Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-05-15
BRILLIANT ENDING
May Music Festival Closed Last
 Evening.

| lnOug1 the Speclacle on the open ing night of the May festival was on of splendor and the concert was
 triumph, the close of the musical trea
 last evening even surpassed th
 event of the previous evening. Tn
 audience was perhaps more repre-
 sentative one than on Monday even | ing, and more interest was centere, in the program because the specia feature, a rendering of Samson ant
 Delilah" by the Waterbury Oratori'
 society. It was a fitting finale to ,
 well planned and finely rendered fes tival and in view of recent concerts
 was all the more gratifying, as it wal a financial success as well as an ar itstic triumph. Though there were
 few minor defects last evening al at the other concerts, there was
 nothing which could not nave beer
 overlooked by the most fastidious
 and it was only few that did no,
 seem entirely satisfied with all per
 formances. 1t seems to be the law
 of nature that some will criticize and
 find fault no matter what is given
 them, but no matter how it is regard
 ed by few, the May festival was
 something of which those who ar
 ranged it and carried it out may well
 feel proud.
 Naturally because of the prices
 asked the public expected more than
 the ordinary, and their anticipaticns
 were fully realized. The playing of
 the Symphony orchestra under the
 leadership of Walter Damrosch was
 well worth the price of admission at
 the first concert and that of yesterday afternoon, and the chorus work of
 the Oratorio society last evening cali ed for many highly commendable comments from persons who are in a position to criticize. Perhaps some others might say two of the soloists did not reach the measure of success expected of them. but it would be a mighty difficult task to bring together several soloists all of whom would equal the standard set by what was heard during the festival. The con- cert last night appeared more like a state event as many visitors who had heard of the program to be rendered had come to Waterbury to visit the Buckingham. None of them seemed to be disappointed with what they heard and saw, and all were perfectly con- tented with the program as whole.
 Though a large number attended all three performances, perhaps more single tickets were sold for last even- ing than for either of the other two concerts. From an early hour the crowd started to fill up the hall, and though the number of carriages that rolled toward the scene of the music al was large, because of the excellent weather, many decided to walk, and by the way, everyone who was walk ing last evening and on their way to the concert was gazed on frequently, as there were numerous sightseers on the streets.
 Tn the past when the Oratorio so- ciety sang in conjunction with out of town soloists, it always succeeded in winning the larger share of the ap- plause. Though many would he in- clined to think it was because the au- dience would naturally be prejudiced in favor of its own, it was not tine case last night. The Oratorio society under the direction of Richard T. Percy, who has become a big favor- ite in this city, because of the sur prisingly excellent results with the local singers, scored the heaviest of all last evening and truly deserved every round of applause given. The society has made almost wonderful and the manner in which it rendered the Saint-Saen opera must have placed the director in a happy frame of mind, as 1t cer- tainly impressed the audience. He the large symphony orchestra in a masterly manner and had Direct or Damrosch been presen: he would have clasped his hand and congratu- lated him.
 The soprano part which has always been more powerful than any DOT ton of the society still upholds its end in royal fashion, but Mir. Percy Is getting a tonal balance which was very evident last night. The altos have improved considerably and last evening undoubtedly did better work than at any previous musical The tenor and bass singers were in fine roice and executed well their various numbers. The shading was excellent md the way tho chorus went at the lifficult scenes could not fail to make m audience enthuse. The choruses vent off smoothly and with Mir Percy making his presence felt every min 'te, those listening had reason to ex- 1t.
 As 1t was a gala night for the l members of the Oratorio it was the | anne for the director. Tho results of | m ortor;o society are likely to he cry meagre indeed If the director is | lot fully able to cope with the work | md is not thoroughly aware of the manner in which it should he ,roueht out. But MT Percy to all ap- 'enrances was right to home with the 1 pera and during the rehearsals must i ave worked most zealously to bring bout the results attained last eyen- ng.
 The reason why few were not onient with the soloists was because hey had perhaps heard them before nd did not think as well of them last l vening as on other occasions. But | he audience for the most part en- hused over the visiting artists.