Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-14
MUSIC FESTIVAL
ENDS IN TRIUMPH
Wednesday Club and Orchestra
Sound "Hallelujah Chorus"
While Audience Stands.
FAMOUS OPERA STARS SING
Afternoon Concert Introduces
Brilliant Young Pianist, and
Presents Favoritc Baritone.
BY DOUGLAS GORDON.

second annual music festival OF tho
wednesday Club came TO 4 triumphant
close last night.
Attracted by the names OF opera
singers OF international fame. and.
Doubtless, also by the reports az to the
Two preceding concerts. so great a
crowd made it's way into the City Audi
torium for the last concert OF the
series that for the first time during
TINS FESTIVAL. the vast, bare and hide
Gus hall was filled. Nor was there
apparently any disappointment on the
part of the huge audience: from the
opening number to the final chorus,
every effort OF orchestra. chorus and
soioists was heartily. and often storm
lily. applaudcd.
AUDIENCE DELIGHTED WITH
WORK OF GREAT ORCHESTRA
Tschaikowsky's "Slavic Marc
with which Mr.. Stokowski opened the
concert. has been played here by prac-
tically every band that has appeared
IN Richmond. but, after hearing Il last
night, II hardly seems extravagant to
say that 1t had never been played here
until last night. even though one re-
members It's performance By many
dignifed organizations The contrasts
brought out and accentuated by Mr..
Stokowski revealed its semi Oriental.
semi European characteristics In a
manner so striking so startling. that
1T seemed different. or. at least, n
modified or elaborated com position.
SO evidently the audience felt for
II was almost stampeded. No orches-
trail piece has ever been so rapturousIy
and so insatiably applauded AS was this
march last night. Mr.. Stokowski bowed
his thanks scores of times. both to the
mouse and 10 the chorus; he tried to
ignore the applause. and, as has been
nus generous habit throughout the
festival, he made his men rise and
stand TO receive the approval of the
audience. but still it would not be
sausned. and the tumult and the
clamor continued for many minutes
intil 1t became apparent that he would
not play again.
NEW GERMAN TENOR
WINS GREiI APPLAUSE
First Of the soloists engaged for
Artists Night" 10 appear was Johannes
Sembach. new German tenor of tho
metropolitan Opera. whose personal
appearance Is much more like that of
an Italian baritone. He first sang
Siegmund's Spring Song" or Love
song. or Liebeslied." from Warner.s
Die Walkuere," and sang II to the
complete JOY of the house. In this
song he seemed typical German tenor.
singing with certain staccato stvle
that is commonly associated with that
type. his low voice was abundantly
heaVy to sound the trying notes for
tenor that recur SO frequently in the
score. and his upper tones, when he
employed the full voice. were ringing
and clear.
In response to the insistent demands
OF the audience. he returned and sang
the irize Song from Die Meister-
singer, IN which he appeared TO even
better advantage. He had got warmed
up. and certain little edge that had
sounded in the "Liebesled" was almost
gone. Later. he sang the aria. Celeste
Aida. from Aida and. though a
German singing and at this time the
music OF an Italian of the Italians. he
sang IT with much beauty of tone and
with fine effect But for encore he re-
turned 10 Wagner and gave "Lohcn-
grin's Narrative" in splendid STYLE.
OBER Is
PRIME FAVORITE.
Margarcte Obcr, also of the Metro
politan Opera, was probably the prime
favorite of the entire evening. Hers
is an unusual voice, a meZZo- -contraIto
and she sings upon occasion arias both
for contralto and for soprano. or wide
range and great power, her voice is Of
its entire register. and, when she sings
half Vnir,. in, f,,II
forced by the requirements of the score.
1t is Of rare and beautiful quality.
In her first aria. 20 don Eatale., from
Ferdi's Don Carlos" a number USUALLY
sung by contraltos, she showed much
dramatic strength. but she also dis
ciosed several strangely rough spo;s
that were almost breaks" Still. she
too had hardly had an opportunity to
warm her throat. and for encore she
sang "Ah, mon Fils!" from Meycrbcer's
lie Prophete"-onIy she sang IT in
German-and in this she displayed q
round and ivory-iikc tone that went
far toward explaining the vogue that
is undoubtedly hers. In 30 mio Fer
nando." from DoniZettis "La Favorjta
she assumed soprano role. and. re-
turning to still the begging audience.
sang another aria for contralto. Mon
occur s'ouvre Ia voiX," from Sam
son ct Della" also In German, and in
this she reached the highest point OF
her art. For she sang ii with an in
tensity OF feeling and beauty of voice
that made all hearts open at her song.
DESTINN WAS FOREMOST
STAR OF FESTIVAL.
The foremost star OF the festival, GER
tainly as to name and fame. was Emmy
Destinn. dramatic soprano of the
Opera. Miss Destinn's
first number was Die Lorelci" Of LisZt,
the last few notes of which were ex-
quistely done. To her. too. tho audi
ence gave wild applause, and she re-
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