The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-29
CLOSE OF
The ARI0N
SEASON
Large Audience Listens TO a
Fine Program That Was Ex.
CNIlGntIy Rendered.

with a mixed program that was interest
ing II not OF 50 Impressive character
as have been the notable selections OF the
preceding dates.
The opening number was the Oberon
overture played by Dr. Jordans espec-
tally selected orchestra. This aggrega-
tion OF players has already demonstrated
It's excellence but a. was a good deal OF
a pleasure, nevertheless, 10 listen TO It's
playing in "A pretentious number as fea-
ture OF the final program and the oppor-
tunhy afforded the orchestra was a de-
served tribute.
The second bit was what was titled
dramatic ballad" IL was John Keats
The Eve OF St. Agnes" or rather enough
OF the poem TO sun fGlently indicate the
story, set to muse, the music being the
work OF Surette
1t Is a trivial thing, pretty and dsrinty
enough, interesting in some OF It's musi-
cal mechanism, but most OF II lacking in
that viriMy which Is usually essential
when catering 10 the ear OF an averxye
audience. IL starts out splendidly with
a brace OF choruses describing ST. Agnes
Eve An bitter chill 1t was!" and again
soon up aloft. tho silver, snarling trum-
pets gan 10 chide," both snatches OF
verse lending themselves 10 resonant
swinging music. But after that, until
another splendid chorus swings the bal
lad 10 fine finish, the music mostly
meanders
Descriptive writing Is its significant
feature-the frost wind pattering the
sharp sleet against the window panes"
affording an especial opportunity for ex-
quisite Interpretation by the music writer.
Except small bit OF Madeline. sung by
Nine. Charlotte Maconda, soprano, the
solos are confined exclusively 10 Porphy-
TO. sung by Mr.. Francis Rogers. baritone.
In the intermisson, Nine. Josephine
Jacoby. meZzo soprano, sang an aria,
MY Heart IS Weary" from the opera
"Nadeschada" and she sang it splendidly.
The audience would have been glad II IT
could have coaxed her into singing an ex-
ira number.
The closing and most important feature
OF the evenings program was Rossini's
'Stabat Mater" Mines. Maconda and
Jacoby and Mr.. u. =. Johnson, tenor, and
Mr.. Julian Walker, basso, being the solo
lists, with Mr. Arthur II. Ryder at the or
gan. A grand good choral piece Is this
with at least two really fine solo oppor-
tunities
The quartet showed up 10 especial ad-
vantage. Mr.. Walker and Mr.. Johnson are
both young men and evidently young
singers. Their voices are distinguished by
freshness and purity rather than body,
though notably OF good range and accu-
racy. Mr.. Walkers bass possesses a sim
gular limpid quality that contributed
much to the charm Of his solos and was
highly effective I'm the quartet singing,
the smoothness and flow OF which was re-
markable and very charming Nine. Ma
conda delivered the familiar 'Infiamma-
tus' I'm a positive blaze that aroused the
audience TO a fine enthusiasm for the
wind up.
1t was splendidly done in every feature
was this fine old musical religfo-melo-
dramatic melange.
So the season closed successfully with
an accomplishment OF three concerts on
the regular list and the special testimon-
ial 10 DR.. Jordan. The season has been
brilliant In respect to the works perform
ed and solcists who have been brought to
town TO assist I'm the rendering. IL has
undoubtedly, also, been satisfactory
season from the point OF view OF the box
office
The uniform white waists and dark
skirts OF the ladies of the chorus have
evidently come To stay. There Is, how
ever another opening for Improvement
OF a purely physical kind before next
season and perhaps this is "a good chance
10 speak OF It, with all it's drill and dis
cipline musically. and with the added
effects OF the uniformity OF its dress,
the way the chorus gets on It's feet be-
comes more marked. The chorus simply
tumbles after the fashion that pile
OF bricks fall down. one after the other,
and any old way. There Is probably no
reason why the drill and discipline which
have mastered n concert form OF Wag-
ner could not easily accomplish n smart
and altogether movement I'm getting up
and sitting down, doing away with the
scramble I'm the operation which, espe-
cially now that there Is uiformity OF
dress. robs the business OF good deal
OF effectiveness and attractlveness.
We have often wondered, too, why the
Arion program does not contain some
littel matter OF information about tho
works produced and the writer's thereof
As "A force notable In the musical educa-
tion Of the people. the Arion may well
consider the value of "a detail OF this
sort. Last evenings program was an es-
peclal reminder OF this lack because OF
the inconspicuousness of part OF Its
features.
{" The Eve OF St Agnes-surette." 4"
so read the program. We venture TO
say that not handful OF the audience
ever heard OF Surette or OF his interest
ting work and probably not more than
two handfuls Of the chorus itself could
have told you whether his given name
was Jim or John or whether he was an
American or Jap.
SO also the aria from the opera "Nades-
chada. only the extremely up-to-date
musically ever knew there was any such
opera or anything about IT'S composer.
II would add 60 the value OF the pro-
gram and be I'm line with the work the
club is doing as well as be Of some in
tercst, II a BIT OF Information were avail
able.
Why. even IN respect 90 our old friend,
"Stabat Mater" there IL likely TO exist
y doubt and uncertainty which tho func-
ton OF tho program might relieve. Last
evening a discussion arose between two
Of our noighbors on the bench rs TO
whether the words were one OF the
psalms or a selection from the laments-
tions of Job.
Oakland Beaeh-Take trolley over the
most beautiful suburban line out Of
Providence. Cottage lots Tor sale. Agent