The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-08
MUSIC FESTIVAL MOST SUCCESSFUL
 EVER HELD HERE Scores of Eager Music Low CTS Pack BijOu for
 Musical Treat MIXED CHORUS OF TO VOICES IS FEATURE St. Louis Orchestra Charms Throngs With Masterful Interpretation. Entire Cast We'll Selected.
 No Deficit Made

only one-day affair-matinee and nlght it was all in all. the most successful ever held here. Long before the hour for the evening performance the Bijou began to fill up, and at a quarter past eight or shortly thereafter every seat was occupied and scores of eager music lovers were being turned away because there was no room for them.
 The festival was given under the aus pices of the Music Study club. the Treble Clef club, the Aron society and the T. C. l. chorus acting jointly. and was man aged by an executive board of which Mrs. Houston Davis was president. Tho features of this festival were a mixed chorus of ITO voices, distinguished solo quartet and the St Louis Symphony or chestra
 The Symphony Concert
 A symphony programme was presented at the matinee and Dubois melodius and dramatic oratorio. Paradise Lost, made up the night programme.
 The St. Louis orchestra is one of the best in this country and its conductor, Max Zach, stands in the foremost rank of scholarly musicians and authoritative interpreters of master composers. Caesar Francks symphony in "D'' minor was played here for the first time and MT. Zach gave it a reading at once reposetul and convincing. There is grace and dig nity about his conducting that readily inn presses an audience. Mrs. Franklyn Knight, contralto sang an aria from Mitrane-"Ah Ren di Mi by Ross This was substituted for the number by Bruch, which was on the printed bill. Mrs Knight is an artist of handsome stage wali a celent style. Shs was recalled and sang a little song which proved so popular with the audience that she repeated one or two stanzas of 1t.
 "Les Preludes" a Revelation
 Lszt's symphonic poem, Les Pre- ludes." notwithstanding the fact 1t has been played so much by orchestras and wind bands. was a revelation. To some, no doubt, it seemed almost like some thing new and this was because of MT. Zach S temperamenta1 mood and his masterfu1 control of the orchestra. Les Preludes' was greatly enjoy eds sif applause was any evidence. Hugo Ok, concermester, was the soloist in saint Saens concert in "B minor, opus 61. It was a most graceful offering. Few vio- lin solos have so many beautiful pas sages. The second movement is cer- r stainly- ofre of the -ioveiiest things wri = ten for the king of instruments" MT.
 
 a pure. warm tone to say nothing of tech nic; but persons in the audience who had heard him in recent years when his playing was dazzling re- marked that he was not quite up to himself yesterday. His tone did not seem as large as he usually produces. and his playing lacked some of his ac- customed verye; yet withal he added much to the strength and balance of the programme. The afternoon con cert closed with Weber's overture, The Oberon."s
 Orchestra Larger
 The orchestra was larger by several players than most of the symphony organizations which tour in the south. There were 10 first volins. eight seconds. five yiolas, four or five eel los, five double basses, and the full wood wind and brass choirs It is safe to say that no orchestra in this eoun- try has finer brass section than the St Louis orchestra. The trumpets are singularly mellow and noble. Among the reed instruments the oboe and the English horn could hardly be sur passed in pathos or bewitching effects. The string section is composed of art ists of very high order. and the admirable manner in which the or chestra supported the chorus in the oratorio at night would have stamped 1t as a great organization even had 1t done nothing else
 Rienzi Thomas Conducts OratOriO
 Rienzi Thomas, director of the united choruses. was the conductor at last nights performance and gathered new laurels That he a chorus trainer of rare ability and experience was a fact we'll known, but in handling the orches- tra he showed himself not only capable in highly specialized field, but at home in the routine of orchestra work.
 From the programme booklet synopsis of the oratorio libretto and other data are taken.
 The oratorio opens with chorus of seraphim singing praises, when suddenly we hear the voice of Satan tthen the high archangeD urging his followers to revolt. He Is successful with many and leads his army in rebellion. The battle is described by two male choruses. one being the faithful, and the other Satan hosts. Satan and his hosts are van quished. and the voices of the faithful and all the seraphim are heard in a chorus of thanks, singing Victoria Ho- sanna, 'Tis Won. 'Tis Won" After wonderful orchestral introduce ton. we hear the voice of Satan calling for revenge, and after a meeting of his forces in hell. they decide that Satan