Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-05
THE WORCESTER FESTIN AL.
An Interesting Summary of Its WORK
and some Comments.

SueciaI Correspondence of The Evening Star.
WORCESTER, Mass, October J, 1s't'.
The Worcester festival for 1899 Is ended
and an opportunity is given for q summary
of its work and some comments.
There were seven concerts, three OF
larger choral works; one, the artists
night of former years somewhat diShlhed'
of solos by various singers. with slight aid
from the chorus and three orchestral con
certS. with vocal and piano solpistS. The
choral works presented Were Haydn's
"Creation," BerliUzs "Damnatlon OF
Faust" George ". Chahwick's The LILY
Nvmph" and Horatiu Parker5 King lro-
ian The principal orchestral numbers
were the classic nth symphony OF Beeiho.
ven the ultra romantic NTH symphony OF
Tschaihowski and the first suite deScrip-
tive of forest life, by our American, Mac
Dowell. .
Thus an intelligent plan is observed of
giving a representative Work In the larger
form, both for chorus and for orchestra, OF
tho two great schools, the classic and tn"
romantic and To supplement these by the
best representatives of American compost
ton in both forms. the solol5tS Were near ,
in the concerted works. in operate mum
beers, and one, the eccentric but gifted
Pachmann, presented ChOpins piano con-
certo in r minor.
makes the Worcester festival distinctive
that the thing which made the greatest i'm
preston and will linger in the mind the
longest was this last work. Pachmann )
last rehearsal was before a morning audi
ence of $50. who were amused at his an
tics, deeply impressed by his playing and
astonished at the open rebuke winch ne
earned from the conductor Tor his talking
and e1imacing during the orchestral parts.
At the concert this was forgotten in the
wonder at his marvellous Interpretation or
the beautiful work. and not the less at the
hawless accompaniment by the orchestra,
under the leadership of Mr. Kneisel. Every
shade Of the soioist'S thought was followed
by the conductor. and in those passages
where Pachmann used the most delicate
pianiSsina touch the orchestra merely
brcathed. yet always distinctly supporting
the solo instrument.
Indeed il may be said that with this and
the almost equally remarkable accompani-
ments furnished by Mr.. kneisel for the
solos of Nine 5embrich there grew great
feeling Of regret that the entire orchestral
work was not placed i'll his sole charge.
While the players of the Boston symphony
Orchestra could hardly do anything i'll, Yet
the orchestra! numbers as given lacked the
distinction which they would nave fad at
his hands.
! The work Of the great chorus of nearly
400 hardks met the expectation OF one who
visited the Worcester festival for the first
| time. In the "Damnation Of Faust the
parts were not always together, and those
subtler effects of light and shade which
| must be developed if the performance Is to
| rise to "A high plane were frequently want
| ing Great choral conductors are rare, but
| Worcester should not be content with less.
The cantataS of air. Chadwick and Of Mr..
| Parker were each conducted by the COM
poser Their methods We're an interesting
contrast, Mr.. Parker reaching broader eff
| fects with much impress Of his personality
| on the chorus. Mr.. Chadwick aiming at
| finish OF detail and accomplishing more
| with this than with either of the other
| choral works. These two men, with Mac
| Dowen represent the best in composition
which this country has yet accomplished.
| Nine. Sembrich made a great impression
| on the audience with the familiar Ears e
| lui'' from La Travata and "Ah. non
| giunge'' from La Sonnambula.' She was
| tumultuously recalled after the first. and
| after three recalls. much bowling and great
| applause broke into the last part of this
| number with the word "Giaja!'' on a high
! f fat entirely without accompaniment,
! while Mr.. Kneisel still turning the
LEAVES to find his place. The audience held
| its breath in wonder whether she was true
| to the key. waiting until the first chord
| was struck by the orchestra. Then she
| example of the artists entirely musical
personality.
! Mr. and Mrs. j. d. Patten of Georgetown
! were present at two of the concerts, and
! Miss Elizabeth Pierce. leading member
| of the Choral Society, stayed through the
| entire festival. in addition to other Wash
| ingtonians already mentioned. We may
| have increased hope for Washingtons mu-
| steal future to find six from this city at
| tending the Worcester festival Perhaps
| we may some day ourselves have a worthy
| festival whenever the -hoped-for music
! hall shall be built.