The age-herald., 1901-03-17
THE PUBLIC WILL
 GET THE BENEFIT
Change of Dates of the Music
 Festival
CONCESSIONS WERE MADE
All the Soloists Will Sing Both Niqhts Without Extra Charue-There May Be Matlnee-Chorus
 Rehearsal.

The dates of Birmingham's third an- nual Music Festival having been definitely settled-Tuesday. April 30 and Wednes oay' May 1.-the management will lose no time in advertising 1t throughout Ala bama and neighboring states Benjamin Guckenberger, the director, had intended having the festival on May ? and and the Chicago Orchestra had been engaged originally for those dates; but in order 10 arrange his southern circuit with a view to making certain railroad connect ions the manager asked MT. Guckenberger to allow his organization to come two days earlier, and the change was readily agreed to, especially when important con sessions were made. The first contract was for five vocal artists in addition to the orchestra of seventy-five pieces, con ducted by Theodore Thomas, but no ar- list was to sing but one night. The new contract provides that all the artists shall sing both nights without extra charge and for still further good measure Mr Thomas agrees to throw in a violin solist and violoncello solost, each of whom is to be a distinguished virtuoso.
 The Vocalists.
 The vocalists which MT. Thomas is to bring are among the best in the world Mrs. Genevive Clark Wilson, soprano; Sue Harrington Furbeck, contralto; George Hamlin, tenor; Holmes Cowper, the young English tenor; and Charles w. Clark, baritone. MT. Cowper is engaged especially for the tenor solos in "Elijah."
 The first and second festivals were eminently successful, but the one this year will far surpass either of them. To begin with this will be the first festival with Theodore Thomas and his unrivalled orchestra. In the next place, the soloists are to be of much higher rank than those heretofore engaged and, lastly, the chorus is larger. MT. Guckenberger says that 1t has never been his pleasure to train so fine body of singers as he has now. The celebrated Cincinnati chorus has never sung "Elijah' better than it will be sung here on April 30.
 The opening programme will consist of three parts The first will be orchestra; the second will be made up of Part II ot 'Eliiah"-orchestra chorus and soloists; and the tnlrQ WILL De cHlelly OTcHeStTal. The last nights programme will include a variety of chorus music, solos and or chestral numbers.
 May Be Matinee.
 If the advance sale of tickets is suffi- cient to justify it there will be matinee Otherwise, there will be only the two night performances. A Theodore Thomas matinee would certainly be a delightful feature of the festival and music lovers earnestly hope that the management may see its way clear to have it.
 The tickets will be sold at $1 and there will be no charge for reserved seats. Ad- mission to the gallery will be only cents Citizens of Birmingham have sub. scrbed liberally to the guarantee fund In no other way could a festival have been possible. It only remains for the public to show It's appreciation by filling the Auditorium.
 There will a full rehearsal of the chorus tomorrow night at Turn Verein Hall.
 Ruarc wac Knocked Ont