The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-06-27
A BRILLIANT RECITAL.
Given by the Pupils of John T. Wat
kins in College Hall-Catholic
Choral Club Assisted.

A brilliant programme and most
enthusiastic and we'll pleased audience
was that which packed College hall last
evening. The annual recitals given by
Mr.. Watkins pupils have become very
popular and are looked forward to with
pleasurable anticipation without any
disappointment. Mr. Watkins is an eX-
cellent programme maker carrying to
Il complete conclusion Il harmonious
idea. The one hundred and fifty voices
| We're prettly grouped amid profuse
decorations.
The first number on the programme,
| "Daybreals," by Faning. displayed to
| fine advantage the beautiful blending
of the voices. the shading. precision and
| attack equalling anything ever heard
! in this city The chorus was perfectly
trained and the phrasing given with
! beautiful effect. The Highwayman,' Il
| baritone song by Woodman. was given
in Il rollicking manner and good style
by Willis Jones. whose voice has grown
smoother and broader. THE Nightin-
gale" sung by Miss Harriet jackson in
| sweet soprano voice was pretty num-
| Der. Her phrasing is marked by much
intelligence.
Miss Grace Sprague. in mezzo-con-
tralto Of good quality and wide range.
gave two numbers with fine feeling and
expression. her voice growing more
steady and rotund in quality. A brill
liant soprano voice is that of Miss Mary
INLAND, for whom. if she works, there is
| Il good future. Her head tones are es-
pecially good and under fine control.
Her pianissimo passages lend charm to
her singing and reflect the consci-
entious work of her teacher.
A beautiful tenor ballad. "Daphne's
Love" was sung by Dan Jones in a
pure tenor voice that is developing
finely, and has bright prospects for
he future. Miss Martha Matthews ana
Miss Viola Jones voices blended har-
moniously in their rendition of the duet,
"Cheerfulness.' Their voices combine
sweetness with volume. force with fire.
taste with temperament. The Students
glee. "Estudiantna.' by the combined
voices of the Recital chorus and the
Catholic Choral club. again demon
strated the ease with which Mr.. Wat
kins masters and handles his singers.
The enthusiasm following the singing
of this bright glee was vociferously pro-
longed by the immense audience.
Richard T.. Watkins. the possessor of
a resonant and ringing baritone voice,
gave with dash a fine Hunting Song,
THE Chase" You can easily detect in
his style that of his teacher and
| brother. 20 Light Divine" Cavatina,
from the opera "Lindadi ChamonniX,"
demonstrated Miss Jessie Bristley's
lyric soprano voice and her ability. She
sings with confidence and dramatic in
| tensity reaching with ease the low b
fiat and with briliancy the high Il fiat
which occur frequently in this Cava-
tina. Miss Bristley has improved very
much since her last recital. Will T..
Jones, who has been a pupil OF j. II.
Watkins vocal studio but /; term, has
grown in breadth of voice and style
| surprisingly. His singing OF "Oh. for
Day of Spring was Il treat. His "NOce
di Testa' would make any tenor envy
him. He sang with fine expression and
style. Miss Irene kann has been doing
such excellent work since her connec-
ton with Mr.. Watkins studio that her
every appearance is Synonymous with
good work Her singing of the charm-
ing ballad. The Sands of Dee" was a
decided triumph in the art of interpre-
tation. Her cnunciation Is natural, her
voice rich. sympathetic and expressive
and her tone production is polished to
IA degree. or equally high class was the
selection, angus Mcdonald" sung by
Miss Viola Jones, whose rich contrulto
voice showed to advantage in this
strong. stirring dramatic ballad. She
sang with feeling and used her voice
| with much effect. She felt the song
| herself, thereby making the audience
| feel With her.
Miss Mary INLAND gave II double num-
Der "A Waltz" and MAY Morning"
| In both selections her performance was
| beautiful exhibiting II clear, limpid and
| extremely flexible voice of the colora-
tulH order, Miss INLAND is purely Il
| high soprano and in the waltz song
sang high - with ease. 1T Was a
| Lover and His Lass" a charming and
| dainty little composition. was given by
Miss Sprague and Mr., Watkins in their
| best style, and received an enthusiastic
| recall. The dramatic ballad Fair
| Ellen for soprano, baritone and
chorus, WAS Il thrilling climax to one
| of the finest and most successful pupils
| reritals given here. Miss Matthews
| magnificent soprano voice. blended with
| that noble and resonant basso of John
| w, Jones, made "A fitting climax to this
| eve of song, and the superb chorus,
under the direction Of Mr.. Watkins,
| covered itself With glory. At the con-
clusion of the cantata the audience
| burst into enthusiastic applause
The pupils and their able, conscien-
| tlous and painstaking teacher We're the
recipients of much praise. This recital
will linger in the minds of the vast
audience as Il truly musical feast of
| unalloyed pleasure and edifcation.
After the recital Mr.. Watkins enter
| tanned his pupils and the members OF
the Catholic Choral club at the knights
of Columbus club house.
Columbia Shetland Floss. l6c.