The Portland daily press., 1899-10-05
Madame Sembrich Creates a Perfect
PurOr.
Responded to Encores
Several Times.
Olher Artists Repeat Their
Former Triumphs.


catching some ground swell, or watches
passing cloud which gathered in
strength, Is apt to descend In a shower,
could not have mistaken the evidences
on every side that this third annual fes-
tival OF Maine, so far as 1t relates to the
western section of the state, would 90
out In a blaze Of glory. And SO it was.
Early last evening crowds began to gath
er on the four streets which surround
the Auditorium and the fashionable ciI-
clss rolled along in their carriages.
1t was well known by every body that
the fireworks were to be shot off at the
musical festiva and the result was that
we had the most brilliant night of recent
years Appearances outside the spacious
Auditorium pointed to this conclusion,
and once within Its spacious walls proot
positive was in sight.
What a magnificent audience, Nearly
every seat occupied below. while above.
was a mass of humanity. Many of the
costumes were the most handsome seen
at the festival, a tribute no doubt to her
whose night it was. On all sides was an
air of expectancy and promptly at the
hour designated, Mr.. Chapman lifted his
baton and the last concert Of the West
ern Maine festival for this year was be-
gun.
The overture, Nicholas "Merry Wives
of Windsor" was beautifully rendered
and the work of the ohours on the follow
ing number of Governs, which has been
given before in this series of concerts
waa ra1aarad Nth aunn yv,ora haautv of
tone and blending In general,
Then appeared Mr.. Pollock, who was
greeted with round of applause which
gave evidence that he has gained great
favor with festival audiences. In the
Prize Song or Wagner, no found greater
opportunity than in any previous work
allotted to him in this festival to display
marvellous tenor voios. From the
opening strains of his beautiful song to
it's grand closing climax the audiencs was
held spell bound by the beauty of his
tones. His voice was beautifully modu-
lated, true and equal to the vigorous de-
Inands which the number sxacted of him. |
His tone rang out pure and clear and
when the limit of volume seemed to have
besn reached he rose to even still greater
dramatic heights and truly transports
enc for the nunce to the Parnassns OF
which he sang. We believe he has a no.
tails future He was recalled twice.
The Scherzo was dainty and showed
good blending. Miss Gushing manifest
I'D quality of tone and some dramatic
temperament
And now the long looked for appear
anoe of the Queen of Song became reali-
ty. All were upon the tiptoe of expec-
fancy as the unrivalled Sembrich
stepped upon the platform and made her
way to Its centre. She did SO through an
outburst of applause which was well nigh
deafening.
picture inspiring TO the beholder. the
chorus paying its homage by rising and
waving its handkerchiefs, while the au-
dience continued Its wild demonstration,
all OF which was most graciousiy aek-
nowledged. She fairly won her audience
by her charming personality ana marked
magnetism. What words can We use to
describe this marvellous voice. They
seem weak and inadequate as we remem-
She herself seemed enraptured. Her
tones fell like pearls upon the listening
air. Her audience was entranoed with
the tone. always SO pure, SO wonderfully
placed and scaling her catenzas with
fiueney and fisxibiiity SO marvellous
that she indeed may we'll be called the
worlds greatest oolorature soprano.
This aria of Verdi's which that grand
cid man himself arranged for her,
wrought her listeners to such "a pitch Of
admiration that upon itssolcsin2 note q
thunderous applause was justly awardrd
her. She was compelled rspeatsdly te
bow her acknowledgements. And how
graeiously sha did 1t. Bat ws must
hurry on to the second number, 5 Srauss's
"Fruhiingstimmea waltz" In this she
truly showed gift which eVidsneed the
highest cultivation of which 1t would seem
human capabilities are possible. With
remarkable ense she mended her why
through the tstricacy Of trills and runs
until in that sublime moment she reached
the climax of hsr oadenza and higher
sosred the purs hell-like tones, thrilling
with personality unique. uDriYallsd in
all the world.