Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1905-10-11
THE MUSIC FESTIVAL
NINTH ANNUAL GATHERING AT
BANGOR.
NINE. EAMEs TUE BRIGHT PARTICULAR
WILLIAMS, THE IScoMPARA-
BLE-GREAT ENTHUSIASM.

The ninth annual Maine music festival
is over-thst is, the concerts in Bangor
are, and those in Portland will end to-
night, when, without doubt, Nine. Eames
viii repeat in Portland her triumph of
last Saturday night in Bangor.
A report OF these concerts in detail is
out of the question here, but few obser-
vations may be made. The indetatigable
director in-chiei, w. X. Chapman, has
once again demonstrated his capacity to
do all be promises in the way Of provid
ing soloists.
OF course in a general way everybody
knew of Eames, and was anxious to hear
her; no one who ever heard Evan VIII
liams could forget him, bat as to the
others they were all new to Maine;
would they meet expectations? Well, as
usual, they not only did, but they ex-
ceeded them. and it is doubtful IL any one
hereafter has the temerity to question
MIR. Chapman's ability to keep his prom
ises. He seems to have way of-in the
words of the untutored Texan-not ssbit-
ing of more than he can chaw".
THE EAMEs RECEPTION.
An innovation this year was the recep-
ton TO Madame Eames and the other
artists at the city hall in Bangor on the
afternoon of the opening day, where an
opportunity was given the choruses and
invited guests to meet the famous singers.
At this function Senator Hale made brief
but most happy address Of welcome.
In the first receiving line were Mrs.
Hale, Chief-Justice and Mrs. Wiswell,
Gen. and Mrs. Farnham, Mr.. and Mrs.
Chapman, and in the second line, headed
by Mayor and Mrs. Pierce, were ex- Mayor
and Mrs. Beai, Charles j. Wardley and
wife, Mrs. Frank Hinckley and score of
ladies and gentlemen prominent In social
and musical circles in eastern Name.
II was altogether most delightful &C.
casion, and the memory OF II will long
linger in the minds of those who were
fortunate enough to participate.
THE CONCERTS.
Thursday evenings programme was
made up OF miscellaneous numbers and ex-
cerpts from Wsgner's opera s'Lohengrinn.
All the soloists except Madame Eames
appeared-Mr. Williams, tenor; Signor
Nunzisso, baritone, Mime, Ri ier- aisey,
soprano; Miss Root, mezzo- soprano, Mr.
Carrie, tenor; Mr.. Croxton, bass.
WILLIAMS.
Mr.. Williams was the soloist OF Friday
afternoon. No tenor has ever sung at
these festivals who can be compared with
him. His voice, his presence, his inter
probation, his expression are all of the
highest order. He is an artist in The high
est sense of the term; His rendition of
delssohn's Elijah" is an appeal that
seems to take him and with him his audi
ence straight TO the throne of God.
Whether in singing the works of the
great masters or simple ballads, one Ia
touched with this mans magnetism. II
\ l. l. 4 = l.
the ''Hallelujah" chorus, feature OF every
festival.
RIDER-KELsEY.
Friday evenings concert was the sing
ing OF the oratorio of the Creation BY
Haydn. Madame Rider Kelsey, Mr.. Carrie
and MIR. Croxton were the soioists. and all
did splendid work, Madame Kelsey doing
the best oratorio work ever done In BAN
Gor. She has clear, pure, powerful voice,
sympathetic and magnetic; she posse sses
a charming personality, and was alto
gether delightful.
cRoxTos AND CARRIE.
Mr.. Croxton, bass, and Mr.. Carrie, tenor,
sustained their parts admirably. Both
are young and ambitious, and destined TO
take high rank among American singers.
MISS ROOT.
Miss Root, also a new conner, made a
most favorable impression. She has
charming mezzo-soprano voice. She had
little TO do in the Lohengrin excerpts at
the first concert, but sang charmingly at
the fourth, and was heard again Saturday
night, when, in spite of the fact that she
was overshsdowed by the peerless Eames,
she received royal welcome. less
courageous person would have felt i'll II
ease, immediately following Eames in the
grand aria from Pueeinis s.Tosca" But
she did it, and did it most accepta bly,,
singing the solos in Schubert's "Great is
Jehovah.
signor Nunziato has magnificent bar
itone voice. While Campenari is not for
gotten, the musical public here welcomes
this splendid baritone, and will be glad
of an opportunity to hear him again.
THE cHAPMASs.
OF the indefatigable Chapman and his
charming and ubiquitous wife little can
be added to what has already been said of
their inestimable worth to the festivals.
The orchestra and choruses were up to
| the standard OF previous years in every
respect, except that the male contingent
OF the chcruses was not so large as in
some previous years, and not nearly large
enough properly to balance the parts.
Announcement was made that the festi-
walls will continue, and work on the next
one will begin with all the local choruses
within few weeks. The oratorio Elijah,
which has been given twice, viii be re-
peated next year.