New-York tribune., 1900-09-26
A RARE MUSICAL EFFORT.
AUsPICIoUs OPENING OF THE FEsTI-
VAL AT WORCESTER.

Worcester. Mass. Sept. % (SpeciaD.-If to-
days auguries are to be depended upon. the
forty-thIrd fettival of the Worcester County
Musical Association. which began this evening,
Will have a bright page in the festival annals OF
the country. The opening work was Sullivan's
Golden Legend" chosen for reasons the OBJ
viousness of which win appear when it is stated
that Brahmss German Requiem" is to have its
first performance at these meetings Wednes-
day evening, Cesar Francks "Beatitudes' on
Thursday and Verdrs "Te Deum" on Friday.
Not only are these works new to the chorus but
they are also extremely difficult, and IL is be
feared that critical admiration for the ambition
and courage OF Mr.. Chadwick and his forces in
setting themselves 80 dgnfed, lofty and severe
task will have TO Re tempered bit with record
of shortcomings: but that is a bridge to be
crossed when 1t is reached.
For to-nights work the pegs can be set up to
a pitch Of enthusiasm and the choice of such a
piece Of soggy sentimentality as the Golden
Legend" pardoned the score that II was
equally necessary TO give a sop to Cerberus
and to maks as easy as possible the preparatory
work of the chorus. A pretty bit Is this compo-
sitlon of Sullivan's quite in keeping with the
most pallid portions OF Longfellow's poem, bar
ring the prologue" which Joseph Bennett put
together for his collaboration. It would serve
arouse in cOnnoisseurs desire to hear the much
sounder setting of scenes from the same poem
made by Dudley Buck for the Cincinnati festival
In 1880 but for this contingency we shall have
to wait until the taffy Sir Arthur's stick has
lest its saccharine charm
The auguries of benefcent promise outside OF
the fine performance and the list Of new works
mentioned lie in the interest manifested by the
public in festival widely different from the
humdrum affairs of decade and more ago and
in the general excellence of the festival forces.
The choir has not been lessened in numbers or
ntimidated In spirit by the higher aims set by
the new management. In my recollection it has
never been larger or of better material than
now. In the chorus 30 Gladstone Light" set in
the sweet hymn time style dear to the heart OF
rural England its singing was as near perfection
as can be looked for in a body of four hundred
amateur chorsters. lntonation, balance. enun-
citation and expression We're admirable. thrice
admirable, and when the new style of Brahms
and FranCk become as native to the singers as
Sullivans style is we may expect such
performances of the choral masterpieces, which
stiI give Mr.. Chadwick and his singers pause
wifi make them not only understanded hut also
loved of the people who til! cling TO puerile
pTettiuesses. That the public which we used
to be told had to be lured with prima donnas
and repettions of Bruch's "Arminius' and Saint
Saenss Samson and Delilah.' has not been
frightened away DS tne promise or nOVeltleS or
a vastly different calibre and the engagement of
capable but not sensational solo singers is
proved by the fact that the sale Of season tickets
has this year been larger than ordinary, and
that though the new works have entaied
usual expenses there IS no fear for the out
come in the minds OF the association directors.
The solo singers in IO-night's performance
were Miss Lillian Blauvelt, soprano; Miss Ger
trude Nav Stein Contraito Theodore Van YORK
tenor. and Gwilym Miles and Julian Walker
bassos of the last two Mr.. Miles singing the
music allotted to Lucifer and Mr. Walker that
of the forester. Miss BlauVelt effected her en-
trance on the American concert platform after
absence Of two and a half years spent in
Europe She returned to America in July, and
has since then been- resting in the Adirondacks
There was small curiosity to uote whether
or not a change had come over her singing in
her absence. There is change, but It does
not affect her manner. which has always had
its individual charm, the quality of her voice
which is still crystalline in its limpidity Wheth-
er she has gained in iexibility OF utterance to-
nights performance did not disclose, but one
thing that made plain that her upper
tones have gained in strength and hrilliancy.
She is not 10 the EFatOTio manner horn; express
siveness or defamation and sustained UtteranCe
are not her STIRRING qualities but her singing of
ford airs. fancy. will prove 10 be. If no warm
err al least more scintllant than ever.
The nearest approaches to Charac cteTization in
the work of the solo singers tonight was made
by Mr.. Van YORK But Sullivan's Prince Henry
is a laCkadaisiCal milksop and cannot be cured.
Lucifer's alcohol could not do it. and Elsa's
hearts blood would have been wasted had it
been shed.
Fine verve and vigor marked Mr.. Miess sing
ing, good intelligence and musical taste Miss
STEMS, and sonorous tone and free style Mr..
Walkers. George w. Chadwick conducted. and
J. Wallace Goodrich played the organ. As usual
Franz kneisel is associate conductor Of the fes-
ence numbered about fourteen hundred.
HEX