The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-04-20
THE STABAT MATER
KENOSHA CHORAL SOCIETY GAVE
THEIR FIRST GRAND CONCERT.
ARTISTS WIN GREAT APPLAUSE
The Concert Proves a Great Artistic
Success and Small but Appreciative
Audience is Present-Pra1se is Due
Director Mcdowell.

The first grand concert of the Re
nosha Choral society given at the
Rhode Opera house Thursday evening,
proved to be the artistic success of the
season. While the audience was not
as large as so excellent a program
should have demanded, it was an ap-
preciative one, and they showed how
much they admired the efforts of Prof
Mcdowell and the Choral society, by
frequent outbursts of spontaneous ap-
plause. The organization and train
ing of the society has been entirely the
work of Mr.. Mcdowell, and only those
who were present last night can say
how we'll the work was done. The
concert seemed a revival of the artists
successes of the Hatton club. The
perfect training of the large chorus so
that every voice seemed to sound in
harmonious unison, was the one great
feature of the entertainment. All the
selections rendered by both the chorus
and soloists were selections from the
works OF classical writer's, and yet
among them all there was not one
which all the audience could not ap-
preciate.
The concert was entirely under the
direction of Mr.. Mcdowell, and he was
ably assisted by Miss Ida Belle Head,
soprano, Mrs 81. E. Tanner, soprano,
Mrs. M. B Compton, soprano, Miss
Hannah Shosted, alto, Mr.. Robert
Boice, Carson Tewor, of Chicago, and
Mr.. Harry T. Hart, of Chicago, bass.
The main part of the program was
the rendition of Rossini's Stabat Mater,
but the preliminary program consisted
of number of very charming and
we'll rendered solos and choruses.
The first number was chorus; In
a Cathedral" by Gaul. The first
work of the chorus brought out a
spontaneous ripple of applause. No
better piece could have been secured
to show the beauty of chorus music
than this charming work by Gaul, and
the Choral society certainly rendered
it in q way that deserved the highest
encomiums.
The opening chorus was followed by
a pretty ballad entitled, The Maid of
JUDAH" by Kuecken, rendered by Mrs.
81. E. Tanner. How we'll this piece
was sung may be judged by the storm
af nh oil p7
Babylon's Wave" by Gounod, a sad,
but very powerful anthem, was next
effectively rendered by the Choral
society, after which Mrs. M. B. Comp
ton sang the we'll known aria, In
Fair Titania," from the opera Mignon,
by Thomas. The aria was sung in a
pleasing manner.
Then came the second part of the
program and the feature of the evening,
the redition of the famous "Stabat
Mater" by Rossini. To lovers of the
classic in music it is useless to mention
the I" Stabat Mater" The piece and
it's author are known. It's weird and
enchanting melodies and it's grand
chOruses have charmed all who have
ever been permitted to hear a rendition
of it by capable chorus. 1t is a very
difficult piece and one which is rarely
attempted by choral societies. Few
societies, indeed, in towns the size OF
Kenosha contain soloists as capable as
Miss Head and Mrs. Tanner. Miss
Heads rendition of the air " Infam-
matus ct Accensus" was one of the
most beautiful musical efforts ever
heard in this city. The clear, sweet
soprano voice of the young lady seem
ed perfectly attuned to the melody OF
the famous composer and at the close
of the solo she was greeted with burst
of applause and very gracefully re-
sponded to the encore.
The assisting soloists, Messrs. Fl. T.
Hart and Robert Boice Carson, OF
Chicago. proved themselves capable OF
handling the parts assigned them.
The choruses were all given with
precision and in a decidedly finished
style. Musically. this was a very
successful concert, and Mr.. Mcdowell
and the society are to be congratulated
on the hard work done and the artistic
results. The orchestra furnished by
Mr.. Henry Schultz, of Racine, proved
highly satisfactory. It is matter of
regret that such splendid perform
ance should not have been more