The Newtown bee., 1899-08-25

BEST CONCERT NEwTowN HAS HAD
FOR YEARS.
When we say what Is the heading, 1tthe
best concert Newtown has had for
years." we say it sdVisedly; the only
question with us ia whether we ought to
make any qualification at all as to time.
We rather think the merits of the case
would justify us in saying that the con-
cert at the Newtown Inn last Saturday
evening was the best Newtown has ever
known. The wording of the announce
ments seemed extravagant In stating
that the Taglia Trio had reached the top
notch in the musical line, and that Mrs
Alma Webster Powell possessed one of
the great voices of the century. Still,
advance advertisements are generally
extravaeant in their wording and we
thought little Of that. The entertainment
itself showed that the words had been
chosen with discrimination and care.
Mrs Powell's voice is one Of the great
voices of the century. She Ia about
starting out In her profession after years
of painstaking drill and study. A great
future is before her, 1t takes no marke d
prophet to say that. 1t wouldIbe we'll for
those lovers of music who have now
heard her for the frat time to take good
note of her name; they will hear much
of it in after years. Mrs Powell was
easily the star of Saturday evenings en-
tertainment. Her singing was the talk
of those at the hotel and Of others for
days. The compass of her voice is won
derful. Besides being able to sing in
contralto voice, she can reach B fat
above high G with ease. Her high notes
are as clear as the highest notes struck
on the violin. All the numbers on the
program maintained very high stand
ard. Miss Bertha Parce, in her render
ing of the gladiatorial scene from "Quo
Vadis," showed her complete mastery of
that style. She took her audience with
her into the arena, and SO keenly did
they realize the multitude, the shouts,
the agoay OF the struggle that it would
have been great tax to keep up the
tension long. Miss Parce also acquitted
herself we'll in the lighter vein. II we
did not know Herbert F1ansburg person
ally so well, we should almost say that
he was inimitable. Those who hear him
like what he does so well that they in
sist that he repeat his selections over
and over again until he himself has to
apologize, but bis audience feels that no
apology Ia needed. His rendering Of the
scene from the play of ashore Acres, :"
where the talk ID of dividing up into
building lots the old farm in which is
situated the mothers grave, was capital.
Ii ia great thing to excel In the hu-
morous and the pathetic vein; Mr. Flans-
burg does both. Toe Taglia Trio of
Bridgeport with their mandolins gave
some very delightful music. The med.
ley of national airs, with which the trio
closed the program, was good. The
audience was large. 1t was composed,
besides the summer guests, of New
towns best people, who, after the enter
tainment, said many pleasing things
about the treat which the concert had
If u ded them. Following Is the pro-
am in full:
PARTI.
! (a) ''Carte Postale,''
| (b) 'W histling Rutus,''
The Taglia Trio.
Dialect sKetch, Selected
| Mr. Flansburg.
'Erzebet Aria," Eskel
Alma Webster Powell.
! Mandolin Solo, Selected
! Mr. Cornish.
| Reading, Selected
| Miss Parce.
PARTu.
Selection,
| The Taglia Trio.
Song,
Mr. Tomlinson.
| Sketch,
Mr. Flansburg.
| Theme and Variations, Proch
Alma Webster Powell.
Reading.
| Miss Parce.
Selection,
| The Taglia Trio.
Dancing. Music by Mr. Bentley