The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-22
MUSIC. FESTIVAL
A NOTABLE EVENT
Preparations for. the Great Annual
Treat Have Been Highly
Successful.
siTABAT MATER; MAY QUEEN
Relearsals Of These Productions
Now Being Conducted"R Re
demptions Completed.

The programme for the coming Music
Festival Of the "Wednesday Club in RICH
,mond, April Goth. May 1st g,iti ioiid, Is a
most attractive one. engaging the very
best talent. ana promising great pleasure
and profit to the lovers OF lligl-class mu-
I Sic. 1n,iconnection with the appearance
8of the Boston Festival Orchestra under
tho direction OF Mr.. Emil Mouenhauer.
the Following is the list Of special artists
Who Will take partfin the festival: Anito
Rio, soprano;5 Louise Orllxby, soprano;
Isabel Bouton, rontralto; Bertha Cushing,
child contl5llto; Edward Johnson, tenor;
LLOYD Rand. tenor; sigor Emilio de Co
Sorza, baritone Gwilym Miles. baritone,
and L. 3. Merrill. basso. Many of these
artists are we'll known to Richmond and
have proven particular. farorites.
8 rms VIII be the thirteenth, annual fes-
tival OF the. club and Its Importance this
year cannot be Soyere stlmated. Tho Iarg-
est aggregation OF high-priced, high-class
artists has been secured this year. which
VIII place the festival on the basis OF an
enterprise never undertaken before III
the South. This question of. financial sup
: port OF musical Venture like this is one
that is not sufficiently thought upon by
our busy people. BY its very nature,
oratorio REQUIRES the very best soloists.
choral material, orchestra. frequency OF
rehearsals and q qualified director.
Active, Preparation,
Active preparations have already been
commenced for this years festival. and
tue musical element OF the city has be-
come thoroughly aroused to the signifl-
cant position which Richmond has as
isumed In this line. The board Of COVER
Of the o1,,
largely of those who take All aggressive,
and active interest, not only In tho musi-
cal attainment OF It's people. but are
prominently associated with the COM
nercial. professional and social element
OF the city The board this8ycar!is COM
posed OF Mr.. George W. Stevens, Mr..
Eugent Jones, Mr.. George Bryan. Mr..
Morris Brooks, Mr.. j. Stewart Bryan.
Mr.. ". .. Duke. Mr.. F. C. Hahr, Mr.. n.
3; Harrison, Captain Cunningham Hall.
Mr., James #. Howlson, Mr.. Emes w,
Gordon. Mr.. w. Douglas Gord,t Mr. w.
NJ. Jenkins, Mr. II. T. Alcloncy and Mr..
Walter G, Mercer. The board has con-
tracted with George w. Stewart OF Bos-
ton. for additional events and for n list
Of rare artists. Tho success OF tho We'd
ncsday Club In its work in#thc past has
been SO satisfactory that the hoard Of
governors this year assumed obligations
involving much heavier expense.
The chorus, under the direction ~ Dr..
r, Fl. Peters. has practically completed
tho rehearsal OF the ,Redemption,, ands
is now jdeyoting its time with close ap-
pllcatlon to the "Stabat Mater''and tho
May Queen
That a type OF music so elevated N
9 character, so exacting in. musical re-
fnulrement, and SO expensive as to pro-
gduction, should exist for nearly fifteen
years Ii. city like Richmond, speaks
volumes for the musical spirit of the
acomnunity
This year. in addition to tho chorus
work md the children's chorus under
Director Mercer, the Board OF Governors
arranged for n wi6er5s scope. of musical
entertainment In a special symphony con-
cert and All artists night ubscriber's
4 tickets for the season have been an-
nounccd which will place the3fee for the
series at a nhenomenally low figure, Gcn-
3tltllng 4 snbscriber to two lckots for
eachof the five concerts, With tho usual
privileges. 8ss
q The business. office ID the N Vedncsday
Club was opened yesterday Mt No. 1ola
East Main Street. Mr.. Walter Mcrcer
5hlsSagain undertaken this work ms s1'a an.
ager. and #nll information pertaining TO
The subscription list for tho season; has.
of what 1t has ever been sbef0rGt 1t this
stage. and subscriptions continue to |; nr.-s
rive each day. q l3gss
"A large Sattendance of the chorus turned
out last night mt tho regular rehearsal, a
and the work of seating tho singers for
the festival occasion WAS taken up In a.
preliminary way, III vi .5 III lssssS