The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-05-24
OPENING Of THE FESTIVAL
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II there we're say doubts or mis-
gtvines A. 10 tile people appreeIating
the playing OF the Thomas orches-
Sra, BY reason Of It's classical selec.
tions, these were al once dispelled
with the spontaneous oatourst, OF
applause FROM ali pats OF the house
at the conclusion OF the magnificent
rendition OF the overture, Carnival,
one OF Dyorah's most inspiring num-
bers.
Monday night at the corn palace
was the opening night of the Mitch
ell May Musical Festival and it was
the initial number OF what is the
hope will be carried on for years.
There was a vast audience present,
notwithstanding the weather OF the
day was of an unpleasant character.
In the aulience we're noticed d great
many IL p e from surrounding towns,
which lttncated an interest in the
cultivation Of the higher class of
music.
1t was a little after 5 O'Clock when
the members OF the orchestra took
their places on the stage OF the corn
palace building. ..and when Frederick
Stock appeared he was greeted with
hearty applause. AS he raised his
naton a stiffness pervaded the vast
room and with a wave OF his arm the
orchestra broke forth into The richest
melody OF sound as it presented the
overture, Carnival. The orchestra
is made principally OF stringed
instruments. with enough of the
brass and reed instruments to give
the depth Of tone quality for a sub
stantial body. 1t was a grand sight
to see that body of musicians swayed
by the will Of the conductor as he
lead them through the difficult pass
ages Of the selections, responding to
the slightest movement of the baton.
The Carnival number paved the
way for an evening of music rich in
every possible way. This vas fol-
lowed by the Andante, from Sym
phony No. 5, by Tschaikowsky, in
which the stringed Instruments had
the major part Of the work to dc,
but there were dignitied ana majestic
passages toward the close where the
full orchestra came into active opera
tion, and it reused the audience to
!! the greatest enthusiasm. In the
Eore %plaintive passages the work Of
the orchestra was very fine, playing
with a unanimity and softness which
| at times was marvellous. The orches-
ira would move along on a pleas
i%ng::theme when with the demonstra-
tive wave Of Mr.. Shocks baton, it
would burst forth into a massive
body OF music that permeated every
part Of the vast room and then the
various sections of the orchestra
would die away, leaving the theme
to the strings to bring out the
delicate melody. Throughout such
numbers as the overture to cob
eron," Tannhauser," and the
Italian Serenade'' the same impress
sive work was done, reaching the
climax Of excellent performance in
"Tannhauser." Contrary to the GUS
tom Of the orchestra at home, Mr..
Stock responded with three or four
encores during the evening, for he
could not Withstand the sincere and
hearty applause that greeted each
number as it was finished.
Miss Janet Spencer, the c%ontralto,
ap%pearedin two solos and represented
a voice of remarkable richness. ex-
tensive in range and the most excel
lent manner of singing. The quality
OF her voice is most pleasing and she
sings right to the hearts Of the
people. There was not one in that
vast audience but who was willing to
concede that Mss Spencer was the
most superior contralto they had
ever heard. Sue is artistic, she has
a fine conception and a splendid
Interpretation Of the. music before her
and she sings with a wholesomeness
that is inpirine.
She responded to encore on both
occasions.
MI. Leopold Kramer, the violinist,
played a solo Of a very pleasing
character, and when he responded
to an encore, his number was of a
mo!e difficult nature and showed the
marvellous execution Of a trained
master Of the violin. His technique
is something remarkable and one
could listen to his playing for an
indefinite period without firing.
MI. Kramer was forced to respond a
second encore, and he did it very
%graciouslY.
Mrs. Corinne Rider Kelsey was not
on the but bv renuest of a