The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-23
AMPHION CLUBS SUCCESS
WHAT LOOKED LIKE CERTAIN DE-
FEAT TURNED INTO VICTORY.
Miss Maconda Was Unable to Reach
the City, but n Splendid Pro-
gramme Was Given.

The young men of the Amphion Club.
with the help of their director. Alexander
Ernestinoff, and Joseph Baernstein, the
bass soloist specially engaged for the first
concert of the clubs fourth season. turned
defeat into victory yesterday and last
night. singing society is rarely con-
fronted by a more distressing situation
than that which the Amphion Club was
called upon to face yesterday morning
without a moments warning. a telegram
from Miss Charlotte Maconda conveyed
the startling intelligence that the distin-
guished coloratura soprano, who had been
announced for weeks appearing jointly
with Herr Baernstein at the opening con-
cert of the season, would not be able to
reach indianapolis in time. having been
delayed by a wreck.
The news came like a clap of thunder
from clear sky TO Professor Ernestinoff
and the executive branch OF the club. The
programme printed in the newspapers for
days in advance was rendered practically
OF no effect in an instant. A director of
less composure and ability than Professor
Ernestinoff might have thrown up his
hands and counseled his associates to can
| rev programme prepared and printed.
Fortunately in obtaining the services of
| the great basso, Herr Baernstein, the club
| happened to engage a and brother
| as we'll as professional singer. Display
| ing "a spirit of liberality, Herr Baernstein
! cheerfully consented TO. as far as lay in
| his power, fill the vacancy caused by the
| absence of Miss Maconda Instead of sing
| ing only five songs and participating in a
| number with Miss Maconda Herr Baern-
stein rendered fourteen distinct selections.
| led in the Calf of Gold" from Gounod's
| Faust" with the Amphion Club and re-
| spOnded TO three encoreS besides. All who
entered the German House last night TO
attend the concert were met with the an
| nouncement that money would be refunded
| on each ticket turned in at the box office.
| To the lasting credit of true lovers of
| music in indianapolis be it said that only
a very few availed themselves of the offer.
A CRITICAL AUDIENCE.
| When the members of the Amphon
| Club arrayed themselves in front of their
leader preparatory to introducing the first
number on the programme, "The Death
| of Mighty Pam" they faced an audience
| made up of the city's most intelligent and
| discriminating devotees of music. The
| young men never sang with such delight
! full effect before. AS the closing words
| of Mitterer's wonderful composition died
| away into an echo of what had been a
| thrilling burst of triumphant melody ap-
| piause broke forth such seldom greets
| the ears of artists in their native city.
| Happily the audiences demand for an en-
core was refused in the interest of artis-
| tic effect The next number THE
Monk" by Meyerbeer, by Herr Joseph
Baernstein. The exact cause or causes by
4 which this foreign artist, who had never
| before set foot in Indianapolis. completely
| captured an audience with one selection,
| would be difficult to analyze. For one
| thing, Herr Baernstein possesses a bass
voice of range. clearness. purity and power
| such as are rarely found combined in one
| singer. But above all. he has that quail
ity of personal magnetism technically
known as artistic temperament. which in
| stantly draws into common brotherhood
| ali the eligible ones upon whom rests it's
| subtle influence. The whole charming pro-
| gramme, item by item, cannot be described,
| nor can anything like an adequate idea
and soloist. Herr Baernsteins selections.
with the exception of the last were
grouped into vocal bouquets, each contain
ing quartet ..1- of songs The first comprised
Loves Rosary" Van der Stucken's 1.-THE
| Sweetest Flower that Blows and Hatton's
ITO Anthea." The second included Mozart's
In Diesen He'll gen Hallen," Franz's Aus
Meinen Grossen Schmerzen." Griegs ex-
quisitely dainty Itch Liebe Dich" and
Riess Am Rhein und Beim Wein." Al
the end of his third appearance a most
unusual thing happened. Although Herr
Baernstein had been heard in nine seec-
tons, the audience had become so carried
away with the charm of his voice that II
demanded and received an encore, a pleas
ing little German song, "ln Tiefen Heller
GIN the Deep Cellar.') When Herr Baern-
stein had given further demonstration OF
his talent in Fishers "Falstaff's Song
with it's great laughing chorus). the same
composers Under the Rose" Secchi's
Love Me or Not and Schumann's 1.-The
Two Grenadiers," the greed for more oi
this new artist broke out of all reasonable
bounds anu two encores instead of one
were claimed.
WAS VERY GENEROUS.
With generosity almost unheard of il
artistic circles the basso granted the re
quests of his admirers and rendered TIN,
Armorers song from robin Hood" then
in a spirit Of infectious mischief an Irisl
ditty, "Off to Philadelphia" The last mum
Der the long programme was. appro
priately enough, one of the best Her
Baernstein sang the "Serenade' from
Gounod's Faust" after which he rem
dered the "Calf of Gold" from the SANE
opera, with the assistance of the club. Tn,
| splendid male chorus emulated the basso
example and displayed their vocal abiit,
in wide range OF subjects. Yielding 20
popular demand for folklore ballads tn
young men interspersed 1.-THE Bloom Is Oh
| the Rye (Bishop), Loves Old Swee
Song (AIolloy) and "Old Black Joe" Fos
. teri among such classics as 1.-The Death o
Mighty Pam" ''Troubadour's Serenade'
, Orchard Wagner) and the Calf of Gold
from Gounod's Faust" with wonderful,
taking effect
| Last nights programme contained tn
gratifying announcement that the next con
cert of the Amphion Club, to be given soon
will have as an extra attraction a no les
famous artist than Ossip Gahrilowitsch
the young Russian pianist who lately tool
New York music lovers by storm in
fashion never equaled since the first visi
OF Paderewski to this country.