The age-herald., 1900-12-11
STRAUSS AND HIS
 DELIGHTFUL MUSIC Famous Leader and His 0rcheS-
 ira at the Auditorium
WAS A RARE MUSICAL FEAST
Splendid Programme Rendered to the Delight of Large and Cultured Audience-Was Indeed
 Notable Event.

The fame of Eduard Strauss and his Vii enna Orchestra attracted one of the larg- est and most cultured audiences last night that was ever assembled in the Auditori- um; and few musical entertainments in re- cent years have given the amusement goers of Birmingham as much delight.
 To begin with, the programme was ad- mirably chosen and arranged and in the next place, Eduard Strauss is an orchestral leader of exceptional equipment and ex- perienee, and of rare poetic temperament and personal magnetism. Strauss orchestra of forty-five pieces includes many excellent artists, and as whole it is a good band quite fine organization-but not the best in ensemble that has been heard here. However, for Strauss music it is the band of bands, and if one had heard it play only the Harlequin polka by Johann Strauss, or the march from Les Saracenes' by Ed uard Strauss himself, the music lover would have been we'll repaid for the price of his seat But besides these numbers there were many gems.
 The overture, If l Were King" by Adam, the French composer, was played in musicianly style The brilliant passages
  parts were executed with exquisite refine ment and finish This number was some what marred by the noise and confusion made by late corners, but in spite of that many persons present must have enjoyed it as much as any thing on the bill.
 The next number was Walther's Prize Song from Wagners Die Meistersnger," but the orchestration was not Wagnerian and it proved to be the only poor piece of the evening. No. was Eduard Strauss dashing "Juhiee" waltz, and it thorough ly captivated the audience. After a beau tiful ''piccicato' dance for an encore was heard Schuberts classic and tender song Sleep Well, Sweet Boy" arranged for violins. violas, violoncellos and harp. It was not only played with consummate skill, but MT. Strauss reading of it was simply ideal. The audience insisted on encore and "Sleep Well' was repeated.
 The second part of the programme began with a potpourri from Leoncavallos great romantic opera, "Pagliacci," and it was one of the rishest and most charming num- bers of the evening. It was finely orches- trated and especially beautiful in treat ment were the pastoral passages.
 Hypnotic Slumber,' an intermezzo by. Strauss, was both dreamy and subtle, and this was followed by "The Beautiful Blue Danube" played~in the true Vienna style Other pieces may have been more intensely enjoyed by majority of the audience, but the strains of Blue Danube," bewitching with sensuous beauty and languorous rhythm, provoked the most spontaneous applause. The house was fairly wild
 Paderewski's menuet was another gem Nothing performed revealed more musi- cianly orchestration or was perhaps more highly appreciated. It had to be repeated.
 The programme came to a fitting close with Strauss Saracen march with its Ori- ental coloring and delightful barbaric swing.
 The concert was given under the aus rices of the Birmingham May Musi ] Fes- tlval Association, and 1t is supposed from t..e size of the house that good profit was realized.