Connecticut western news., 1908-06-11
CANAAN, CONN. THURSDAY. JUNE IT, 1908.
NORFOLK CONCERTS
 BETTER THAN EVER
KREIsLER'S WONDERFUL WORK
Rendition of "Damnation of Faust" was Nearly Perfect-SpIendid Cho- rus Work-SoIoists and Orchestra.

was weary PerIeCt-Splenoi0 Cno-
 rus Work-SoIoists and Orchestra. Especial correspondence to The News.1 1
 The ninth season of the Litchfield ! County Choral Union came to Q splen did close in the wo-concert-festival held at the music shed in Norfolk on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. There had been a rehearsal of the chorus and orchestra Monday night and Tues day night rehearsal of the soloists and orchestra. It was hard to believe that anything could surpass in interest, quality and beauty the concerts of last year but these two certainly did. The rendition of the Faust" and of the King Gorm and the playing of Fritz Kreisler gave the notes of distinction to this seasons concerts and made them imperishable in the memory of those who were priveleged to hear them, and what a concourse of people were so priveleged and how representative of the life of the county. were the great audience
 These concerts are not given by the liberal patrons for their personal friends but they are for the people and there could be nothing more democratic.
 tickets, mind you) is as representative as is the chorus in each community. It is not even a question as to who will ap- preciate them most for the whole thought is to educate the general taste to the appreciation of the very best in music; ard one who hears the comments must feel the marked and rapid growth that has been made in this respect. This is even more conclusive evidence of the value and success of the whole movement that the success of the imme- diate concert.
 Chief interest always centers in the work that is rendered at the first concert There could be nothing more taxing or more ambitious for chorus to under take than Berlioz's "Damnation of Faust" and its rendition last week showed that the confidence of the con- ductor and promoters had not been mis- placed. It is hard to conceive of more adequate or, more perfect production of i it in every particular. The writer has heard several notable productions of the Faust, but has never heard it so splendidly given. MT. Paine had con- l ducted its production twice before and was thoroagly master of the work and was able to bring from his great chorus of 325 voices the wonderful dramatic eff fects with which the work abounds. It is full of incident and movement of climactic changes and all of these were developed splendidly by all concerned in the production. It was matter of common remark, the surprise that a work could be so dra matically interpre- ] ted without action and the accessories of stage setting.
 The work for the chorus was of great variety and extremely taxing. But the chorus was splendidly equal to it. Special interest was aroused by the male choruses for which the work is noted. The large chorus of men had been massed ill the center of the stage and they sang the soldiers and students chorus which only great and we'll seasoned chorus could attempt, in most thrilling manner. The solo work in the Faust was of the highest order. MT. Edward Johnson as Faust was mel ancholy at times and then passionate and tragic. He sang very beautifully the opening number and the powerful Invocation to Nature" with its wonder fully descriptive orchestral effects. What an orchestral accompaniment that would have made for Elijah on Mt. Horeb
 The selection of MT. Herbert Witherspoon for Mephistopheles was a master stroke. His interpretation was filled with all the mocking incisiveness which the part demands. The sardonic laugh and the "Hellishtwist" at times were terrific. However there were times especially at the beginning when MT. Witherspoon forgot that MephistophelesIhad to master the spirit of Faust and men are not won by con- tempt. His singing of the flea song and the sntrancing mockery of the Foolish Kate" and the cry of Ion on' in the terrible ride to Hell and the ma l ignant mastery of his shout of victory as they fall into the abyss were all dis tinctive features of a masterful rendi tion.
 Mne. Homer is the great favorite with us all. There had been some misgiv- inRs as to her fitness for the Margarite l, mart nn it is diakinctirnIv fnr a snnrnnn