The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-06
GREAT AUDIENCE
ENJOYS WORK 0F
GREAT ARTISTS
Signor Bonci Scores Great Hi
on First Appearance in
Richmond
SPLENDID CHORUS
DOES FINE WORK
Miss Braslau and Miss STAN
ley Also Capture Audi
ence---Two More Fine
Programs
BY JAY III. DONoHUE.

II.
Never before In the musical history
of Richmond has such a brilliant and
enthusiastic audience crowded the iu-s
terror Of the City auditorium as that
which greeted the Wednesday club
artists last night. The pend-up en-
thusiasm which has been smoulderinx
for over month at last found op-
portunity to express ITSELF and even
the most hopeful optimist found hia
expectations Tar surpassed in the bril-
lance Of the program, and the intense
enthusiasm of the Audience Richmond
may we'll be proud o, the Wednesdat \
club, and the "Wednesday ..~A uav
we'll be proud of its latest achieve. "
ment The rapid strides with whicIi
me ciuo mas come to the front the
past Few years has seemed prophetf9s
or great musical future for Ricn-S
mond in the not distant future. aufls
last nights concert went far toward
transforming that prophesy into y
hopeful certainty. M
Shortly after $40 o'clock conductor
Hageman mounted the platform ana
as he gave three short rams 81 h4S
baton deep hush fell over the entiru
building, the impressive silence bainRS
broken only by the weird tones OF tIKSs
woodward as they sounded. the opeasr
ing passage Of the overture. Froun
that moment until, the chorus con-
Guided the program with il naeerii5 &
cent rendition Of the "RigoIctt6s
quartette the intense interest az fAA
audience never abated
Bond Greeted vociferously.
AS the renowned Bonci stepped
across the platform to render his dY1k
selection he was greeted by vociferot,n
applause. which he acknowledged ~
profusion of bows and smiles. Any
attempt to add to the critical ~
prevails which have crowned hi
career would be superfiuous Carunns
excepted. he stands without q rival IN
the Italian style Of bel eanto. He -
forced to respond to an encore and
did 1t with much more promptn4oo
and grace than he would have favor.
ed New York audience
| Others Are Excellent
Miss Braslau followed. rendering
"Chi Faro Senza Euridice'' from
"Orfeo ed Euridice," and gave AZ N
encore selection from Carmen.
While her efforts were warmly ap-
preciated by the audience, she seera.
ed to be especially favored by tho
members of the chorus, who did mot
hesitate to make their favor known.
One of the most enjoyable NUM-
bers on the program. perhaps, waa
''un Bel Di Vedremo" from Madame
] I
captivated the audience by tho bril-
ltancy and purity Of her high tones
| After Bonci had again thrilled the
assembly the first half Of the pro-
gram ended with the rendition o.
Stanford's Revenge" by the chorus.
whose excellent work reflected greaxs
credit upon themselves, as we'll ~
upon the creditable musicianship O4s
Mr.. Baker, their director, Stanfordsns
Revenge" Is not a MASTERPIECES ~
4 any means, and had the chorus bee
less carefully drilled. their efforts
would have met with but doubtxnl
success The Revenge" lacks suD-
tanned inspiration, and frequently
drops to the commonplace, its length
ly.
| Bond Again Scores.
The second half of the progrAA
| offered the same artists and met with
even greater success. Bonct caH.
ried or the honors undisputably. l1i1g
Braslau's voice lacking the tonn1
depth and volume to do justice ~
Saint saen's Mon Occur s'ouvre ~
Ia Voix"
Only thes-most crusty pedant. s
pretentious amateur could ind OBJ
/ lection to the chorus arrangement o41
the quartet from "Rigoletto."
While 1t Is departure from th9s
score II in no wise detracfS from IE
musical effectiveness. and the chof6s
performed 1t admirably. exemp1fky
! ing with credit the long labor aA1S
tireless effort essential to itB succeG1Ns
full rendition. sz
While last nights. performances
marked a new era in the annals 4XS
the Wednesday club. this afterno0na45
and tonight's performance bid tog
to surpass its success. Ss
Today's Matinee.
/ Tina Lerner, the eminent Runu31
pianist, Is the leading feature Of tM8
/ matinee performance. the prooT1&#
being as follows: IN
/ ARTISTS.
Miss Betty Burwell Booker, 6upxq
/ Miss Tina Iserner, Pianiates
Mr.. Clare1ce Whitehiu. 6Axttnq
The Metropolitan Opera 6oM
+ Orchestra. sass
Richard Hagcman. COnduc1
| "Bachanal." from '6ama0n
/ DalilA ,............- 441uErz
The Orchestra
Jewel Song" from .Faust". &C.,
/ Miss Booker. Sss3
Piano Concerto" In , nat Mlme
1 TachAtk0N
Miss LernoY. sSz
/ Ineexnslne10m.
(2J "Minuetto GEaxtooof z I.
Obj "Reminiscences 4. ~
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