The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-04-10
WORKS OF THE GREAT MASTERS
TO BE GIVEN AT MAY FESTIVAL
Con1posers Whose Works Will
be Performed Truly Represet1-
tativc III Their Branches.
FOUR STRONG FEATURES ca Re
The Messiah, Prelude to Parsi-
fal, Selections From, Aida"
and "Don Juan to be Sung
Az +. q, Hair.

BY F. g.. Hahr. IA
Il Tho Wednesday Club may well have
cause to BIO satisfied with the selection
OF the principal numbers for the two
evening concerts during tho coming mu-
sic festival. Tho composers whose works
will be performed arc truly representa-
tive in their respective branches, ma 1ely:
Handel. the acknowledged master 81
oratorio, whose unsurpassed and noble
work, ''Tho Messiah" Will DO given com !.
plete at tho first concert; Wagner, the
creator OF the modern music dramn. VINO
will be represented by tho orchestral pre-
lue to his sacred drama. Pnrsifal';
Verdi, than whom none rank higher IN
tho domain Of Italian opera ana one o., OF
whose later and most prominent. sWotks
VIII be performed In the shape o. sclec "A
tions from tAlda"; and Richard Strauss,
the newly proclaimed king IN the realm
OF the symphonic poem for orchestra,
whose compositions, Dan Juan" will be
heard Tor the first time by tho Richmond
public. 1t Is to BIO regretted that the
family name Of this composer should
have been indentical with that OF the
well known writer's OF dance music IN
Wanna. ma It may often cause him to be
unjusty COMPOUNDED and clHssed with W.
latter, with whom he has nothing In com
mon save tho name. a,
1t was wise and commcndnble OF the
Wednesday Club to decide TO give 51itl 2.
Messtahs as n whole. for such q WORK
should DO heard In its complete form, IN \
mixed with other music. IN order that lts
sublime beauty may be fully appreciated
~ al audience, and those who VIII lis
tan 10 It reverentiy and intelligently can
not fall to DO impressed ana eieVa1e 81,
Where can one hear q strain t1llcd VIII
more tender, loving hope than the soprano
ait. II Know that Ny Redeemer Llveth s.
or with more pathos and Sorro" than
tho contralto air, "He was Dcspised ana
Rejected; and what audience mas yct
failed to DO thrilled TO It's Utmost depth
by tho ma jesty OF the iallelujah chorus ~
since 1t was heard for the first limo l62
years ago in Dublin, Ireland? AS Illus
trating the marvellous rapidly with which
Handel composed, 1t may DO interesting
10 note that the whole score OF Ihe
Messiah was written between August
H2od and September IL. 174l.
Some OF the muses. have been heard
TO whisper sorroWfully among themselves
a rumor that there is q city in Virginia
It possible that this city can be Rich
mond? And'if so. how long will the pub
lie OF that city, otherwise so cultivated.
continue to be bored BY what IS highest
and noblest In music? q, gt
q The selection from Richard Wagner's
E"ParsIfal" Is very opportune at this time,
In view OF the fact that It has been lat
4 country, at tho Metropolitan Opera House
In New York. that being the only place
where Il has been given on any stage
outside OF Bayreuth. for which 1t was
originally and exclusively intended By
the composer, It Is not our intention
here to discuss the propriety Of its being
performed In this country, or anywhere