Los Angeles herald., 1905-05-16
NOT A FASHIONABLE EVENT
Most Of the Boxes Are Empty, and a
Large Proportion Of Those Pres
ent Are Arrayed In Street
Clothes

many seats IN the gallery were occu-
pied when Frederick Neil Innes raised
his baton.
Most of the boxes were vacant for
it must be understood that the festival
is not a fashionable event, even though
the names of social leaders are on the
list of patronesses.
The big audience was composed of
persons of every class. 1t was evident
that men, women and children had as
sembled to enjoy the music and every
one knows that ones best clothes are
not comfortable when one wants to
have a good time.
Of course there were many evening
gowns and dress suits, but they were
sprinkled among white linen shirt
waists, gingham and lawn frocks and
sack coats. Tan boots and patent
feathers hastened down the aisles side
by side; straw hats and crush hats
we're placed next door to each other
under the chairs.
Big Festival Chorus
The stage was most attractive. Tier
upon tier of singers, seated in an i'm
mense semi-circle, formed a back
ground for the big band. Professor
julius Jahn's chorus of 600 voices made
brave showing for the women, clad
in white, were young and pretty.
1t was late when the concert began,
and expectation had been so long
drawn out that it was natural the first
number should be a little disappointing.
To persons accustomed to the frenzied
gestures Of the Italian band leaders,
the quiet dignity of Innes may have
given the misleading impression that
the much advertised conductor was not
earning his money. The applause was
rather perfunctory and then Innes dem
onstrated that he understood the public
taste. His encore was a medley that
awoke the most Indifferent. The tunes
everybody knew were played as only
big band can play them.
Dixie was almost drowned in the
hand clapping of enthusiastic hearers.
National airs brought the crowd to its
feet. Encore followed encore. That's
my favorite," murmured gray-haired
men when a familiar air was given.
Women of middle age smiled when
first bars reminded them of "pieces"
they used to play Young men put
their arms over the backs of the
chairs next to them and the girls did
not mind a bit when they were lis
tening to the tunes of sentimental days
when the average American did not
care a fig for classical music.
Having won his audience, Innes went
on with his program, which included
selections from Weber, Bizet, Rubin
stein and Wagner. 1t introduced Mrs.
Partridge, dramatic soprano. and Mr..
Archambault, a baritone of big voice,
but Bohumir Kryl, the famous cornet-
list, aroused the most extraordinary
demonstration of enthusiasm. Mrs.
Partridge sang the Weber aria, ocean,
Thou Mighty Monster" She has a
brilliant voice of much power, but her
Interpretations Interpretation it could
be called-was most mechanical. Her
voice might have been produced by one
of the flutes or by KryIs cornet. She
was as rigid as a French doll as she
stood with head thrown back, but she
produced some beautiful tones. Mr..
Archambault was heard in the ITO
reador Song from Carmen" His
baritone voice is of good range, 1t is
smooth and wonderfully melodious. He
has a fine technique and he was imme-
diately favorite.
kryl Cornet Solos
Bohumir Kryl played Levy's rus
sian Fantasy" which the composer re-
peated hundreds of times in the days
when Gilmore's band was famous.
This number, which affords a cornetist
skill, was remarkable because Kryl
showed the most extraordinary mast
cry of his instrument. The audience
applauded delightedly and he played
the old song Killarney" This would
have been a most acceptable encore
il the cornetist had not seen fit to dis
play his lung power by holding a
high note for several minutes, a feat
which would have been appropriate on
a vaudeville stage. But the audience
was pleased and perhaps the critic
should not be fault finding.
The work of the festival chorus
proved to be one OF the most satisfac-
tory features of the program. When
Prof jain took the baton he was
greeted cordially by the audience.
Hail, Bright Abode" the chorus, from
Tannhauser, was sung with such per-
feet unison and such even balance that
II was a memorable number. Much of
the tone volume was lost, however, by
the arrangement of the stage. The
flies appeared to deaden the sound.
This bad effect was especially noticea-
BILE in the male chorus which was heard
with the "Toreador Song"
Two Innes Compositions
Two numbers by Innes were well re-
ceived. The two step march is a dainty
bit of dance music and it was played
with great delicaey.
The program last evening proved that