Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-09-18
THE FESTIVAL ARTISTS.
Mrs. Chapman Tells the Augusta cho
rus About Them

| Mrs. W. II. Chapman was at the re-
hearsal of the Augusta chorus, Tues
day evening, and in addressing the
members told them many things about
| the artists who will take part in the
Festival at Portland, October 6. and
and at Bangor October 9. ID
and II. She said that the for
eign stars whose names were
quoted early in the season, proved
unattainable. Every negotiation possi-
BILE was tried but Melba went to Aus
| tralia. Calve would not return, Nor
dica and Schumann Heink after sing
| ing at Munich and Beyreuth. must
have rest before returning to America.
Mary Howe and Suzanne Adams We're
the only ones available, and as Adams
sang here last October, it was thought
best to engage Mary Howe. She is a
great artist. has improved wonderfully
in recent years, and is considered one
of the great coloratura singers of the
day. Her voice resembles Gerster's
and Sembrichs more than any other
artist. Madame Blauvelt, the favorite
soprano. whom all admire, has said of
Miss Howe. II know of no coloratura
soprano except Sembrich who is her
equal. She is one of the few great
American prima donnas, and the most
beautiful woman on the concert stage.
The Maire public will be as surprised
and delighted with her as with any
artist Mr.. Chapman has introduced
Campanari is the same great artist
whose place no one else can fill. Eli
son Van HOose. the greatest American
tenor. will be heard in the place of our
favorite contralto Schumann Heink
He was the principal soloist at Wor-
cester last season, and was offered re-
engagement. He has sung at all the
leading festivals in this country and
was paid $1,000 by Theodore Thomas
to sing at the Cincinnati Festival last
spring. Madame Shanna Cumming is
called the leading dramatic soprano of
the day for oratoria and concert work.
She filled all the roles al Worcester last
year, taking Madame Eames's place at
short notice. Madame Isabelle Bouton
of the Grau Opera Company. has one
of the most beautiful contralto voices
in this country. She is always a IA
vOrite. Gwilym Miles, the baritone. is
well known to all as versatile and
delightful artist. These four great
artists, Cumming, Bouton, Van Hoose
and Miles. will sing the solos in the
Requiem on Tuesday night.
Mr.. WolfsOhn, the New York mama
ger writes congratula ting the Maine
Festival on it's list of artists so su-
perior to any other Festival to be given
this fall and says: In your quartette
for the Verdi Requiem 1 consider that
you have the best quatette that can be
found in America, it is great" The
list further includes Dr.. Lawson, tenor
with the Grau Opera Company: L.
P. Johnson, the favorite with the BoS-
tonians last year; Francis Archam-
bault. the little Plancon of America"
Margaret Fry, the charming soprano
from Paris and Miss Sally +. Akers,
who as Portland girl is remembered
by many and who ranks today among
the foremost concert singers of New
Y ork. Miss Akers will be the only
vocal soloist for the second matinee
and Will be one of the star attractions
for the Festival. Prof Edouard
Clark. the marvellous blind pianist Of
Biddeford. and Mr.. Bret H. Dingley.
the talented violinist of Lewiston, will
also be heard.
No Festival has presented so many
fine artists and so many attractions on
each program. The orchestra will in
clude some special players from the
Metropolitan Orchestra of New York;
the trumpets and wind instruments be-
ing specially fine. The futist comes
from New York and always accom-
papies Sembrich and Melba in their
obligato numbers.