The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-01
MUSIC FESTIVAL BEGINS
CHICAGO ORCHESTRA AND SINGERS
AT TOMLINsON HALL.
Compositions of Tschafkowsky, Wag-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. for Tonight.

The music festival that opened in Tom
linson Hall last night has not the prefix
May and the long list of singers and
high prices of it's precursor. which persisted
of its sumptuousness, but ii has as fine an
orchestra as the world has known and its
soloists are interesting. Its chorus-4W
voices-was not heard last night, but to-
night it will take the seats that range up
ward behind the orchestra's platform and
hat looked so bleak.
Theodore Thomas's musicians from Chi
cago's Auditorium began last nights con-
cert with the sixth symphony OF Tschai-
kowsky. 1t was called the Pathetic" after
it's first public performance. not quite nine
years ago, in st. Petersburg. Three weeks
after that performance the composer died,
and as this symphony was his last work
it is accepted as his reading Of life. He
was ffty-three years old, and his concep-
ton of things had long been set. His con
ception seems to have been broad enough
to suit many nations, for the symphony
is one of the most popular of the compo-
sitions for the orchestra. In London aud
New York, especially, the concert-going
public demands it again and again i'm the
course of a season.
Before Tschaikowsky wrote this sym
phony he had Travelled over Europe and
had visited this country. He had returned
to his home with his field of vision broad
ened and embracing something of the phil
losophies of other peoples. He was enough
of a cosmopolitan to be an historical ro-
mancer for other countries-he wrote an
overture on the English Romeo and Ju-
liet," and his aria expressing the spirit of
tho Ernnnh Loan NJ 70 will he haard to
night. If he had spent his life at his birth
place he might have written a symphony
that sharp and inquiring foreigners would
have liked for its Slavonic Interpretation
of life, but as il was he wrote in the PA
thetic' an expression that the foreigner
takes to heart as something of his own
saying.
After the foreword of the first movement
there is a passionate outburst. followed
by a reposeful conclusion. The second
it has nothing of Italian capriciousness IL
goes far enough south to suggest at least
Paul Verlaine's
"Maskers delicate and dim
That play on lutes and dance and have an
OF being sad in their fantastic trim"
In the third movement the vivacity turns
to martial ardor. A nation goes forward
burning with patriotism and confident OF
cOnquering eternity-a pause, and then the
ultimate and mocking realization that the
eager grasp for omnipotence is ridiculously
III III Gg III tiOcCo Will a QCtD
buzz that is CHASTITY If the hcarer believes
what he has h~eard-and few mat have
heard have not believed or will not ahen
their time comes.
The ~soloists of the evening were Charles
w. Clark, baritone, and Miss Electa Gift
ford, soprano. Mr.. Clark sang the aria,
II Fain Would Hide" from Weber's
"Euryanthe,' and Miss Clifford the popular
selection from Delibes's "Lakme," called
the Bell Song When Weber wrote,
music was not being made 10 say the frank
things that ii now expresses. II had been
religious for centuries. and at the bidding
irresponsibly vivacious. No doubt the
writer and the audiences Of his day were
sympathetic when the unfortunate man,
with his heart rent asunder,' first
moaned that his lady has turned from him
to heaven and then, discovering other wise,
became helplessly savage and declared:
What hate and vengeance,
What hate and vengeance,
What hate and vengeance
Lash my breast?"
But Mr.. Clark's well-feigned sincerity
could not persuade the strenuous twenti-
eth-century listener that his plight was
serious Mr.. Clark had been heard here
only2once before. but he must now nave
many admirers of his full. sure voice.
Miss Clifford was as pretty TO look at as
she was TO hear and her personality was
more convincing that her song. She sang
gaily, but the melody was too Eighty 10
express the innocent joy of the most ia
vored dweller on this awkward earth. Her
last note was higher than the spirit of the
traditional village lass, She pleased the
audience greatly and. like Mr.. Clark, had
to repeat a part of what she had sung.
XXX
The three other numbers on the pro-
gramme were as far apart as might be.
Felix Weingartner's arrangement OF
Weber's Invitation to the Dance" was
played almost as fancifully as it was in
tended. A Finnish stranger. Jean sibelius.
was permitted to introduce himself through
his rendition of two legends of his country.
THE Swan of Tuonela" and "Lemminkai-
men Starts Homeward." The first is a de-
scription Of a place of death. IL Is sur
rounded by a black river. upon which floats
a swan that pipes an awful song. The
background is impressive. but the melody
that represents the fearful voice Of the
death region is not commanding. Still the
composition is sure of a respectful hear
ing and is interesting because IL represents
a new and unfamiliar quarter. In the sec
ond legend there are several phrases that
strike the nearer as strange and vital and
suggest that their composer may add 10
the realistic music that has come from
the northern Slavs TO make a large part
of the world change its notions.
The overture TO "Tannhauser' was the
final number Of the concert. II was CRATE
lAiAA EBAAAr III 49, -
ems ruled by Venus were really seductive
in contrast to the frivolity OF Weber and
Delibes. The pilgrims chorus worked up
to an immense strength, drowning out the
voices OF the bad maidens and sending the
audience home satisfied that all was good.
The programme for tonight argues a
/ great concert:
Overture. The Mastersinger' Wagner
Moroccan symphonique c'Redemp-
tlpU , -1r5df ~
Aria, Vision Fugitive C'Herodiaoe').
AnEGGnaT
Charles w. Clark.
'Slavonis Rhapsody No. .DvOrak
Aria, Jean .Tschaikowski
Gertrude May Stein.
Scenes from olaf Trygvasson' 5000. Cries
\ woman. The volva.
Gertrude May Stein.
A sacrihcer. High priest.
Charles w. CLARK
Chorus and orchestra.
Grand Opera In Chicago.
CHICAGO. March Sl-The metropolitan
Opera Company OF New York opened a two
- 1-uaah n the Audi