The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-30
PLANS GREATEST
MUSICAL EVEN 7
wednesday Club Decides TO
Import More Opea Stars
Than Ever.

After a lengthy session last night.
the Board of Governors of the We'd
nesday Club announced that the COM
ing music festival. May S and 6. will
be the most elaborate from every
stand point that the club has ever
engineered No artists have been
signed. il was stated. although dozens
are under consideration. and the
orchestra of the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York Is again scheduled
10 appear. 80
The first night of the festival will
be given over 10 miscellaneous Torh.
some orchestral, some choral and some
70 be rendered by the imported stars
The music on this night will range
from grand opera 20 ballads. As at
the last festival. the matinee will be
featured by piano. orchestral ana
solo offerings. the chorus being elm
mated for the performance. John
Powell appeared as the pianist last
MAY. with Zin balist as the violin
virtuoso, but neither OF these iaVorites
is in America this season
Grand opera in concert form Is
scheduled for the second night OF the
festival. but just what opera Is 10 De
rendered has not been definitely De
cided 1t is the impression that Alda.
Verdis great opera which was sung mere
years ago by the club. will be repeated
this season. The board begun the
selection of singers with this opera IN
mind. hut is now hesitating IN the
choice Of music since Il developed that
several Of the artists who have created
roles in Aida" are unavailable for the
Richmond festival.
Many Have Engagements
The board is making determined
effort 10 secure singers who a. the music
this wear. and in encounterlng serious
difficulty in carrying out this plan
Many of the singers who have become
associated in the musical put
mind with certain roles of Aida on
account Of their remarkable interpre-
tation of those parts are either sched-
uled TO be across the water BY May or
have already contracted for concerts
in other sections of the country at the
time of the Richmond festival me
date OF the local affair conflicts with the
time set for similar AFFAIRS IN otneT
cities and the conflict Is proving d ser
ious handicap IN the signing of singers
While the board ha. yet hesitated TO
close positively with any stars. u appears
very probable that Clarence " hitehih,
rho hassocantante who contributed the
most striking feature of the last
festival in his wonderful singing OF
.Wotan's Farewell" will be among the
stars Of this years concerts Madame
Alma Gluck. by all ooos hichihOLo
favorite diva. Will be in Europe when
he Richmond festival lie in swing. and
the board mas naturally failed in the
eror. to secure her services
The board has decided 70 plunge
heavier than ever this season III the
extensive 10Y of imported stars and
announces that the grand opera singers
to be engaged for the festival Will out
numbe the ImpoTtatlons OF any other
single wear. The outlay of opera stars
cost the club approximately $1,000 last
season. but the public responded with
amazing patronage and the club es-
capped without deficit The board be
Iieves the Richmond public IL willing
70 nav the price for music of this type
and plans accordingly 20 make this
festival outshine any Of its numerous
predecessors
1t is improbable that the board will
sign contracts for the grand opera
singers within two weeks. but The matter
will be hurried a. much a. possible