The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-05-25
Talented Singer and Local
Violinist at Closing May
Festival Concert Are Civ
en- Ovations.
TWO LOCAL WOMEN
PLEASE BIG CROWD,
Singing of Mesdames Krue-
ger and Igelman and Work
of Orchestra and Chorus
Was Splendid.
sv ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

eY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.
A brilliant finale to the May Fceti.
val was last evenings concert which
included the great Beethoven Concer-
10 for the violin. played by Mr.. Fred
erick X. Hicks. the Verdi aria by Mr..
Carl Morris and Mendelssohn's canta-
ia. Hymn of Praise" Notwithstanding
the indisposition of both Mr.. Morris
and Mr.. Hicks making il. for time.
problematic whether the latter would
be able TO appear.
Great audiences have characterized
the concerts of the May Festival, floor.
balconies and galleries being crowded
even the extreme ends of the balco-
nies, which are not usually considered
available in orchestral or choral per-
afternoon and partially at night.
The testimonials of appreciation in
recalls and the presentation of flow
ers last evening was one of the graft
flying manifestations of the attitude OF
the public toward the organization and
its local exponents, Mr.. Hicks being
accorded a veritable ovation.
Mr.. Morris. with an admittedly bad
cold. sang in stellar form and will be
enthusiastically welcomed upon any
return he may make. either individual
ly or with future May Festival No
soloist from abroad has eyer aroused
a more long continued, insistent and
genuinely-hearted expression of ad-
miration than did Mr.. Morris at the
close of his solo appearance in one OF
the great Italian composers most SUI
perlative manifestations of genius.
Has Wonderful Voice.
In this aria Mr.. Morris displayed the
capabilities of his really splendid
voice. Its declamatory nature called
out that peculiar and powerful VI
| this young singer entirely distinctive
and removing IL from the considera-
| tions that govern that of the usual
voice of this quality
Verdi's THE Masked Ball." OF which
this aria is a part. while one of the
least known to the general public is
one of his most important operatic ex-
pressions, and that portion illustrated
| through Mr.. Morris's aria-the accu-
| sation. threat and later despairing ad-
mission of unfounded suspicion of one
of the principals against his wifeIis,
as just said. regarded as the emotion
al and musical climax not only of the
book and score but. also. of verdi's ge-
MUS.
Mr.. Morrls's youth, personality, bril-
| liant vocal and dramatic talents lend
| themselves 10 the exposition OF this
operate excerpt with superb effect and
IL is to be doubted IL the aria could
be presented with more eclat by a
more seasoned vocalist The fact that
this singers voice has all the technical
perfection that the latter might pos
sess and still with the inestimabIe vo-
cal asset of freshness would score
heavily In favor of the appearance OF
| last evening.
Mr.. Morris has powerful vocal
organ of great distinction. beautiful
quality and individuality and. In addi-
ton, possesses that indefinabIe attri-
butte of magnetism without which the
most perfect technique is nullined.
This singers enunciation. also. In
clear, distinct and crisp and his per-
formance of last evening. was. alto
gether. extraordinary. and neither sur
passed nor equalled by any other Of a
similar nature previously heard here
Sang Negro Melody.
In final response to a series of re-
calls. Mr.. Morris sang one of Sidney
Homer's negro melodies to his own ac-
fayorite with concert vocalists, Ho-
mer's compositions being given added
| interest from the celebrity of his wife.
Madame Homer. the celebrated men,
Der of the Metropolitan Opera Com
pany. Morris singing this out of COM
pliment to these gifted musicians who
are his friends and have been most
hospitable to him since his residence
\ in New York
| II has been said that the art of mu-
sic reached its highest point through
Beethoven There are still those who
maintain that musical expression since
has been feeble and chaotic. That tho
very apogee of music, its most superla-
tive manifestation. was reached
| through the medium of the German
composer and that all that has been
| done since has been more or less inept-
| This is. of course, the view Of tho
hero-worshipper
But, in certain aspects of his genius.
Beethoven stands alone and has trans
lated the musical art into forms Of ma
iestic beauty never surpassed
| Hicks Scores Triumph.
The concerto played last evening
by Mr. Hicks, with orchestral accom-
paniment. is regarded as the greatest
ever written for this instrument and
lContinued on Paes aaxhtl