The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-06-19

! MS udN llluS NStoTla among tue
acknowledged music centers of the
Northwest by virtue OF the splendid
demonstration made last evening at
the Astoria Theatre by the Philhar.
monic Society recently organized
here; and it only remains for her to
take over the prestige and perpetu-
ate it, to her own delight and honor in
the days to come, and 10 the abiding
glory OF the beautiful art they are ex-
pressing and sponsoring,
Naturally, every Astorian (includ
ing this one), is disposed to witholS
and mimify criticism in view of the
initial public appearance of this gift
ed coteric OF ladies and gentlemen
and the home spirit that refuses to
deal coldly with ones own; and, most
happily, the necessity for adverse
criticism is not apparent, in the light
OF the genuine success OF the concert,
as measured by any other guage than
that OF local pride and the limitations
OF neighborly partiality and the civic
conscience is very clear of the sense
of too friendly bias; therefore, what
follows, by way OF accounting in this
behalf, must be construed as frankly
honest, and married only by the limi-
tations OF the writer in dealing with
a subject quite foreign to his equip
ment.
Primarily, the house was filled to
its best capacity Astorians always
refuse to recognize rains as a barrier
to their pleasures, and last night
proved no exception to the rule II
was a cultured audience, and an eager
one; eager to meet and acknowledge
to the real successes OF the occasion
and to be of record as auditors at the
first OF the Philharmonic concerts
that are to become annual features OF
cultivated artistic Astoria. By $50
O'Clock the mass was seated, and af-
ter that hour until the first intermis-
sion in the program, no one was per
mitted to interfere with the progress
of the pending attractions, and the
rule proved of inestimable value to
the people on the stage and in the
auditorium. The whole affair was
managed admirably at every point
and this contributed immensely to the
score OF genuine success achieved.
On the stage DR.. Emil Emma was
the autocrat OF the hour, and as
leadership with him is a gift as is
music, the two splendid faculties were
merged so as to confirm him, forever,
as master and mentor worth the
having, He led superbly and held his
orchestra, chorus and soloists at the
very end of his quivering baton, true,
steadfast, unwavering, playing, sing
ing, pausing, perfectly, throughout.
He was the guiding and challenging
figure to whom the Philharmonics
gave answering yet spirited obed-
fence every instant OF the long en-
and from whom they de-
rived the crux OF their first public
and felcitous victory. He has been
their devoted teacher and leader and
they repaid him with all the faith
and ardor the time, place and event
demanded.
Number after number was unfolded
from the pleasant schedule Of the
evening, and the interest grew with
each, until the big house was echoing
and re-echoing with the plaudits of
the delighted hundreds, and the first
half-hour fixed the status OF the con-
cert as an unequivocal and assured
success.
For two engrossing hours there
was a dclugc of masterpieces finely
rendered, with encore after encore
gratefully called, and gladly given;
voice and hand Of artist and lesser
contributor yielded gem on gem from
Denza, Lohr, White, Strauss, Weinia-
ski, Meyer-IIclmund, Musin, Ronald,
Cowen, Wagner-Wilhclmj Hahn,
Grieg and Emma; it was a feast, un-
5tinted, complete and satisfying, with
The Garden OF Flowers" and "At
the Cloister Gate" as the pieces d
resistance, the whole scheme Of the
program fitting admirably to the
range Of especial talent Of the newly
launched society and emphasizing the
cardinal merits Of each member; the
choruscs were splcndidly balanced
and the time was perfectly maintain
ed and there was a manifest purpose
around to leave a nawless impress
sion The individual work, the duos,
The quartettcs, the accompaniments,
al was prime and pleasing, and the
curtain fcll upon bona hde achieve
nent that fixes the Astoria Philhar-
monte Society firmly and happily
lmong the institutions, par excel !
cncc, Of this city.
The house was genuinely rcspon-
,ive, warmly appreciativc and plainly |
compensated; there was not false
1otc sounded on either side OF the
.urtain and the Accting comment. !.