter
OF Sarah Barron Anderson, weli-known
singer Of this country. Miss Anderson IS
gifted with a winning presence, ana
shows excellent training. Her voice,
sweet. mezzo soprano, Is evenly and wen
DEVELOPED. Miss Anna Lohbiller, the other
sonrano OF the cast. IS a colorature So
prano. with fiexbility. purity OF tone,
sentiment. and nice vocaization essential
10 singers of that delightful class.
Miss Gertrude May Stein, the leading
alto. IS a vocalist of marked ability, who
has taken prominent place in the front
rank. Miss Blanche Towle will be the
other alto. Her voice Is one or strength
and beauty, and merits the recognition
that II is receiving from the music-loylng
public.
AS a singer Csmponanl is the peer OF
any baritone that has been heard in this
country. His appearance in this festival
Is q master stroke on the part OF the d.
rectors.
Mr. Evan Williams and Mr.. Clarence
Shirley. the two tenors I'm the combina-
ton. are equally well known. Mr.. VIII
liarns. indeed. bears the distinction OF be-
ing the foremost oratorio tenor or the
world. and Mr. Shirley Is making his
name and fortune by his supreme talent.
Mr.. Marion Whitney, Jr., the basso'
scarcely needs an introduction 10 people
who are acquainted with the doings OK
the musical world. His lyric voice has
given all who have heard him lasting
impression.