The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-04

The best orchestra ever heard in Bir- minghaml
 Such was the verdict of musicians and old concertgoers in speaking of the Minneapolis Symphony. the pop ular feature of the music festival which opened yesterday at the Jeffer- son theatre. Many excellent orchestras have been heard here within the past 10 years, but in tone quality and vir- tuosity the Minneapolis organization, of which Emil Oberhoffer is conductor, is in class almost to itself. It is un- surpassed. Added to musicianship and intellectual breadth MT oberboffer has temperament and distinct personality Nand these qualities are felt by every artist around him. No great body of players could be more plastic under a conductors baton. Combining delicacy, grace and virility, MT. Oberhoffer plays upon his orchestra as one grand in- Etrument, making it sound like zephyrs < like velvet, like ripping waters, like the swell of the ocean, like the ma : 5estic storm-all by turns.
 The matinee for young people yes terday afternoon was attended by sev- eral hundred children, and quite a num- Der of adults, but the house was not crowded. It was a delightful concert Including as 1t did. instructive and en- tertaining remarks by MT. Oberhoffer on instruments of the modern or chestra. As the various woodwind and lrasses were described and their uses explained the particular instrument was held in full view of the audience. The performer played few notes by way of Identification and then excerpts from some beautiful work was played in which tuneful and usually plaintive solos were heard illustrating the value of the part which certain instruments had in producing tone color.
 Afternoon Programme
 The Afternoon programme read thus. ,.+rS The String Choir: peror Quartet. Haydn .)eror Quartet ............... Hadyn 2 Pizzicati from the Ballet Sylvia" .................... Delibe
 The Woodwind Choir: l. Flute Solo: From "Namouna". .Lalo
 Carl Woempner.
 2. Piccolos Minuet: Will O. the Wisp .......:: Beriioz t1enry WOefnpneT ana AleA INiLHlcl 8. Oboe Andante from Symphony in c (abridged) .............,..Sc Schubert
 Rudolph Seidl
 4 English Horn: Largo from New World" symphony (abridged) ..... ..... k.....,.... .......... Dvorak <f Gustave Boehle
 5. Slarinet and Bassoon Serenade.. Salvatore Nirella and Achille Heynen G. French Horns; Introduction to Der Freischuetz' ......... Weber Robert Minsel, William Bentz Edward
 J. Erck. Max Mathieu Contralto Solo--A Waltz Song.....
 Genevieve Wheat
 Full Orchestra: Polonaise Glazounow In addition to the numbers on the printed bill MT. Williams, the harpist played beautiful composition ca lee Trailing Waters"
 Miss Wheat the vocalist of the after noon, has rich sympathetic voice ant her vocalization is faultless. She i: really a rema rkable artist She had many recalls and was forced to sing one encore song.
 This was the night programme: l. Overture to Rienzi. Wagne ?. Waldweben (Forest Murmurs) .. Tenor Solo: Walther's Prieslied from "Meistersing ger ...... Wagner
 Joseph Schenke
 {. Dance of Nymphs and Satyrs ....
 ................ e. Schumanr q Concerto for Pianoforte and Or chestra. No. in F.... Saint -Saens (a) Allegro Animate.
 tb) Andante.
 N Co Molto Allegro.
 EdgelI Adams.
 c. Exclude to Mignon. ...... A. Thomas 2. Soprano Solo Balatella from "Pag- liacct" ................. Leoncayallt
 Lucille Stephenson
 6. Three Pieces from 'Damnation of Faust" ..........,....!.... Berllo'
 Gal Minute: Will O the Wisp.
 (b) Dance of the Sylphs.
 (c) Hungarian March tRakoczy). It was a particularly well balanced pro- eramme and no artistic music should have had finer interpretation. The familiar Rienzi overture had a poetic reading that made it little short of revelation. Wald weben (Forest Murmurs) from "Siegfried emphasized MT. Oberhoffer's work as 2 poet-conductor. For an encore the orches tra played Dvoraks Humoreske as or chestrated by MT. Oberhoffer. It wa: more elaborate than any arrangement ever heard here. It was quite symphonic and was greatly enjoyed.
 MT. Schenke Sings
 Mir Schenke sang Walther's prize song" with warmth and perfect intona ton. It has been many a day since tha pleasing style. MT. Schenke was greeted