The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-10

victor HERBERT Wo0ftd up MS series
Of concerts under the auspices Of
the Radcliffe bureau in the City Audi
torium last night, and the last num-
Der on the program was five selec-
tions from his grand opera, "Natoma."
With Mr.. Herbert to direct. and Mr..
Herbert's orchestra to play the music
there Is little doubt that full JUS
tice was done the score. whatever
may be the opinion concerning the
ability of the six singers. who took
part. to meet the demands made upon
them.
There is no doubt about Mr. Her
bert's ability to write a score. even
a grand opera score. but the impress
sion one gets Is that he has done
exactly what he set out TO do: written
a grand opera score. cleveriy. in
geniously and spent much time and
labor upon it--and when 1t was done
It was nothing but "A grand opera
score. 1t appears TO tack what the
cleverest mannikin lacks wnen COM
pared to the living man: soul, the
divine spirit.
10 in Good Company.
Victor Herbert has written the hest
light music to the worst lihrettos
ever given a musician 10 work upon,
In his own field he is urs,ir passed.
but Sir Arthur Sullivan failed when
he entered the grand opera field. so
Mr.. Herbert Is In good company.
Thee are selections in "Natoma'
that. no doubt. will ever be popular
with orchestra conductors. and with
audiences that may be privileged to
hear them--the Dagger Dance" for
instance--but the grand operl must
have more than q Dagger Dance.
A. L.
The best piece OF work last night. at
least what seemed TO be the most
striking. was the singing of the music
for t..e priest, Peraita. by Ar. Crox-
ton. This Is MAGNIFICENT piece of
writing, and Mr.. Croxton sang II
nobly.
The evening concert was a thing of
beauty and a JOY for an evening at
least. The only criticism that might
be made was the changing Of the
program to suit some of the request"
friends.
A few ready-letter writer's should
not necessarily lead an obliging man
agement to change an excellent pro-
gram, even II 1t be only a song by
Mozart for one by Wagner There
may be more In the audience who
prefer Mozart and the unchanged pro-
gram.
Wagner for Mozart.
Mr.. Croxton had been scheduled TO
sing lie vuoi callare" from Figaro
changed this to the Evening Star
song from Tannhauser. 1t is lucky
that 1t was the Evening Start" that
was requested and not Palm
Branches or Rocked in the Cradle
Of the Deep"
1ncidentily Mr.. Radcilge awaited
himself OF the opportunity to declare
some good news. He stated that he
had ben selected to manage the New
York Philharmonic orchestra. next
season, and with the proper sort OF
this body Of eighty
ave musicians would appear In, Rich
mond, with such soloists as Micha
Gilman. Mime. Schuman- Heink and
Rudolph CAM.
DO you want them - asked Mr.
Radcliffe and immediately voice
replied emphaticaliy yes at which
there was applause.
The New York orchestra which has
had MAILER for leader and Is now
directed by Josef Stransky--if mem
DRY may be t-usted---is an organiza-
ton which will be hardly welcomed
here beyond peradventure OF "A
doubt.
But to get back to the concert.
A Chabrier Overture.
The opening number was the
"Gwendoiene" overture, written by
Chabrier. one Of the fathers OF the
modern method OF writing dramatic
music. 1t Is a sensationally dramatic
overture an dthe orchestra made the
most OF 1t. gave Il in splendid style
and naturally had to respond with ar
encore. This was the Melody In
F." good old favorite. and the sat.
'isfaction or everyone was apparent
After Mr.. croxton had sung tho