The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-13
GROUP OF STARS
THRILLS AUDIENCE
Wednesday Club Festival Reaches
Rousing Climax at City
Auditorium.
SURPASSES FORMER EFFORTS
Amato, Hempel, Homer and Bras
lau Divide Applause With
Conductor Hageman.
SURPRISES FORMER EFFORTS
DY DOUGLAS GOnnoN.

music festival. IT was only :; foretuste.
suggestion. Of what was To come.
For the festival proceeded and pro-
Gressed with two more concerts yes
tcrday. each aiming at and each at
tanning higher point than the one
preceding, until with the final concert
last night brilliant and blazing cIi-
max was reached.
For the matinee tho club offered
program that was distinctively differ
cnt from any that has heretofore been
heard In Richmond. In that II was com
posed entirely OF selections from the
works OF one man. and that tho great
est OF all--Kichard Wagner.
Both those who delight In the Inclo-
dies that abound In WAgner's operas
and studies and those who feel c$-
nlted when the splendorH OF tile mighty
GermAp's scores are disclosed again.
rejoiced with exceeding great Joy dur
Ing this superb concert. But that wna
to be expected: what IS more TO the
point what more fully justines the ac-
tion OF the clubs officers and music
committee. is that even those who love
10 cay that Wagner Is beyond" them
sat thrilled throughout the whole con-
cert. absorbing the beauties OF the lows
songs. OF the 'Tristan and Isolde
studies. hushcd BY the solennity OF the
Good Friday Music" from "Pars!fal."
and startled amazed and upliftcd by
tho overwhei'nins glory o; the Ride
OF the Valkyries"
RlCIfARD IIAGEMAS
JuSTIFIES HIS REPUTATION
Introducing practically every theme
In tho opera, the overture to one Of
TIE most melod!ous OF all. The Flying
Dutchinan," opened the concert. With
this number. Richard Hageman. the
Metropolitan conductor. began TO lusti-
fy MS reputation Having his men
we'll in hand, hc played most ad-
mrably upon his orchestra. hrdins it
not merely beating time for it
with decided and purposcful beat
accomplishing every effect that he de-
sired without conspicuous motion Of
hands. arms body, while he main
timed All admirable balance among
his strings. wood wind and hrass
Following this. Oltvc Kline, who had
sung the snail part OF the second So
prano In the ''Hymn OF Praise" on
Monday night. came on for her first
real test. From this She emerged with
notable .ucccss. because 1t was Indeed
q test-"Elsa'H Dream" from "Lohcr-
grin" With clear. pure and smooth
tone. she sang literally and IA lcgiti-
mate. wcll-schooled style the famous
air. exhibiting control OF the voice
remarkable in SO young singer.
Later she sang two Tristan
and Isolde" studies -"rraume" and
"Schmeyzem"- and sang them beauti-
fuiIy. the first OF these, in particular,
h"ing done In so rare and exquisite a
iowing tone a6 10 remain In memory
as the best the most artistic, bit Of
WORK that Miss Kline proffcrcd.
In accompanying these songs with
hts orchestra, Mr. Iiagcnnn again
proved himself AN artist Not Pastor
mack. not even Stransky. certainly not
Victor Herbert. has controlled and
*ubordinatcd--when subordinatiun was
requtrcd-his orchestra 50 admirably
speak paradox ically. notable piano
accompanied was lost In Richard Iiage.
man. conductor. for he played a mum
ter of little songs---a Brahms. an old
Ehgllsh paEtorale. LehnanI's "Cuckoo,'
and something OF Sindling's-ior Miss
hlino's encore numbers, Of which there
were many, with Il dclicacy, certainty
and sympathy that added Infinitely 10
their enjoyment
LOUISE HOM2IpS VOICE
ECHOES TIiHOUGII BUILDING
There Is littic That remains 10 be
said or Louise Homer, cxccpt that sh.
was In the best voice that Richmond
has ever been so fortunate as to hear
her IN Great. round ana polished like
ivory. her wonderful voice rau1 and
cchoed through the huge building. sor
o"fkened and grew soinbro and yet
carried IN Its sorrowful intent TO tho
Ier'hest row OF seats under e-sound-
shadowed balcony. In the "AdrIano"
aria from "Rienzi." Mr. Hagcnan lIft
cd his orchestra TO volume that lie
would never have dared permit save
when he was playing for one OF the
great voices OF the earth and stlll
that glorious contralto pealcd out over
and through and above it's ordered
clangor
r Then she sang tho My Heart at THY
ionr ibfar ond voice; fl from Samson and Dtl-
inI,
from Tristan and Isolde" in which
she rose 10 the heights of that match
could. she gave. accompanied by Alr
HIiagsman Hamnra somrs AT the e p,ano Piano, ong Of Mr.
great aria with tho orchestra0or
such of the Good Friday Music" as
GOULD be heard was sublime but most
OF !, was utterly ruined by tho roar
Hf Iass the c,nen heavy traffic nnd by the cease
blacksmith shop just back Of the
nterrifylng Ride Of the vaikyres,'; Tie tho
slesday Club has ever offered came Ia
an end. so complete and perfected an
Snh SWh,,dhd1, that the the regret that Clarence
Wotan's Farewell is probably only
NIGHT CONCERT REACHES
But at night nothing was omitted to
bring the festival to II conclusion with
q CoHCcIt 80 VHfleu ana so SurpaSS-
inGly good In its infinite variety that.
for the first time in years one wished
mat the old nvc-ccncert plan still
obtained.
While the afternoon concert was per-
maps tho soundest. so to speak, that at
night was easily the most brilliant
that a Richmond 'nudienco has ever
beard. Two OF the greatest singers i'm
the world-Fricda Hempcl and Pas
quale Amato--and one. Sophie BrasIau.
who seems destined TO join The ranks
or the world famed, gave of their best.
and gave freely, generously. opulentlv,
while the audience received raDturously
what they gave. and begged, clam
ored. for moro and more and more.
All OF us feel that we "discovercd'
nrnc Inn