The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-22
LAST NIGHTS CONCERT.

musical event other than comic opera was az
the Jyccum last night 20 hear the greatest com
bbation OF talent which has ever appeared in
| Scranton
To one mans enterprise is due the unanimous
| thanks OF this community. It took supreme
| amount Of courage 10 assume the responsibility
of such an entertainment OF last night, and it
| has meant weeks of the hardest kind of work,
That man is Fred G. Hand, and whenever he
undertakes similar affair he is likely 10 have
| as hearty support OF this city as he had last
| hight. No nnstintcd praise was accorded hin,
| by the utterly satisfied throng that left the
| Lyccum.
| The stage was tastciully arranged with pretty
| furniture and groups Of palms and grand piano
| from Powcll's. The audience was everything to
| be desired in tone and numbers. The boxes
and lcgcs were occupied and full dress was the
role throughout the house. Among the occupants
| Of boxes were! Mr. and Mrs. T.. r. Kingsbury,
| Mrs. Everett Warren, Mrs. William Conncll. Mrs.
| j. :. McAnulty, Mr.. and Mis-. A. +. tonne',
| Mr.. and Mrs. G. W. Fulton, Mrs. c. r. Conncl,
| Miss Diminck, Mrs. George Howell and others.
| Madame Schmann lIcink, regal. sunptuous.
| magnificent, simply created sensation with her
| marvellous voice, the greatest Contralto in the
world today. Not tone would the most critical
| listener have changed /, the deep vibrant notes
| rolled forth. A pure Contralto with no light
mca2o quality. she has wonderful range in
whose smooth flood no fantcst ripple brca.s. 1t
| Is voice TO hear and forever have its
haunting music lngcr in the memory. One
| thought of her "Isoldc'' or ".tida" or some
one grand and noble in aspirations and deeds
Vet her versatility is something beyond compari
son. for she sang the dainty little German songs
with all the lightncss and dclicacy their inter
probation would demand. as well as the stupcn
| dous compositions only heard from the lips OF
| il!imitabc genius
Appropriately enough her first appearance was
| in the lofty themes made still greater by Handel
| and Mcndclssohn, in the "Armida' and ''St.
Paul' selections. In the color and splendor of
the former she reached wondrous height, but
the dignity of the "st. Paul. seemed to arrive
at apothcosis upliitcd by her voice. She
was so gracious and delightful and as contrast
to these great alias she sang the "Fruhlingsct'
with the most surprising spontanicty, although
in slower time than it. is often heard, but this
was 10 its everlasting gain, Tor in the lovely
spring song she all temperament-with Il
lightncsS and grace in every tone and gesture
that was like bright bird poised for flight.
No one deny that with all her versatility
Madame Schumann, IIcink is most unapproachabc
in her German songs In nothing was this more
characteristic than the Brahms numbers. If,
as somebody says. BRAHMS reminds one of those
medieval architects whose life was a prayer in
| marble, who slowly and assiduously erected
cathcdrals, the mighty abutmcnts of which flank.
ed majestically upon mother earth, and whose
thin high pnnaCcs pierced the blue; whose
tlomes hung suspended between heaven and earth,
and in whose army could worship.
while in the forest of arches music came and
went like the voices OF many watcrs," then
surely this superb woman is the high pricstess
Of the temple, who, best of all, speak to
the world what this last OF the immortals,"
as he has been called, would say from the remote
land to which he has iourneyed. New York
says she sings the "Sapphc Ode' thought too
slowly, but who would have her change thread
in the titanic tapestry her art wcavcs for lis in
that impassioncd song? One then to follow it
with the living, throbbing, vital "Mcine Lcba
ist Grnn,' is to have something to remember
indeed.
The Schubert series were revelation TO those
who have only heard her in grand opera. Again
that wonderful temperament, the emotion, the
power of it all shook her listeners. Who can
forget than trancendcntally strong rendering of
die Almacht'!
Miss Maud Powell, who, il ia quoted on good
authority is the greatest volinist America has
produced, is slender, dark haired, with unusual
grace and charm, but if she had been one of
Macbeth's witches instead OF the rosc.cad maid.
on she was, the world must yet adore her for the
WOHucTlul SPcll size CASTS DI lne alu oil lne lt'ic
violin which ncstlcs SO lovingly against her
throat
She opened the programme with the third and
last movements of the NorClini Sonata in d
major. Her intensity and style cause the acci.
dent of sex to be eliminated from the mind of
the listener. She is a great vioinist and that is
enough. Her present achievements when all the
world is ringing with her fame, arc not The nat
ural outcome OF chance talent. Long, aruo,s
tnl;
her was SO powerful in its emotional effect as the
Abcnlied OF Schumann, so rich in its poetic
ideals, fond and pathetic.
She gave the fiery 'Sccne de Ia Szsrdas, No. 81
by ilubay, weird composition, vehement and
intense. and then she played that piece dear to
Scranton music lovers who remember Herr Kopll,
and that fVorre solo OF his, the Faust "Fdli.
tasc,' by Weniawsk Brilliant picturesque,
triumph Dt technique, the notes thrilled
the strings she brought them forth
with the necrOmancy OF her bow. She, too Was
gracious little lady and gave encores for the
mnumbeled recalls, She PLAYED that ever ador.
able Schuberts ''Scrcnade" and as she played last
night it made yoI think OF The sad days and
you remembered when somebody died-yet with
the tears falling in your heart, you would not
have the Sobbins tender notes cease. Another
encore was song OF BazzuS.
1t is no wonder that not only his coutrymcn
hut all people follow Firanscon Davies with
their adulation. Ills is such rarely attractive
personality that his great gifts seem but Il
fitting accompaniment. lie must have realized
how Scranton loves him, ior his appearance WAS
the signal for an ovation which was oontin,t. |
Gus performance. lie was i'll his happest mood |
and gave OF his richest store. lie was superb |
in the Pagliacci Prologue, but il remained for
him TO achieve clinaS in the aria from Ros. |
sini's ''Figaro' The dramatic possibilities
which are his were distinctly evinccd in this |
brilliant selection At its conclusion he respond. |
ed TO repeated recalls by graceful little con. |
oeSsion which still further endeaied him to the |
audience, seating himself at the piano and |
playing his own accompaniment to the quaint |
old song "Iondon Bridge"
Too much cannot be said OF the pianist, Mr. |
lsldore lucksrone, Often the important part,
An acc Coompanist lahcs in such Il trcmei-
dous programme as that OF last night is under. |
rated, On him depends the making or marrn; |
of the work. MIR. Luckstone's sympathy, taste
and true artistic instinct were marked features OF
the evening.
As the programme ended Fred C. Hand, who |
was the nanas ger of the concert, thanked the |
audience for its support ana announced that |
Madame SchumannIlein would sing by request |
Gounods Ave Maria" 10 violin and piano AZ,
compartment. and thus the climax of an epocb
in Scranton musical history was reached in the |
encore the drinking song from "Lucreta Bor. |