The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-04-12
Annual Local Musical Event.
Next Month, Promises TO
Be Most Successful One
Ever Held Here.
ORCHESTRA AND THE
CHORUS REMARKABLE
Musical Critics Throughout
Country Have Followed
Work of Local Organiza-
tion with Interest.
BY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.


That the artistic success of the COM
ing May Festival program of which is
published for the first time today. was
assured when il was previously an
nounced that the Richmond symphony
orchestra would supply the instrument
tai phases. goes without saying.
The splendid concerts given by this
musical organization the past winter
were a criterion of its accomplishment
later on at the time of the more ambi-
tious event. the progress made since
last year being pronounced and evi-
dent to even the most superficial lover
of music
The Richmond Symphony orchestra.
in short. has placed itself in the pro-
fessional class and sustains compari-
son with the most distinguished
among the latter.
The Richmond May Festivals are be-
coming among the best known In the
country.
Nearly Local Product.
Begun some years ago with the as
sistance of imported orchestras and
soloists they are now an almost entire
ly local product and suffer nothing by
contrast.
The chorus, under Mr.. Earhart's di-
rection, has always been highly re-
garded by visiting orchestral organiza-
tions, and under his continued instruc-
tion. now sings with great ensemble efs
feet born of long practice and intelli-
gent and discriminating training, the
personnel varying little from year to
year. Personal and musical familiari-
ty and association has nodded the
chorus into a wonderfully flexible
whole.
The Richmond May Musical Festival
is the outcome of the public spirit of
the citizens of the town.
Presented first, about eight years
ago, at the instance of a number of
music-lovers who organized them
selves into Board of Directors in or
der to promote the celebration OF such
an event annually, three festivals were
given under the auspices of this or
ganization.
The first in 1904 with the Chicago
Symphony orchestra and foreign SOLO
lists. The second and third with the
Thomas orchestra and singers brought
from abroad.
Event 10 Revived.
Several years elapsed before these
musical events were resumed. the
Commercial Club, in 1910. with Mr..
Nettleton Neff as chairman OF the ex-
ecutive committee, inaugurating a new
series with the Richmond Symphony
Orchestra as a musical basis. A sue
cessful festival was given. with for
eign soloists again, which was repeat
ed in 1911. with E. NJ. Haas as chair
man of the same committee. At this
time local talent was used in the solo
numbers as well as the orchestra and
chorus.
This years festival again takes ad
vantage of the presence of the resi-
dence of distinguished local vocalists
and will have three on its programs.
Mrs. Charles Igelman. Mrs. r. w.
Kruger and Mrs. Fred Bartel to ap-
pear.
OF the out of town soloists, Carl
Morris. baritone. John b. Miller. tenor.
and Jesse Lynn Hopkins. contralto.
are all favorites with Richmond audi
ences and will be heard with pleasure.
The program given below is a catho-
lie one. including compositions by the
great masters of the old school and
some of the more radical moderns.
ranging from Beethoven to Grieg. from
Mendelssohn to LeoncayaIlo.
One of the features will be the chill
dren's chorus on Friday afternoon and
the violin concerto by Mr.. Frederick
Hicks and the orchestra on Friday ev-
ening.
The program, which follows. has
been this year varied by the inclusion
of several shorter chorus numbers in
stead of having but single long one.
as has been the custom in the past
The first evening viii be more operatic
in character while Mendelssohn's
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