New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-02
WORCESTER FESTIVAL
EUening Concert DeDoted to SIR
Edward Cigars "CGactdcus.
rBy Telegraph to the Tribune ]

hfty-frst annual festival OF the Worcester County
Musical Association brought gray skies and lower
| ing weather. but no gloom. TO the spirit Of The
concerts The audiences crowded the hall both al
ternoon and evening and unless the fates IN
propitious tomorrow the festival VIII be com
plete a success financially it has thus far been
muscalIy. from the understanding local point
of view Worcester audiences have large capacity
for enjoyment They are not blase TO enjoy
the favorite classics. despite what perverse types
made me say in yesterdays report and they dearly
love those who sing and play Tor them outside the
ranks OF the chorus
Both Of these things exempHaed at the at
ternoon concert Schuberts TRANSPORTED torso. the
unfinished symphony in minor, chastely and
beautifully played by the orchestra under the direc-
ton Of Mr.. Kneisel. gave them noble uplft, which
was forgotten after the empty glitter and IalSe
glare OF D'Indy's Istar variations and they wOrk5
themselves into 4 lovely enthusiasm Miss May
Muke's performances of Saint-Saens's violoHceiio
concerto in A minor and Mr. Beddoe's fine singing
of RodoIfos photographed narrative from the
first act Of Puccinis La BOheme. Miss Nuke
rubbad or some OF the bloom OF her triumph BY
adding an unaccoulpanied solo. but M Beddoe
practised wise restraint and let wat was aIreauy
very well alone. Miss Nuke played the concerto
with finished ease and r-posefulness. but ner tone
was too r1uffied TO permit the brilliant qualities OF
the composfton TO shine Most merttorious was her
broad full graceful and gracious can'llena IN .Is
dainty but shallow second movement her popuLai
success was emphatic and well deserved AIi7
began with the overture 20 NAOAal19 800
df Figaro and ended with George w Chao"IIA
capital bit of grotesquerie, a Vagron baIlao'
which Dr. Muck permitted New WORKERS 70 nea4
last season
The evening concert was devoted to EIgar
"Caractacus'' ard was directed BY Mr. Mees- This
secular cantata is I believe, the only one u d.
Edwards choral works which has not been hearo
in New York II composed Tor the LeeUS ~
tivaI OF 1895 and in manner occupies te'I--ois
about half way between the Scenes IFOA nN-ls
OLAF and The Dream Of Cse-- Ittus us H1A7iO
seemed a little less Spontaneous DIT e-So
little less commonplace than the former "orA' anu
great deal less exactsd than the latter But theIe
is not much inspire spiritual exaltauon IN Ine
book Of "Caractacus" while there is a great deaI
in Cardinal Newman's poem The subject or the
cantata is the struggle OF the Britons under tne
siIurian chief Caradoc against Roman rule the
brave mans downfall the triumph of Claud1us IN
the Eternal City, which he was made TO grace anu
the final pardon Of the intrepid chieftain
The last episode mars the story from a poetical
point of view but the author OF the text, H A
Ackworth, seeks atone for that fact by hymnlnS
in sort OF epogue the glories Of England in after
ages Britons. he calls the people, though their
victories were won by blended Saxon and Norman
and Dane" as well BY the heroic race that fol-
lowed Caradoc into battle 1855 years ago Natu-
rally there is much ado about the Drids IN Carac-
tacus So much ado, indeed. that mood OF uonot-
ony broods great deal OF the music OF the
cantata-a mood which might have been dispeiled
had the composer command Of some Of that throo-
bling exuItant paganisrn which made and has kept
MendeIssohn's First Walpurgis Night a model
cantata and g perpetual delight
Cigars Druids, I regret say. come PRETTY near
TO being comic opera people pretty often Stl, as
such things 60 fills out festival even
ing rather pleasantly. II has much dreary manu-
featured music in It. the composer leaning heavily
when his inspiration gives out that seTviceaole
crItch the typical phrase leading motive. it
is called but there are stirring pages in the
choral part even when unasterful skill and technical
knowledge at work rather than the divine az
hatus. as witness the swelling invocation 20 Lord
o. Driad," in the second part The performance
of the work put bigger and brighter feather into
MI Mees's cap than did Samson and DeIiIah'
the opening evening. big and bright as that was
| "Caractacus'' all his work, While Satnt-Saenss
opera was a more than twice-tOld tale to the
chorus
have never heard the choir sing well it
did in Samson and Delah," and tonight its work
was even more admirable. though the music did
not permit 1t to be moving Il disclosed ex-
ceIlent training on the part Of Mr. Mees and ad-
miraJble devotion the part OF the singers On
the whole, II was better than New Workers are &C
customed to hear at their local concerts. and bore
creditable comparison with the best work OF the
Cincinnati festival choir It's immediate effect
ought to be 10 restore the choral feature OF the
future festivals to their properly dominant place
The solo parts in the CauCata IN the hands OF
Nine Jomeu, George Ha Min. ReinaId Verrenrath
and Frederick Martin Nine. JomelI had much
music to sing which was cruelty taxing, but her
fresh and beautiful tones. her honesty and sincerity
met with deserved reward She has found her
forte in concert work and viii no longer be the
negligible quantity that she has too long been IN
New York. Mr.. Werrenrath is another growing
singer and will add TO his stature nightly as his
voice grows IN power. il viii II he continues 10
sing with his present taste and intelligence Mr.
HamIin was, usual generous in his outgiviugs
ana capital in his defamation, and Mr. Martin
Cd tbo hin 1v1Fra II