Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1912-04-28


Thomas ]. Kelly conductor
was one Of great brilllancy
E#< Some 5000 people heard III
programs 50 ably given by tn
choir and It's assisting organization, tn
Theodore Thomas Orchestra OF Chicago
The Auditorium presented a true festiya
appearance, the seats were nearly al
taken and fun dress was very generally
observed In the evening. 1t was a ven
pretty house. Against the decorative set
ting Of green. with the hanging lamp
yelled with rose. the audience took on |
gaia atmosphere which lent much at
Effectiveness 10 the performances.
The stage. with its new sounding board
was cleyeriy arranged. The orchestra
upon a platform built out on level, hat
the benefit Of added acoustic powers
and the hedge OF Easter lilies and PALM
covering the footIights added TO thu
picture. The choir, both women and
men, Is one which Is very pleasing Il
look upon. Mr.. Kelly has a rather orig
inal way OF placing his people, with
the tenor and bass sections massed IL
the center, which Is extremely good
from the viewpoint Of its choral effect
and also plsases the eye In that II leave,
the sopranos and altos more I'd EVIL
dence.
The programs which were given this
year were wonderfully well chosen. They
were varied enough TO please all listeners
and yet they were held UP to the strict
standard Of artistic worth. The manner
OF their performance was above reproach
IL is not often that two allied Organize,
lions so closely resemble each other In
their musical ideals. Omaha people should
be immensely proud 10 know and 10 fee
that IN the Mendelssohn Choir Il has q
group Of musicians whose work com
mands the admiration, the respect and
the attention Of such a body OF mon a
the Theodore Thomas Orchestra, with
Frederick stock Of lis head. Who knows
some day our Msndslssohn Choir may b,
visiting Chicago and New York; thini
many people hardly realize just yet wha
anaxingIy good singing they have lie
tened to- The impression this year hal
been greatly deepened. The foundation
for the yearly festival 10 firmly laid II
honest. artistic and beautiful work. An
other season will see the financial par
Frightening and made easier for the ex
ecutive committee.
when one listens 70 the Thomas orches
ira the only drop OF bitterness Is tn,
thought that 30 soon II will 80 away ans
leave us In silence for another year. !
n one Of the great orchestras OF tn
world. sufficiently endowed 80 that II
members spend all their time upon IL
programs alone. The traditions Of tina
giant among musicians and builders
Theodore Thomas. have descended upol
II and Il bears this trust with faithfulnes
and loyalty. II Thomas could come bacl
and listen some festival afternoon.
think he would Just nod his mead Il
token that ali was right. and disappea
again TO that circle little farther along
where he Is doubtless going on with hi
task Of iliumlning. A mind like his coul
neither sleep nor die. Frederick Stock
the spiritual descendant Of Theodor
Thomas How well he has proven hi
ability IL now an Oft told story.
His great opportunity during the fest
val came IN his conducting Of the
minor symphony Of Tschaikowsh. II wa
hts chsf-d' oeuvre. Into II be put all tn
richness OF his insight and interpretativ
genius and he wove fabric Of SURPRISING
power. This symphony is fast crowdinl
the pathstique In It's popularity. II !
easy to see why. II touches every phas
Of emotional feeling. II progresses iron
the sombsr. very Russian color OF tn
first movement with It's vaguely troubles
and melancholy undercurrent. TO a than
OF unutferabls wailing heart sadness. tn
spell begins TO fall hard upon the lis
tener. and until the end one 10 oarrie'
through little lanes and by-pathz Of vivi'
feeling and cast up on the crest Of crash
ing ciimaxes until at the end one emerge
. good deal shaken. but breathless will
enthusiasm for Tschaikowski. and 70
Stock. It's Q tremendous thing.
am very fond Of James Huneker
I've read him ever since he had III
Variations column In the Courier year
ago. He Is modern to the core: he woul'
like that symphony, but seems 70 me h
Is little mild in his description. takel
broadly. II Is interesting TO follow III
viewpoint OF such opposite temperament
- Huneker and Arthur symons. The
after ail's said and done II Is rathe
pleasant 10 make up ones own modes
mind.
Mr.. Stocks Symphonic waltz was re
ceived with much enthusiasm. II had |
contagious swing In It's main them
which developed in the end to truly nobl
and stirring proportions. As whole
was Intricate In its orchestration. show
ing the tendency nowadays toward a com
pick treatment Of IDEAS. and yet with Al
our new manners II Is hard to improv
upon Johann. VINO was II VINO said; Il
Richard. Wagner: II Strauss. Johann.
Some wit who knew what he was talkinI
about
The two selections from Goldmark'
sCountry Wedding" were most exquisit
and showed ths orchestra In all Its beaut,
there was a most delightful oboe ma
with wonderful tone and q legato tina
was faultless- The suite from "Di
Koenigskinder'' was new here. Tn
operas 'Hausel und GreteF' and "Koen
igskindsrs' were first written for In
children In Humperdinck's own farnil
circle. and given at home. Afterwar
they were elaborated for the public The
have become immensely popular. In III
prelude Of ''Koeuigskindsr" are introduce
the motives Of the prince and his litti
sweetheart. Goose-girl. and all the fair
accoutrsments. In the dance one see
in fancy. the children following the Spiel
r~nnm