The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-11-10
The Thomas Eaan Concert.

/.
presented at the Grand opera house
Friday evening by the Thomas Egan
operate company 1t was given under
the auspices of the Knights Of Col
umbus, whose generous efforts to Sc
cure only the highest class OF artists
cannot be too highly appreciated by
the public.
AS indicated by its name. this COM
pany presented program made up
almost exclusively of selections from
grand opera, such composers as Mas
cagni, Leoncavalio, Verdi, Puccini
and Wagner being represented in the
selections. Moreover. the company set
aside many of the conyentionalities OF
the ordinary full dress concert, and
added dramatic touch to their inter
probation which will long be remem-
bered. This innovation was most
marked in Signor Rossini's wonderful
rendition of the Toreador Song from
Carmen. in which be was SO intensely
dramatic that the audience almost
saw red cloak across his shoulder,
instead of conventional black broad
cloth, and applauded so heartily that
he was obliged to sing the second half
of the song again.
The star OF the evening was Thorn
as Egan, who delighted his audience
no less by his modesty and charming
simplicity of manner, than by his
beautiful voice Every note of his
clear. rich tenor is unusually sweet,
and 1t is a voice of great range. He
sings with a depth of feeling and an
evident sincerity that make a deep
appeal. especially in the familiar bal
lads
In his program Friday evening were
such gems as Mother Margreet,"
Believe Me, If All Those Endearing
Young Charms and The Minstrel
Boy and in these, the last especial
ly. the audience was carried away
with his artistry end he was repeated
ly recalled. 4-r. Egan is evidently
musician of great seriousness Of pur-
pose, and much should be heard OF
him in the future.
Signor Rossini is an italian, but re-
Gently come to America, and his ease
and abandon indicate that he Ia a
singer of much experience. He was
repeatedly recalled, and was most
gracious in responding to encores.
Nine. Lillian Breton, in real life
Mrs. Thomas Eagan, has soprano
voice of soft quality, to which her fine
stage presence adds pleasure She
was heard to advantage in Love, the
Pedler." "Mayourneen,' and other
solos, as well as in the duets and
trfos. She was most heartily received
Ia the duet with her husband, Home
From the Mountains from II Trova-
tore
The recent revival of the once
popular duets. trios and quartettes for
mixed voices in concert programs, re-
suited in some of the very best num-
bers Of Friday eyening, among which
may be mentioned the trio from
Faust, at its close, and the duet from
Aida rendered BY Madame Breton and
! Signor Rossini.
| Madame Grace Kessler, the pianiste
iof the company played with notably
clear-cut technique. and gave great
satisfaction, both as soloist and as ac-
companist. Of her solos, the most re-
! markab1e was the sextette from
Lucia" arranged by Lechetisgky for
the left hand, in which the strong
notes Of the air contrasted strikingly
with the light arpeggios OF the ac-
compartment. Madame Keesler was
heard only in operate selections, and
left one with the wish to hear her in
something more strictly pianistic.
4 Every number on the program
was well selected, and SO rendered as
! to win enthusiastic applause