The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-06
Musical Festival Is Now at Its
Height at Lindsborg.
Special Trains Carry Thousands
to Swedish Music Center.
FAME FOR LINDSBORG.
Easter Sunday Will Call for the
Rest Effort of Singers.
Chorus Consists of More Than
$50 Trained Voices.

The Messiah, the musical festival
which has made the name OF Lnos-
borg, Kan, known the world around
Is being given for the twenty-seventn
time this week and the attendance SO
far has exceeded that of last year
Special trains have been run from
various directions and they are crowd
ed with the music lovers of the state
who usually make the trip to Linsbore
20 hear the Messiah.
The chorus this year numbers more
than $50 voices and the singing is
better than it has ever been in the
past. Nowhere on earth is the Mes
siah sung in the same reyerentiai ana
Inspiring way as at Lindsborg and the
fame of the town and singers mas
been scattered broadcast to the four
winds. Originally it was given as
devotional exercise and as an oHerlng
of thanks for the freedom and pros
perity which has been bestowed upon
the Swedish colony which exists aoout
the little city Of Lindsborg.
The Swedish people as well as 9TH
ers sincerely love the music OF the
Messiah and are faithful in their at
tendance at each annual rendition. No
one however Indifferent to music can
listen to this beautiful rendition with
out being greatly impressed with the
sincerity of those participating.
how the impression made upon one
does not demand wild outburst OF
appreciation but rather a quiet recep-
tion Of all that is beautiful in the song
and story. Each year hundreds OF
former pupils OF Bethany college re-
turn to Lindsbcrg in the spring to wit
ness the rendition of the Messiah
which to them has a peculiar sacred
ness.
nf T0nAka.
regard to the messiah" week at
Lindsborg ending next Sunday,
April IL:
at am mailing you Messiah booklet.
and want you to come to Lindsborg
for the Messiah Friday evening of this
week or next Sunday. The chorus
and soloists are all doing splendid
work, but Barnhart outclasses the
heard above the entire chorus and
orchestra, and was an inspiration to
chorus orchestra and audience. He
not only sang his solos, but sang in
all of the choruses, and they could not
seem to give him enough to do His,
without doubt, is the greatest tenor
voice that has been heard in Kansas,
and has only been equaled by such
artists as Nordica and Gadskf In the
state.
''The Musical American of New
York city has written for write up
of the Messiah with especial refer
ence to Barnhart.
eff Barnhart does not sweep your
emotions, as they have seldom been
touched, I'll pay your expenses to
Lindsborg."
The soloists this year are Mrs. Mary
Holmes Thompson of Chicago, lyric
soprano of pleasing voice and person
atty; Mrs. Bertha Swensson Vestling,
daughter of the late DR.. Carl Swens-
son, founder of Bethany college and
the Messiah" festivals, contralto;
Harry H. Barnhart, tenor, New York
city, and Albert H. Borroff, a fine
basso of Chicago. Each was satisfy
ing, Mr.. Borroff particularly so; but
however good the soloists they never
will outrank the festival chorus, which
gives to the Lindsborg festival it's
greatest and most peculiar value.
Every afternoon and night the re-
mainder of this week. and including
next Sunday, there will be special
concerts in the college chapel or the
festival auditorium by the soloists now
there the members of the college
faculty. the Bethany orchestra and the
Bethany band, but the big events will
be the second singing of the "Mes-
siah" Friday night, Mendelssohn's
"Elijah" Sunday afternoon and the
messiah" for the last time Sunday
night.