New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-15
MUSIC.
MUSICAL FESTIVAL OPENED AT LOUIS
VILE - TO CONTINUE FOR
THREE DAYS

Louisville Ky. May IA musical festival.
which Is to continue three days. began here
night In vast but homely show place called the
Auditorium. Three thousand people heard the
music and most amiabe spirit Of enthusiasm
which augurs we'll for the undertakings financial
outcome. prevailed The forces employed would
be voted quite extraordinary at any festival
cept the biennial affair at Cincinnati and the
larger festivals in the East; and In that particular
lies good deal OF the significance OF the festival.
The solo singers were Nine Sembrich Nine. Isa-
belle Bouton and Ben Davies, the Welsh tenor.
The first and last of these had been heard at the
big affair in Cincinnati last week-heard, moreover,
in some Of the music they sang tonght-so that, In
one respect at least. Louisville has Jared quite
well this spring the city which is not satisfied
with being the musical metropolis of the West,
but must needs try to make itself believe that 1t Is
the musical metropolis of the country.
Besides these solo singers there the Boston
Festival Orchestra of about fifty pieces. under the
direction of Emil Mollenhauer and chorus of two
hundred voices. The latter factor was the only
element that invited the interest of The Trbune's
correspondent, nasmuch as 1t was the only one
that could bear any testimony to the degree OF
culture obtaining in the city. No reader of The
Tribune can be curious to know how either Nine
Sembrich or Mr.. Davies sang after the season
which they have enjoyed and endured: but some
might be interested. The Tribune's corre-
spondent, to know whether the cities of the South
are beginning to practise that feature of the mu-
steal art which speaks more for genteness and
refinement in this particular than any other.
There is a vast difference between the Cincin-
natl Festival proud of twenty-seven years Of ex
istence and most notable results achieved, and
the affair whose beginning l heard tonight: yet
at the bottom. that difference is more in degree
than kind. To Louisville the festival which be-
gan tonight means the thing that last weeks
festival meant to the Queen City. The element
contributed by the city itself was the chorus and
II chorus of local singers. the Cincin-
natl chorus has been since 1880 Back of the en-
terprise a body Of public spirited citizens,
rs
citizens to hear higher class Of music than
would be possible under ordinary circumstances,
and TO encourage the local choral society, the
Musical Club. TO produce works with solo and or
chestra help which would also be out of the ques-
ton under ordinary conditions
The agency which made this possible the
creation of George Stewart. Of Boston, who con-
ceived the plan years ago of arranging tour
for his band, consorting with II a number Of sing
ers capable of singing the solo parts in such
choral works ke''- to be sung, and put
ting It in the power of cities which did not boast
of orchestras OF their own-the others are still
few in the United States-to hear high class music
as the composers had written it. For time his
field Of operations did not extend far beyond New
England but now he has invaded the South. and
TO Judge by what have heard of the results in
Richmond and Birmingham, Ala. the new agency
that will work a magnificent change in
the musical atmosphere of a large section of the
country which has played but small role in
choral culture heretofore
With the orchestra are excellent artists from the
East such as Miss Sara Anderson, Miss Isabella
Bouton. Evan Williams. George Leon Moore,
Gwilym Miles and Miss Lenora Jackson, and, as
demonstrated tonight, for extraordinary occa-
sions these extraordinary artists. To-nights
triumph artistcaly and financially. will doubtless
encourage the Commercial Club to continue in the
lovely enterprise and the results cannot but be
admirabl for the art.
The chofr's work In the choral work Of the even
ing. Mendelssohn's Hymn of Praise the or
chestral movements being omitted was highly COM
mendable. The sopranos, indeed admirable In
quality, and in the spirit of their work better by
far than the contingent in the Cincinnati
choir: but the and BASES weak and
there IS singlar want OF contralto quality in the
second division of the womens choir. 1t Is a Pc
culiarity which I should like to dwell upon If had
time, for l have always found the opposite to be
the north of the Ohio River. But there
atonement for all shortcomings in the enthusiasm
of the work and the willingness with which
the beat of the leader, Osbourne McConathy was
followed. There will be three more concerts.
II. E. X.