The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1909-05-06
BRILLIANT EVENT
Musical Given in Honor of Ami
vefsary ofthe Woman's Club
PIeases Large Audience
MRS. WELLeS A REAL ARTIST

One of the bost brilliant musical
events that has occurred in Kenosha
for many years was the piano and or
gan recital given last evening in Sim
mons Memorial church by Mrs. R. II.
Welles of this city and Mr.. Wilhelm
Middelschulte, of Chicago, solo organist
with the Thomas orchestra. The oc-
casion was the observance of Anniver-
sary Day of the Woman S Club, that
organization having been incorporated
eighteen years ago, on April 30. In
spite of the furious storm that was
raging, an audience of club members
and their guests that filled the church
assembled to hear the delightful pro-
gram that had been arranged. The
church was deliberately decorated in
palms and red carnations, and such
scrupulous attention had been given to
every detail of the arrangements by
the club committees that the surround
ings were in every way suited to the
excellence of the program that was pre-
scented.
The organ and piano numbers were
presented in three groups. The open
ing number was the familiar Largo by
Handel, doubly impressive when the
brilliance of the piano tone was added
to the full volume Of the organ. The
Beethoven number, the Andante from
the Fifth Symphony, was one of the
gems of the evening, and the Pastoral
by Guilmant charmed the audience
with its melodic character. The dis
tinctive quality Of the piano tone was
especially revealed in the Peer Gynt
Suite, where the song of the birds in
" Morning Mood the tolling of the
bell in case s Death and the tink-
ling ice-like effect in the "Mountain
King, movement were especially no.
ticeable This number received an en-
core, to which Mrs. Welles and Mr..
Middelschulte graciously responded.
The full effect of the orchestral quality
of the combination of the two instru-
ments was not fully revealed until the
closing group, when the "Prize Song
and Entrance of the Gods into Wal
halla' by Wagner, reused the audience
to such enthusiasm that repetition of
the closing number was demanded.
The greatest interest of the evening
conferred in the piano solos by Mrs.
Welles, which for brilliance of execu-
ton, perfection of memorizing and dis
tinction Of Interpretation could not
have been surpassed. The difficult
technical work in the Chopin "Noc-
turne" was executed with perfect ease
and skill, the singing quality of tone
being at all times maintained. The
Clique by Bach was rendered with
much spirit, and the rapid work in the
brilliant portions of the Polonaise was
a revelation of the musical ability Of
the pianist. Mrs Welles was the re-
cipient OF many beautiful flowers, and
in response to the enthusiastic encore
played a charming short number % Bal
Enfans" by Van Westerhout.
In his group of solos Mr.. Middel.
schultz revealed that mastery Of or
chestration, excellence of technique
and skill in Interpretation which has
caused him to be recognized as one
of the leading organists of the world.
He responded courteously to the appre-
citation Of the audience, playing a very
rapid and delicate Canon by Schumann.
The program notes, which were print.
ed concerning each number, aided
greatly in the understanding and en-
joyment of the music on the part Of
the audience. The occasion was one
long to be remembered by all who
braved the storm to attend.