New-York tribune., 1902-10-02
THE WORCESTER FESTIVAL
TWO EXCELLENT CONCERTS. BUT BAD
WEATHER CAUSES SMALL
AUDIENCES


Worcester. Mass oct. Gould the ma naEers Of
the music festival enjoin Jupiter Pluvius and
damus the public they might stop the rain and
compel the attendance of audiences appropriate 10
the occasion. n ought be q Joyous one. for 1t
IS worthy artisticaIly. but il is hard 20 wear a
festive heart under frowring and dripping skies. or
rejoice in the prospect of diretul financial out
come. with the possibility ~ such woeful conse-
quences as can scarcely De contemplated with
equanfnlty by community accustomed for nearly
half century 70 the CHEEKY meetings There were
TWO concerts TO-DAY. both calculated 70 make the
heart glad. bur luaHirnate and ohdurate nature
wept pIenteously over both
The afternoon affair was one arranged and cor
Quoted hy Mr.. Franz Kneise who this year Is IN
charge of all the concerts not choral For years
ne has been an assistant conductor. dividing his
tire between the duties OF the concert master. So
called and directing the orchestral accompaui-
uents. This afternoon he was sole. instead OF
solo conductor and the programme hoTe testimony
10 the lofty and lovely purposes with which he
credits tho festival There were but FIVE numbers
on the programme three orchestral and two vocal
\ liberal taste prompted the arrangement Of the
scheme
cesar Franck's symphony n u minor opened The
concert n Is 7 should say. the not'cst piece OF
French orchestral music since Berlioz. and for II
7 would be willing 70 give generous slice out OF
that masters works. the whole or the 'itaroid
symphony and much OF the fantastic" That was
Mr.. Kne!sers tribute 20 the latter day French
school and its proudest master The middle num-
her was an American work. encoura cement for na-
tive talent. The last was Beethoveus "Leonore
Overture No. 9. which stiiI looms UT Ike Chin
borazo all dramatic overtures, except one or
two which came from the same titanic genius.
These works Mr.. Kueisel conducted with a mas
terly hand like familiar with his scores and
also familiar with the forces under him; with an
ear nicely attuued the euphory OF blended voices
ana kernIy appreciative ff toual balance and
fancy quickly responsive 10 the wishes OF the
composers Oh those fond wishes. family intimaJed
on the scrswled paperi How often are they
overlooked. Eon often mistaken, Mr.. kneisel had
eve and heart for them. and he warmed the music
into life and prevented "A single duh moment from
creeping into the afternoon
symphony and American overture We're novelties
IN the Worcester programme The former has
been heard in New-York. but the latter viii prob
ably have to wait until circumstance Yet unfore-
seen brings u forward. Its composer M Converse.
is q Young musician. who like others Of the Bos-
ton coterle eve caunDt yet say school. unfortu-
nateIyb. supplemented mis- Rcademical training at
Harvard University with thorough musical train
ine under home and foreign teaGhers- tie, was a
mann and Rheinherger. in Munich. His overture
entitled The Festival Of Pan Is one or three
brings two moods into contrast me;ancaoy and and
Edyety, ana mere = "io.5H its5 % ~ %, 80 - % ~
incentive TO the fancy. though it does not invite
attention 10 any particular portions OF keats's
The vocal numbers were Sarastros ali. out
F;u,e" and The .'Infelice' from Verdrs 'Ernani."
A pretty study contrasts tnrN an 1rdeu German
melody with rich and lovely instrumental back
ground IN the first case. Italian melody. with only
"a mOuophOuiC harmonic foundation in the second.
one heart searching and ear-COmpellUg, the other
appealing solely the senses and nerves, but both
Irresistible They sung by Frederic Martin.
the hasso of the Harvard Street Church Brookline.
Boston Mr. Martin sang again I'm the evening and
high opinion formed by his opera airs con
hrmed and strengthened by his singing in the
ing lie has beautiful voice Of the true bass quail
ity equ4nie IN its registers good taste. fine COM
Indnd OF his breath and a commend bile style. y
I'm the evening Mr.. Goodrich again the con-
uuctoT. and again there occasion 20 cOugTatu-
late the chorus and the musical association the
requirement of director with large a capacity
manner The works performed the two
parts OF RaChs - hriStuds Or4t toTiO." in which the
solos were sung h mrs Zimmerman. Miss Janet
spencer, Theodore Van YORK dn3 Mr. Martin. the
prelude and hrst finale from "ParsifaI," and, TO
afford Mrs zimmerman opportunity to De
heard 10 better advantage than the oratorio frag-
mant afforded. NOlkmdnn's dramatic scena
Sappho. In this last piece the youthful freshness
OF her voice ana her lovely artistic sincerity were
decidedly gratifying. though the composition calls
than lies within the lady's abilities
Miss spencer. a Boston COntTalto 7 believe. has
beautiful voice. which is under excellent control
iG thv lower medium registers. which circumstance
combined with good taste. lent lOvelfness 10 the
trying opening measures OF her air. "Sluu,ber Re
bit uneven and unruly. One Of the prettisst sue
CeSS@s OF the evening achieved hv Mr. Vap
YORK I'm the terribly difficult air. Haste. Ye Shen-
herds The choir accomplished its best wor. H.,
the chorales. which Mr.. Goodrich produced in an
unconventional manner. eliminating the long holds
and sentimental diminuendOs the ends ~ tha
lines 10 which We are accustomed I'm New-York
IL F.