The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-25
N CORMACK TAKES
RICHMOND CAPTIVE
AUDIENCE AT CITY AUDITORIUM
STIRRED As NOT SEEN HERE
IN RECENT YEARS. :.
APPLAUSE CONTINUOUS
FROM FIRST TO LAST, GREAT
TENOR SWA1ED HIS HEARERS
by WONDERFUL INFLUENCE
OF HIS SONG.

} OF $tNt.
! Without the slightest fear of ex-
iaggeration, it may be safely asserted
that no more pronounced artistic or
popular success has ever occurred IN
Richmond than the concert OF John
Mccormack at the Auditorium last
hight. The wonderful tenor had his
hearers completely subdued by the
witchery of his art from the opening
strains of recitatiye OF Handel untll
the last strains of believe Me If All
Those Endearing Charms" brought
the memorable entertainment TO
close. The night was tempestuous
Rain fell continuously and flashes or
! lightning illumined AT Intervals
cloud banked sky, but in spite OF TINS
ia large audierce that practically hll-
ed9 the orchestra back to the balcony
limit greeted the singer. And within
cur recollection there has been no
more spontaneous, universal or untlr-
ing applause than was accorded every
number of the program
In Excellent Voice.
r Me1orrnack was @-*tetfertt
voice. And what a marvellous voice
/ it is, A pure lyric tenor, OF match
Tess sweetness and unlimited range,
as pure in the upper register as sill
ver bell. it's equal Is not found more
than once in a lifetime. Its feSi-
Ibility. its marvellous control the In
comparable diminuendo and crescen-
do, its absolute Sureness everywhere,
and an absence of any evidence OF
wear and strain to which 1t was sub
jected, make it thing of beauty and
a Joy forever. It has been said that
no singer Is more enshrined in the
hearts of the people than Mccormack.
This was not only proven last night.
but the reasons were obvious alike
to the cultivated and untutored ear.
His personality is most engaging. his
method faultless and his enunciation
lpra cticaiiy perfect Quiet, dignified,
iunassuming in manner, he stepped
gracefully to his position in front o.
the piano and proceeded to sing
straight to the heart of every man,
woman and child in front of him. HIS
program, tastefuily selected, was ad-
mira bly, diversified. He began with
familiar oratorio selections, both from
lHandels Jeptha. the recitativr
l"Deeper and Deeper Stin' and the
aria Watt Her, Angels"
i Demands For Encore.
The demands for an encore were
instantaneous, and his generosity in
furnishing them Began here with
NOW Sleeps the Crimson Petal" bv
Roger Quilter. Next he was heard
lin trio. Loves Quarrel" 'J'al
tPleure en- Reve" and The Lord Is My
Light" The tremendous fervor with
(which he sang the last thrilled every
,ane and right on the heels of the last
lnotes came a thundor If hard clap
iping. TO which he gracefully respond
led with Craxton's 'EMavis," dainty and
cntrancing. Then we had a group OF
j. -four ancient Irish songs. The inde-
Iscribable pathos of In Fanaid's
Grove" was ir striking contrast with
Tho liitinp humorous ii0r tFThn NayA
Market Day" showing his striking
sympathy and versatility AS en-
cores, for three were necessary, he
rendered most effectively Mother
lMachrec." a delicate and delicious bit
of music; AN Explanation" by
Coleridge Taylor. and "Macushla,"
probably the most wonderfully exc
cuted number OF the evening The
closing selections were familiar ope-
Iratic arias In Her Simplicity"
from Thomas; "Mignon" and "E Lu-
cevan lie STEELE" from Puccini's la
Tosca." in which the dramatic quail
ty of his singing received abundant
. exploitation The audience at the
close, after working hard for another
, number had about despaired and
many had gore, when he reappeared.
AS the accompanies struck the famil-
lar opening bars of Believe Me II
, lAll Those Erdearing Charms" cheers
burst forth and he sang II with won
Iderful feeling and expression We
omitted to mention that he also gave
the inevitable II Hear You Calling
Me- and that no living singer can In
terpret its oft sung strains as Nc
ICormack does.
McBeath Assists.
Mr.. Donald McBeath. a talented viz
ltuoso. ably assisted Mr.. McCorma elk
In several interesting and masterfully
executed numbers. and supplied as
Iencores n superb rendition of Schu-
mans 'Traumeref' and Saint Saens'
lcharming Swan" He too was well
received and appreciated.
And finally the superb work Of the
Iaccompanist Mr.. Edward Schneider.
should not be overlooked. He was
here formerly with Gadski and hi;
tsklll. ease and sympathetic support
. contributed no small part to the sing.
er's success. This young man is a
composer of note and 1t is to be re-
GREETED that We did not have his new
) and unpublished work. when the
Dew Is Falling" written especially
: for McCorma ok, Taken all in all, tho
. occasion was memorable and to John
iMcCormaCk's countless worshippers
t must be added the hundreds who
: heard him last evening. G. 2.