The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-07-23
THOUSANDS ENJOY
MUSIC FESTIVAL
Concert in Horse Show
Building Last Night Was
Great Success.
FINE PROGRAM RENDERED
Attendance Very Good, and Mr..
Radcliffe Much Colnpli-
n1ented on Work Done.

Before an audience of several thou
sand people who had gathered in the.
immense structure to hear the initial
concert the Midsummer Music Festival
opened successfully at the Horse Show
Building last night.
No such series of concerts as that
arranged for this week under the man
agemant Of Mr.. w. L. Radcliffe has
ever before been given in Richmond at
the same prices. and only by counting
the audiences In thousands can it be fig
ured that the venture Will be tinan-
cially success. That the music-lovers
OF this city appreciate the opportunity
of hearing such program as has been
arranged for the week, at a price with
iir the reach of fSall, was 6enlon strated
Hast night a s the great majority of
the audience held season tickets. The
opening night was in every respect a
success. and with a continuance Of the
interest and enthusiasm the future of
| the Midsummer Music Festivals in Rich
mond is assured.
Fine Work Done.
The Horse Show Building, of course.
/ is a large structure. not intended for
entertainment of this kind, but not
withstanding this, the vocal numbers
were heard to better advantage than
might have been expected. "A cloth
Towering, extending nearly the entire
length of the building, just under the
srders, acts to some extend as a sound
ing board, and reduces the space con-
sidera bly,. The stage. which Is To-
Gated at the southern end of the build
ing, Is Drettily decorated with Ameri-s
can flags, though no attempt is made;
to be lavish in this respect
The program last night consisted OF
eleven numbers. five of which were
rendered by the Imperial Italian Band.
under the direction of signor G. Rossi.
The organization numbers about twen-
ty-five, and It's rendition Of the COM
positions OF Offenbach, Wagner, Doni-
2etti and Sousa We're received with
enthusiasm by the audience. Most ap-
propriately. Sousa's march. "stars and
Stripes" was the first nuthcr on the
program. This was followed by the
overture, "Orpheus," by Offenbach, In
which, in this more pretentious COM
position, the musicians at once. gained
favor. Signor Rossi is conductor
without any of the eccentricities that
mark SO many bandmasters. His eff :.
forts are directed solely to his musi-
clans and not to the audience. The
familiar sextet from Lucia di Lam
mermoor" was well rendered, and, as
might be expected. we'll received. For
sn inter1nezzq Golden Rod" by Mabel
Mckinley. was substituted for selec-
t1ons from Faust" which was no
doubt a wise step on the part Of the
management.
The vocalist for this concert was Mr.
George CHAMPION. whose rich BARI
tone. though perhaps not quite equal
to the task Of filling such an immense
nstlditorium. was very pleasing. He
sang "The Toreador," from "Carmen.'
to the accompaniment Of tbs band. and
later rendered my Dreams" to piano
accompaniment. He was perhaps more
fSn:unate In the latter selection, as
the band must have kept his voice
from carrying further than dozen
or more rows of seats near the front.
Quite an attractive number was the
harp solo. Dance OF the Fairios," rem.
| dered by Miss Helen Beatrice Reed
For an encore. she played q medley
! OF airs familiar to every one.
1 A distinct feature OF the evening
was the work OF Miss Jeanette rur.