The age-herald., 1900-04-08

the E.-ylish chorus is superior to the Ger chorus. In no German city can one hear a chorus equal to our Birmingham festival chorus. In musical culture Germany con- tinues to be far ahead of the United States, but when 1t comes to two important re- quisites, namely: precision of attack and sense of rhythm, the German chorus is simply not in our American class. There seems to be something in our climate that eonduces to tonal excellence There is un- doubtedly something in our social life that makes our singers keen and responsive. But without attempting an analysis. or without phi1osophiZing on conditions, I will say + Is admitted by all musicians who have had the opportunity of making com- parison that German cboruses are not what one might expect while American choruses-that is to say. some American chorus es-surpass the best of the old world standards"
 Birmingham is now spoken of far and wide as musical city It's festival work has given it splendid reputation. Every musical entertainment of high merit pre- sented here is sure to be successful So long as O'Brien's opera house was the only available place for grand concerts, few ex- pensive artists could be brought to this city. Paderewski gave a recital at O'Briens and made 1t pay-himself and the house. But being a fad as well as a piano vrtuoso Paderewski drew a crowd of men and women who paid as high as s4 seat He was an exception to the rule. But with the large Jefferson theatre as the successor to O'Brien's opera house, in addition to the Auditorium. everything great in the mus ical world will find its way to Birmingham next season. Paderewski will come again, but there will be no excuse for him to charge A. He is phenomenal performer, but he is not phenomenal enough to justify one in paying more than once an exhorbi- tant price to hear him.
 What May He Expected
 Birmingham can count on having Thom- as every season. and it might be arranged to haze the Damrosch orchestra once a year, too. Next winter DePachmann the rival Of Paderewski, is also certain to favor Birmingham with a recital. Strange to say, while all the famous military bands sev- eral of the famous orchestras many of the virtuoso pianists. and scores of eminent singers have appeared in this city, no cele- brated violinist has ever been this way
 The piano is a useful instrument-usefu Tor accompanying purposes and for enter taining friends at home. The piano is even necessary, for 1t must be used in the pro- duction of the tender and passionate music of Chopin and the Beethoven sonatas Every child should be taught to play on efic Pletio. pul dS a SOlO instrument on the concert stage 1t is extremely disappointing It seems mechanical and colorless Beside it place the violin, and there you have a contrast! One air played by master on the violin is worth more than a programme full of piano solos. The music lovers of Birmingham should not rest until they have induced Ysaye or PetschnilSoff or Maud Powell or all three, to give recitals here. As classicist Joachim is undoubtedly the greatest violinst who has ever lived He is old now, but still plays occasionally in public. Joachim has never been to this country. Seven or eight years ago a New York manager offered him $75,000 net for a limited number of concerts-thirty-five or forty. He promptly declined. He said in substance that he was making a good liv- ing in Berlin as director of the royal vio- lin school; that he did not crave riches; and that he had no desire to cross the Att lantic. If the manager had offered Joachim $150,O00 the result would have been the