The daily sentinel., 1906-12-07
SHE DISAPPOINTED
Shanna Cumming, the Singer, Unable
to Render Several Numbers
at Concert Last Even
ing-A Great Musi-
cal Program.

I
pected as a result of the long wait
All realize that something rich was to
| be given them and were therefore
contented to wait.
On the arrival of the musicians al
the church Rev. Becker made their
excuses for not appearing in their
evening dress. the company having
come from the train to the church and
would therefore appear in their trav-
cling clothes.
Beyond the shadow of doubt the
Bostonia Sextette is one of the finest.
If not the finest orchestra ever heard
in Grand Junction. Nearly every one
of its members Is celebrated nation
ally in the musical circles. The per
sonnel of the seXtette is as follows:
Mr.. Louis Eaton, Violin. Mr.. A. E.
Ordway. Violin; Mr. Max Schlegel,
Viola; Mr.. Carl w. Stockbrldge. Gel
10; Mr.. Louis Torgone Bass; Mr.. C
L. Staats. Clarinet.
The program was classical from
beginning to end. in fact If there had
been the slightest variation the aud
fence might have been even more
pleased than it was, but surely there
can be no complaint regarding the
work of the seXtette.
Such command as these gentlemen
have over their instruments is real
ly marvellous. Such renditions OF
classical selections have never been
surpassed in the city. Each selection
was an inspiration in itself and the
audience was enraptured by the mus
ic of true divine execution. The over
ture from Harold, LIE Pre- aux
Clercs." the selection from Romeo
and Juliet and the selection from
The Fortune Teller" were among
the sweetest numbers of the sex
tette, Massenet' "Dernier Sommeil
de la Vierge" and Evening Breeze. -
by Lang, were enchanting renditions
by the stringed quintette.
The violin solo by Louis Eaton
was one of the rarest numbers of the
evening. Eaton is certainly a great
violinist He ranks above any heard
here in a long period.
Phillip Staats, than whom 1t is said
there is no greater elairionetst in
America. gave the fantasie, from "Pre
Aux Clercs," as his solo. 1t was su-
perb.
The cello solo of Mr.. Stockbridge
"Serenade Badine." by Marie. was
beautiful beyond description.
Z. Each soloist was forced to respond
to encores.
Shanna Cumming the Prlma donna
soprano. who ranks with the most
gifted and noted in America today,
was heartily greeted when she first
appeared. Miss Cummings first num-
Der was the Aria, "Je Suis Titania, >"
from Thomas "Mignon." When the
first clear notes reached the audience
II was readily recognized that the
singer deserves well the reputation
she holds. A voice of heavenly low
illness. Clear as a silver bell. rich
beyond measure in its tones and var
iations, strong in its every part and
capable of the greatest solo attain
ments is that possessed by Shanna
Cumming. The selection gave ample
room for the mighty volume, the
great range of her voice. Truly Shan
ma Cumming is brilliant artist. Her
ennunciation was most pronounced.
and her facial expressions and COM
manding stage appearance add great
ly to her success.
1t was remarked by several that
Miss Cumming was laboring under
some difficulty in her first selections.
She was announced for triple num-
ber later in the program and when
she appeared for this number she
was greeted with stream of applause
she began the number "The
Rose Leans ov er the Pool by Chad
wick" After singing a verse the So
prano stopped and addressing the
audience declared that her voice had
completely left her, that she could
not sing another note, the altitude or
something else having evidently af-
fected her. She expressed her sim
cere sorrow but said that she posi-
lively could not continue. 1t was
terrific disappointment to her aud
ience, and much of the former enthus-
iasm over the concert was missing
during the remainder of the program.
Those that know state that the
church was not well ventilated for the
soloist. the church is not of exten-
sive proportions and her voice was to
great for its confines, and many were
not surprised that the prima donna
was forced to disappoint the audience.
However, her first selection easily
demonstrated her ability but the
audience was so delighted with her
and so keyed up for the last numbers
that the disappointment was over
whelming, Shanna Cumming has ap-
peared on the greatest concert plat
forms in America and in Europe and
her appearance here was a local musi-
al event of vast Importance.
Even if the prima donna could not
give all her numbers 1t was a splen-
did entertainment, a classical treat
of the highest, noblest type An op-
portunity to hear such music is not
often Afforded.