Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-26
MELBA
RADIANT AS EVER
Every Available Seat Filled at
Concert in Orpheum Theater
Last Night

In spite of delay and veXing inter-
ruptions at the beginning, enthusiasm
ran high last night at the Orpheum
Theater, where a concert of consider
able worth was given to an audience
that filled every available seat, The
ushers persisted in showing late com
erS to their seats after the perform
ance had begun, with the result that
the entire first number was marred
for the listener, and the artists visibly
annoyed and perpleXed at the seeming
lack of regard for artist and audience.
Miss Beatrice Harrison opened the
program with Boccherini Sonata in
A Major. 1t is delightful music
quaint, charming, gracewul and melo-
dious; with the Handelean flavor.
Miss Harrison is a first class artist.
She has no limitations musically. She
might possibly lack the physical
strength for the bigger and more try
ing works. She cuddles her cello, and
forgets her audience. She plays to
herself-and rocks and sighs and
shakes her pretty black curIs, and the
cello answers back with wonderful,
rich velvety phrases, fine singing tone
and clear technique. A touch of the
far East was afforded in the original
and colorful Oriental by Cui. The
Wagner number was done with fine
breadth and richness of tone, SO well
played indeed that the audience would
not let her depart until she had re-
sponded with Dvoraks Songs My
Mother Taught Me-"
Robert Parker appeared three
times on the program and displayed a
voice of ample volume and compass.
MIR. Parker, however, has a tendency
to force things, with the result that
his upper voice is not securely nor
muscally handled. The effects of
this forcing was not only apparent in
the bigger offerings but also in the
lovely Strauss number Dream in the
Twilight" a straying from the pitch
detracted from an otherwise fine inter-
pretation. His most successful effort
on the whole was the Tschaikowsky
number which he delivered with aban-
don and Verve. He added the roll
licking of to Philadelphia" which
found great favor with the audience.
Madame Melba was as radiant and
charming as ever and received a tre-
mendous and hearty greeting when she
appared for her opening number the
mad scene from Hamlet"
Madame Melba's technique in this
trying number is still impeccable--
marvellous, and her voice still con-
tains much of the former gold; here
and there the luster was dimmed; and
at times we felt the effort with her.
Then again. French is language( es:
pecially when sung by those who have
had to acquire IT'D that has a tendency
to make the voice rather top heavy
with nasal resonance. In the two
Puccini numbers, sung in Italian, this
was startlingly illustrated, as here the
singers voice took on the glorious
golden hue so dear to the hearts of
former audiences. Fine emotional
warmth, pure legato, well defined and
proportioned nuances, together with
histrionic resources made these two
numbers gems of vocal art. Both the
Bemberg numbers were excellently
sung, and the Arditti waltz song---one
of his best--was given with such per-
feet technique and JUNCTION that the
audience refused to go. She was re-
called so many times during the even
ing that we lost count. She was gem
erous with encores and yet the au-
dience would have liked to hear more,
which is surely the greatest compli-
ment singer could receive.
Frank st. Leger was at the piano.
He was a busy man, assisting with
every number. He added very much
to the artistic success and pleasure of
the evening, because he gave fine sup
port and played delightfully."-.
The audience manifested musical
appreciation at all times and went
home happy.
JOHN W. PHILLIPS.