Evening star., 1901-02-04
ANCSEMENTS.

PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA con-
CERT.-The future of the Washington Phli-
harmonic Orchestra as a permanent mu-
steal institution of the national capital II
the success of the concert given at the Co
lumbia Theater last night Is to be taken
as an indication, is assured. NOTWITHSTANDING
ing the very dsagreeable weather that
playhouse was almost crowded with those
whose love for music or whose pride Ill
the orchestra as a local institution led them
to patronize the concert, and throughout
the evening there was plainly evident
feeling of pride in the organization, as well
as manifestation of hearty appreciation
of merely good work.
One of the pleasing diversions of the even
ing was the presentation OF JeWeleu
badge, the insignia of the Order of Elks,
to Director Santelmann, by Exalted Ruler
Shine on behalf of the members of the
Washington Lodge of that organization
Mr.. Shine made the presentation in a neat
address, In which he complmented Mr..
Santelmann on his efforts to provide Wash
ington with a permanent symphony or
chestra Of higher degree of ability The
badge consists of laurel wreath and harp
pendant from a cross-bar which Is a
delicatey nodded elks head, together with
the face of a clock Rubies form the eyes
of the head. The whole badge is Of gold.
On the back of the wreath is inscribed
''To Brother VIM. H. Santelmann: a Token
of Esteem large number of Ellls were
present, and it was due largely to their eff
forts that the financial success of the con-
cert was assured in advance.
The program selected by Director Santel-
mann for this concert was not so long as
the one presented at the first concert given
by the orchestra in December last, hut it
was none the less enjoyable. The orches
ira, too, showed plainly the effect of longer
training, and the various numbers We're Civ
en- in a manner that placed WaShingtons
orchestra on plane with the more noted
| organizations of similar character iii his
country. Precision in attack, intelligence in
individual work, thorough discipline, and,
Withal, a perfect obedience to the conduc-
tors baton in fact all that goes to make
up the truly good orchestra capable of rer,
derng the works of the masters. was in
evidence Nothing sighted, and per
haps one of the best orchestral bits of tn"
evening was the accompaniment played to
the baritone solo, '.Oh. Thou Sublimest
Sweet Evening Star" from "Tannhauser"
which was sung by Mr.. Charles A. Rabold.
The overture to ''Tannhauser' was given
with spirit and force. and while the tempo
of the Introductory measures a trlfie
slower than Is generally heard the e.fec
t!vencss of the composition was rather In
creased thereby. Rubinstein's ballet suite,
Feramors,' In four parts, was given in
almost irresistible style. the varying tempt
being accentuatcd by Conductor Sante-
mann in most effective manner The
Wengarten-Weber arrangement of THE
most acceptable number on the program to
those who do not care for the heavier class
les, and it was given an entirely adequate
production. An elegie for strings by Busch
brought out the fact that the orchestra has
within its ranks splendid corps Of violin,
cello and bass players, which Will
compare raVorably with any similar body
In the country. The exquisite harmony SO
close at times 10 battle even the trained
ear was delicately treated, and the result
was a tribute to the training the or
chestra has received under the watcllful
ear and eye Of Mr.. Santelmann. Liszt's
Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 9, brought the
program to a close in a whrl of harmony
| The soloists We're Mrs. II. Clay Browning
Mr.. Charles A. Rabold and Miss Bertha
| Thiele, harpist. Miss Thele was heard to
advantage in the orchestral accompaniment
to the Evening Star solo, as well as
in the Invitation to the Dance and
the Liszt RHAPSODY Mrs. Brown
ing sang the mad scene from Thomas
Hamlet" and was obliged to give as an
| encore "The Holy city" Mrs Browning
has splendid stage presence, while her
voice was equal to the demands made
upon 1t. MIR. Rabold was enthusiastically
encored for his splendid work in the EVEN
ing Star solo, and was forced to bow lis
acknowledgements half dozen times lie
also responded to an encore. giving q sim
pie Scotch ballad that served to show his
excellent method to advantage One of
the pleasant features of the program was
a composition. capricciOso Hearts Mes
sage. by Director Santelmann. The piece
abounds In color and rhythm, while the
Introduction is as dainty as could be de-
sired 1t was received enthusiastically.