New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-08
''ELuAH' OPENS FESTIVAL
President Taft Hears 0ratorio at
Cincinnati.
OPERA SINGERS THE STARS
Nine. Gadski and Ricardo Mar
tin Among the Several Fa-
nous Artists Heard.
rPv Telegraph TO Tho Tribune. 7

the United States and brilliant gathering
xith a performance Of Memberships
.FyIiah" under the direction OF Frank Van
der Stucken.
The solo singers were Mines GadsN,
scbumann-H eink, Christine Miller and
Werner-West (the last local artist and
Nessrs. Ricardo Martin, of the Metropoh-
tan opera, New York (who made his first
essay in the oratorio field on this occasion),
AND Clarence WhitehiI Of the Chicago
opera Company. The band was the Theo-
dore Thomas Orchestra, OF Chicago. and the
choir the local organization. which IS main
tained by the Cincinnati Festival Associ-
alton.
The oratorio is g familiar work, which
had not only figured on the festival schemes
IN 1875 and 1894, but had been sung by sing
ing societies which tlourished here before
the festival came into existence.
| have no doubt that the performance
will be set down at the end Of the week
IS the most satisfactory feature OF the
festival from every point Of view, at
east by the lovers Of choral music, but
ne first nights have never been as popu-
ar as the others with the general public.
nd to-night's great gathering was no
loubt due largely to the presence OF Pres
dent Taft. who put behind him the clash
md clamor OF political warfare for day
and gave himself up to the social and
artistic delights.
Two years ago he did the same graceful
net. but then he took the principal part in
The ceremony Of dedcating the statue OF
Theodore Thomas, which stands In the
vestibue Of the music hall.
The President is musical only by proxy.
He leaves the function Of promoting the
art OF harmonious sounds 10 Mrs Taft,
who for years was a large and influential
factor in Cincinnatis musical life Yet
there were q few persons in to-nights
audience who have preserved memory
OF seeing him in a public performance or
operetta. 1t was "a-many years ago
The operetta was given by members OF
the Unity Club, and the future head Of
the nation then escaped my criticism be-
cause he did not attempt 10 sing, but was
modestly content TO be the mute, inglorious
marine who paced the deck of II. NJ. s.
Pinafore.
He performed his part well. as h. did in
to-night's festival, but the later occasion
brought him much greater applause. He
was received by a great outburst CT hand
clapping. Chorus and audience rose TO
their feet and MY Country. IT'S of Thee"
was sung by all. with orchestra and full
organ. After ali had decorously resumed
their seats the performance began
TO o whole generation OF Cincinnatians
these festivals have always been in ex-
tetsnce, they have been regularly recurring
Incidents In their lives ever since those
i.ves began To them. perhaps, the spec
tssle which they present is less impressive
than TO the veteran observer like myself,
who saw the beginning Of them thirty-ni
years ego and has watched their progress
ever since II is only to fix the point of
view from which The Trbune's accounts
60 out that mention the fact that have
reported upon all but two OF the nineteen
festivals for the newspapers with which I
have had the pleasure and honor OF being
connected, SO I attended the first festival
as a Lad, reported the first three for The
Cincinnati Gazette" and have made the
tourney from New York to Cincinnati If
teen times, including the present visit to
record my observations and impressions for
the readers Of The Tribune.
/ have seen cities like New York, Phila-
delphia, Indianapolis, ST. Paul and Chicago
initiate the example OF Cincinnati and fail
after one or two efforts. AS result the
meetings OF the last few years have awak-
ened a feeling Of admiration for the spirit
which animates them, which Is sometimes
quite out OF proportion TO the artistic
achievements, considered as isolated phe-
nomena.
To the people Of Cincinnati the festivals
sum UP the communitys choral activities;
10 the casual visitor from New York or
Boston they seem very much Ike grouping
within a week of such concerts as he hears
distributed through every season. No bet
ter in its solo and orchestral features than
any one Of such concerts as are given by
the Oratorio Society Of New York, or the
Handel and Haydn Society of Boston, and
sometimes but little better in their most
distinctive feature-the singing OF the fes-
tival choir. Nothing that is likely 70 hap
pen this week, 10 Judge by the final re-
Aearsals and to-nights concert, Is likely TO
equal such performance as that given by
the Mendelssohn Choir Of Toronto, sup
ported by the same orchestra, Of Verdis
"Manzoni Requiem" in New York only
few weeks ago.
But there is something not only admir-
able but almost awe inspiring. in the con-
The choir. the conductor and the people OF
ne city which has lain at the bottom OF
these meetings from their inception uii
now Time was when they were so united
with the name Of their founder. Theodore
Thomas that II was feared they would
END with the death Of that splendid pioneer
in musical culture but IL would appear as
L out Of that seeming catastrophe the pro-
motors OF the festival and the festival
forces drew a new devotion, higher con-
Gderation and a stouter determination.
Mr.. Van der Stucken succeeded 10 the
dictatorship in 1905, and ever since there
has been a steady advance toward higher
Artistic ideal In performance. Much OF the
improvement has been due TO the fact that
the conductor has been able 10 devote more
ot his attention 10 the work OF preparation
than was possible under the former regime.
BIZ. Van der Stucken is no longer resi-
ocnt Of Cincinnati but he comes from his
home IN Germany months before the FESTIVAL
date and devotes all his time to study with
the chorus, and that il IL energetic study
I'll who know him will readily believe.
Despite the deplorable musical politics OF
ne city, its cliques, Jealousy and affecta-
tons, which have interfered with intelll-
sent and healthy progress, Cincinnati is
most decidedly a musical city or centre OF
energetic activity in musical affairs when
must needs grow under such a stimulus as
the children Of public schools receive from
then participation in the festivals. which
is another OF the reforms effected by Mr..
Van der Stucken.
Tha oh ~ al