Connecticut western news., 1911-06-15
NORFOLK

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 to us the annual Litchfield County Choral Union concerts, to winch we look forward from year to year with so much pleasant anticipation. Each year we think the standard of perfection has been reached, but as year succeeds year, we realize more and more, what constant practice, unceasln0 effort, and efficient leadership means to any course ot study; and especially is this true of the chorus, who, at these concerts reflected great credit upon their conductor, as well as themselves. Professor Paine has already gained deservedly enviable reputation among the profession as a choral con- ductor; and the singers who have the opportunity to receive his instructions, have an advantage, which we trust is fully appreciated.
 From the opening number on the first night, to the closing number on the third evening, each selection showed. not only careful consideration in the choice of the music; but an equally discerning discrimination of those who were chosen to interpret it.
 The writer was privileged to meet and discuss with some of the artists, this great musical festival, which is always spoken of among musicians as the American Bayreuth; and which has no ork in profuse in admiration of the manner in which these concerts are managed, and also that so much is done for the comfort and pleasure of the artists who take part, and which they thoroughly appreciate. From Mime. Louise Homer, who always captivates her audiences from the moment of her appearance, and who is one of the especial favorites of our people, and of whom we believe the same is true wherever she sings; Mime. Alma Chuck, who must have known she charmed her audience, by the many recalls which she as well as Mime. Homer received; Dr. Horatio Parker. of whom all that can be, has been said; MT. Hadley. who besides be- successful composer, is the conductor of the symphony orchestra at Seattle, Wash, and ot whom it is an honor to be able to say, i've have seen him conduct his own compositions MT. Arthur Mees, who conducts the chorus of the St. Cecilia society. Boston, a chorus at Albany, the Mendelssohn Choral Club at Orange, N. J., and also directs the choral part of the great annual musical festival at Worcester, Mass. MT. Henry F. Schmitt, to whose ability is entrusted the selection of those who compose the orchestra of 70 players, most of whom are members of the Philharmonic society, and the Metropolitan Opera house orchestra ot New York city, and who has been elected to, and will fill the position of concert master of the Philharmonic society next year; Mir. Leo Schulz, who occupies the position of first celloist of the above society, and who, after years of triumphs, seemed just as pleased with his encores as a school boy with his first ovation; Mme. Maud Powell whose performance on the violin was one of rare technique and inter pretation; Mime. Florence Mulford; MT. George Hamlin; MT. Herbert Wither- spoon; MT. Stoeckert and MT. F. Lorenz ! Smith, are all artists. any one of whom to hear and see is a rare treat; and when we realize that all this is given to us without money and without prlce, our gratitude should not be reserved. We wonder how many of the 5000 people who attend these concerts have any idea of the amount of care and thought that is required to have every thing, even to the minutest details arranged, not only for the comfort of the guests; but that the chances for accidents of any kind are reduced to a minimum. One of the artists tells us that this is the twelfth time he has been here, and that every one who comes, looks forward with the keenest antici- patton to the opportunity of again having one of the pleasartest experiences of their lives repeated. In the words of MT. Schmitt, we find expressed a sentiment which we fully endorse, that, if the rich people of the country, who spend their money giving monkey dinners" and other just extravagant follies, would establish such an institu- tion as Mir. and Mrs. Stoeckel have done, giving hundreds of people the oppor- tunity of not only listening to class of music which must appeal to. and bring out the best in the individual, but also the chance of learning to properly interpret such great masters, under one so capable of bestowing that knowledge; the good they could do could not be estimated, and that not enough praise