The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-07
One of the Most Brilliant Concerts
That Has Ever Been Heard
i'm Indianapolis.
LILLIAN N0RDICA CHARMS
THE GREAT SOPRANO RECEIVES THE
HOMAGE OF ADMIRERS.
Work of the COnreid Orchestra Great
Iy Enjoyed-Duss Makes Two or
Three Speeches.

Indianapolis surprised itself last night by
turning out in extraordinarily large num-
bers to attend one of the most brilliant
concerts ever given in this city. 1t had
been feared that the Duss-Conreid Orches-
cessful from a financial standpoint, owing
to the well-known backwardness of Indian
apolitans in patronizing musical events of
the first rank, but Tomlinson Hall. with it's
rows of new boxes encircling the audi
torium under the balcony, presented spec
tacle that was good to the eye when the
much-talked-abou bandmaster waved his
baton for the opening of the evenings pro-
gramme. Nearly all of the seats on the
main floor were occupied, and the brand
new boxes, as yet incomplete, were filled
with auditors, while the balcony and gall
lery were literally packed. 1t was a great
audience, worthy of the great concert.
Duss-he prefers to be called just plain
Duss it seems-made his initial bow to local
music lovers and was looked upon through
out the evening with considerable curiosity;
the Conreid Orchestra, from the Metropol-
itan Opera House, New York, played for
the first time in this city and scored a most
emphatic success, and Lillian Nordica, the
soprano of all sopranos, came back to the
Hoosier capital and won the hearts of all
her hearers with her glorious voice, just as
she was wont to do in the good old May
festival days. Duss was interesting; the
orchestra was splendid, and Nordica was
superb.
COMBINATION THAT APPEALS
Duss is undoubtedly musician, but he
is first of all millionaire. To be million
aire-and a self-made millionaire, tools
to attract more than passing notice, but to
be millionaire and the conductor of an
orchestra at one and the same time-that
is novelty that appeals to everybody
The people sitting well down in front last
night list Led with all their ears to catch
the sound of gold jingling in Duss's pock-
cts as he energetically directed his instru-
mentalists, for they expected to hear
rhythmic clinks keeping time to the music
Whether not the musicians who call
Duss their leader pay any attention to him
when they play is a question that puzzled
those profound thinkers, the New York
music critics, all summer long Music crit
ics are always being puzzled about some
thing, and Duss was an unusually good
subject TO worry over. So far as last even
ing's concert was concerned, Duss appeared
to understand his orchestra perfectly, even
if the orchestra didn't understand him. He
goes about his business rather neryously,
perhaps, but that is due To his tempera-
ment 1t was that same nervousness that
made him what he is to-day. He is not
only a self-made millionaire, but he is a
self-made musician as well. He took up
the study of harmony just as he took up
the study of successful financiering-with n
the determination To land on top. And
alfhnnVh nnSGihfN hnan
ator of classic music. To judge by the one
composition of his own that was PLAYED
last night, he has the push and the energy
the brains and the money TO accomplish
great things in musical way So look ont
for him in the future.
Duss did not lose much time i'm getting
on close terms with his audience He
started In TO become conversational when
he was obliged TO announce change i'm the
programme. and having once got good
start-he admits himself tha: he has a
the crowd whenever excuse offered He
told the audience that he was proud of it
or words TO that effect-that he had been
given to understand that Indianapolis
couldn't possibly turn out n good-sized
concert audience, but had concluded to
come TO the town anyway and take chances
and that he was glad he came; he said that
he would always remerber everyone pres
ent and there were those in the hall who
hoped he was alluding TO those millions of
his and the time when he makes his will
had cold and that the ushers would have
to close the doors near the platform so that
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