The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-15

iture in which the officers and direc-
tors have plunged 1t Is confidently
expected that the public will show Its
appreciation In the form of liberal
patronage.
The best available In vocal and in
strumental has been secured for the
eighteenth annual festival. The Wed
nesday Club is bringing TO Richmond
| for series OF concerts six OF the
most famous artists Of the MetrepoH~
tan Opera Company. OF New York,
| together with the matchiess orches-
ira from the metropolitan opera
House
The concerto will be conducted by
Josef Pasternack. under whise direc-
| ton all OF the great concerts in New
York city are given by the Metropoif-
tan Opera Company.
There can be no uncertainty this
year as to the excellence OF the SO
ioists. Nine. Alma Chuck. besides pos
sessing a beautiful soprano voice, Is
endowed with a charming personality
that captiyates her audiences ana
makes her a general favorite.
| She Ia cast for prominent roles with
such singers as caruso. Danzi and
Sleek. and has achieved remarka bI g
success
Miss Florence W!ckham has a mag
nifcent contralto voice. and is al ac-
tess Of brilliant attalnm ents- She
| takes the Leading parts in Lhe oparaa
OF Wagner. Humperdink, Verdi and
other composers.
Kiccardo Martin. the golden throat
ed tenor, ia now at the zenith OF his
fame in the musical world. He comes
fresh from his greatest artistic tri-
umph in New York.
Herbert Witherspoon. easily the
best American basso. made his first
bow to Metropolitan Opera House
audience only two years ago. He is
noted for the fine resonant quality OF
his vocal tones, his. superb diction
and his fine artistic expression 1t
goes without saying that he will de-
light his audiences In Richmond
Signor Pasquaie Amato. the BARI
tone. although comparatively young,
has worldwide reputation. His re-
pertoire extends over sixty operas
He is native OF Naples and studied
to become a naval officer. The rfau-
steal critic Of the New York World
analysing Amato's voice. says that 1t
may be best described as a baritone
edition OF Carusos.
The orch estra, which will render
the instrumental numbers and ac-
company the singers is the full corps
of instrumentalists from the Metro
politan Opera Company. This ia
nous body of musicians In too well
known to require extended comment
The great Pasternack will be in the
conductors chair.
The Wednesday Club choir. which
with be larger and better than ever
this year. has been In constant train
ing for many months for the May
concerts. The choir will be augment
ed by chorus of fifty trained voices
from Petersburg. an organization
which has won great commentator
in musical circles for it's fine choral
work. The Petersburg chorus is be-
ing trained by Miss Jean Trigg.
The program will include. besides
the various operate numbers, songs
by the visiting artists and instrument
tai numbers by the orchestra, practi-
cally the whole OF Gounod's master
piece. Faust" In which Madame
Chuck will sing the role of Margue-
rite. Ricardo Martin will have the
part of Faust and William Nither-
spoon that of Me1histopheles. There
will be selections from "Hora No
vissimo,'' beautiful work OF solo
lists chorus and orchestre. by Amer
tcas foremost composer. Horatio w.
Parker, and in which Signor Amato
will be the soloist-