The St. Louis Republic., 1900-11-04

Everything Is in readiness for the music
festival. Nine. Lillian Nordica is the first
Of the great SOloiSts 10 be heard, and in
conjunction with her Will he the newly
created festival orchestra of seventy-six
men and the newly assembled festival
chorus Of over 700 voices. The programmes
for the twenty concerts have been com
rieted in their entirety. They represent
the bsSt selections of hish-class music ever
submitted to public approval IN st. Louis.
With chorus of 700 voices as a central
musical theme. the selection of the choir
numbers became 4 matter Of srine dclcacy.
II mis- It was easy to choose along familiar
lines, but the Programme Committee has
extended its activity in such way that Il
simple song like the Swabi.lE folklore nelo-
dies and great effect like the Ha!lelujah
chorus found their natural place among 200
ana odd pieces. in which the twenty pro-
gramm"S that comprise the festival abound
ON the opening NIGHT the special selections
are Rossluis ''Intlammatus and Afen.es-
sohf:'s ''Forty-second Psalm.' The one re-
quirinS Mine. Lillian Nordcas solo num-
bcrS. the entire chorus and the entire or
c:ic$tra: the other calling for special quar-
t"t Of wcli-known local singers. Nine. Lii
lian Noriica, the chorus and the orchestra.
With these two massive works as a tonal
foundation. the character Of the opening
prC@rarlme IS easily understood.
The aid Of the general public in the great
enterprise has been ready and instant The
Sunday concerts commend themselves cs-
pucally to that large and influential class
of tie community which sets apart the first
day Of the week TO contemplation of the
larger things OF life, and in consunance 9
with this view. the engagement of SO pop
uiar religious speaker as the Reverend
Sam Z. Jones, and the aid OF the Reverend
Leon Harrison of ST. Louis. who has no
equal as an eXtemporaTcous orator any
whore. are an earnest of the desire of :he
management to make these Sunday concerts
a feature of the entire series.
In the last few days there has been n
general alignment of the local artists who
are 10 contribute. AmruG; the latter IS Mr.
Abraham Epstein. who has achieved =
prominent name Is an accompaniSt. Mr. En-
stein has been appointed - the artist who
Is 10 present the piano scores for all III.
great artists Of the festival. He was one
ii the first enthusiasts, WHO during the
formative stage OF the undertaking. lent
valuable aid in it's projection and chose for
himself the position that he now occupies
an; VIII undoubtedly creditably :iu N-
Ernst of the Choral-Ssmphouy Society hDs
beer! I1d"iati@abie in his advice aI,! assist
anco. and the same can uursserye,Ily hr
SAID et Messrs. W. Il. Pomucr Z. r. Kroc-
ger Alfred q. R"byn. Mr.. William Ianye
and Professor Charles T.. Seymour. wno
comprise tn" leading directors Of chorus,
orchestra and festival band. The orchestra
Of twentE-stX, the largest ever assembled
in st. Louis. and the largest tia. has over
assisted III musical enterprise Of large i'm
p"rtaH.e. mas rehears,d almost daily since
ne ih!'dle OF October. aud Will. on the open
Ing night, br found ia hr a most cn,rpetsnt
body OF instrunentalists
The arrangement recently made for thr
transportation To London of Anna Held and
her "fapa's WIFE company involves wh,t