The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-12
THE MUSIC FESTIVAL.
Two Views of the Music by Two
Well Unknown Critics.
Miss Stockdell's View.

Editor Of Tho Times dispatch:
slr.-Your critics indlscriminato
praise of tho performance OF Samson
pnd Dclilnh" must have nstonishod
scores Of your readers. for. surely no
normal ear could have listened to that
most painful rendering Of tho French
mans brilliant work without Judging
1t pretty close shave to dead foil
ure $780, 7f
Tho attack OF the chorus weak
throughout, was more thnn once non
est inventus although tho actual sing
ing, after tho faulty attack had boon
rallied from. was often. nno and not
at any ti,no bad. It was evidently
case Of insufficient preparation, for the
lack OF confidence and precision show
ed III even the easy parts. Tho express
sion Of modification ana annoyance
on tho faces Of tho chorus after bit
Of bad work appealed irresistlbly to
loyal old "Wednesday Club member
like mo, and 1t would have been
relief to have got up and offered
some explanation to thu public for the
untoward things that bofcllmy old con-
frercs For instance, tho music for the
chorus IN those three concerts Is much
too great In bulk to have boon sunl-
ciently rellenrsed within tho few
months of tho clubs season. This
of contradiction after the proof ar
fordcd by the nights imperfect work.
With the very cordial rotations exist
Ing between the chorus and Its able
director, good, telling work is done ut
every rehearsal, but the chorus is
largely made up of people who do not
| know how to read music, and therefore
have to depend on following those who
do read. This neccssitatcs a very great
number Of rehearsals In order that
| this majority OF the chorus (among
whom are many OF tho lest volces)
may become familiar enough with tho
leads to attack properly; that Is. with
out depending upon any one. 1t Is
! probably not too much to say that
| the whole of the seven months of
| only one rehearsal q week would not
have been too much time to allow
for the thorough learning OF the sam
son and Delilah" choruses alone, for the
effect Of an orchestra Is apt to be
| disturbing. and In this particular work
the accompaniment is so brilliant and
attractive that even tho steadiest or
| good readers is In danger OF being
lurcd away from tho solemn counting
off OF bars and beats and watching
the conductors baton. Anent this baton
that night, 1t might have been asked
IT the trumpet give an uncertain
sound, who shall prepare himself to the
l battle?" Tho tax OF directing an or
chcstra not accustomed to one must be
! likely to draft Off from the chorus too
much OF the conductors attention. and
this, apparently, was what happened
more than once on this occasion. with
lamentable results.
AS to the soloists. II we had known
when Mr.. Julian Walker finished sing
Ing tho parts assigned to him. and
left tho stage that that was our last
moment of comfort. his departure
| would have been even more regretted.
For even our prime favorite and ever
welcome Signor Gogorza, did more Of
reading than singing, 1t seemed to us.
In the very effective rolo OF the priest.
And, although Nine Mulford's imper-
feet tone production was severely taxed
by Dclilah's exacting part, she would
have gained considerably by being
more familiar with the music Her nd-
mirahlo self -poss ession when the tenor
suddenly went under eclipse in the duo
proved ability and excited admiration
and sympathy in the audience.
Mr.. Beddoe has voice OF unusual
richness Of quality, which fact made 1,
all the more deploreble that he did not
: know the splendid Samson role well
enough even to attempt certain phrases
| VI ~ NOlhuly AL luS quo W1lu l)eIIldu
> for which understandable proceeding
. the audience then and rierc expressed
its surprise and disappointment W.
should like to hear him some time wher
, lie knows what he is doing
s In fact, II the whole company, sing.
ers and musicians, were to practice
this work for. let us say, year or two
, and tho same audience assembled agar
to hear them, it Is safe to say tina,
there would be only praise for the per
Torrance. instead of the almost un
5 qualified blame which on every sid,
: is heard to-day.
When tho Boston Festival Orchestra
has learned the noble art OF accom-
, panying voices. Its now very credit
Q able work will be more acceptable tt
: tho lovers Of music in Richmond, ,vh,
l every year are heard to regret 1t:
frequent noisnoss when accompanying
| both soloists and chorus
HELEN G. STOCKDELL.
! toh