Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-23
AMUSEM ENTS
PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
CLONES .

CLOSES SEASON HAPPILY
Liosing It's season at the City Audi
forum last night. tho Richmond Phil
harmonic Association presented n pro-
sahn OF uncommon interest, both by
reusoh or Its wide variety and because
OF the general excellence OF it's pcr-
Torrance.
To those who had not heard the
orchestra for many months. It's develop
.H.n, anu growth, under the skilled and
tusicianiy direction Of w. Henry Baker.
INTO unified baIC IF instrumeninlist
a . 70 accomplish extremely difficult
! TASKS. were quickly and gratefully ap-
parent. SO that the part taken in the
uohCert by the orchestra alone was in
i,sei productive OF great deal of
pleasure, as we'll as Of something more
'hah mere cool admiration.
But-while. of course, 1t is the
orchestra with which the Philharmonic
association Is chiefly concerned-an
unusual number and quality of soloists
were also called upon to Increase the
interest and value OF the closing con-
cert and they all fulfilled the purpose
Tor which they appeared.
Mr. Baker opened the concert with
the William Tell" overture. In which
the remarkable progress of the orches-
ira speedily manifested itself While
the orchestra played admirably as an
organization, the flute obligato of Mrs.
schroeder and the clarinet playing OF
Mt Schremp. the younger, were con-
spicuouslH good Two short pieces by
DENIES. "Pizzicato Polka" and "Valsc
Lehtc, both familiar AS dances. fol-
lowed. and were both given in good
style.
In the Scherzo from Beethovens Third
symphony, the orchestra gave the most
convincing proof of Mr.. Bakers ability
as conductor, while several of the in
diFidual members OF the organization
acquitted themselves with great credit,
Mr.. Iiiteshew. the horn player. in par
ocular. Auclffe's popular waltz,
Nights OF Gladncss," brought tho con-
cert to a close
Two young SINCERE. who must provo
valuable additions to musical Rich
in"nd, were introduced in Miss Agnes
May and Miss Blanche Kidd Miss
Mays voice Is q lyric soprano of pure
ana lovely auality--not only fresh. as
was TO have been expected of a Young
ana untired singer. but soft. clear and
delicious. 1t is also flexible. we'll placed
ana under remarkable control. She
sang lie Printemps Me Grise." by her
teacher. 1sador Luckstone, in which she
was enabled to display the result, OF
careful study. since the song of con-
siderable noridty. and then Ronald's
EXQUISITE little song. Down in the
Forest which calls for flowing tones.
tho audience insisted upon an encore
number. She responded with the pretty
Sutterfiy' song, to the further delight
OF the house.
Miss Kidd was programmed as n CON
traito, but she is mczzo-con:ralto, il
not mezzo-soprano. and In either
case with abundant range. Her voice
is Of the quality frcquently-and often
cously-describcd rs luscious"
IL is rich. round and of much more vol
ume than Is often heard from an anna
tour or semiamateur. II complctclv
ilied the auditorium last night. and
there is every reason why Miss Kidd
should become u singer OF more than
local prominence Her songs last NIGHT
were Brahms'S "Lullaby" aud Bember1-'s
"f'indoo Songs" while. for encore, she
sang, My Little Gray Home in the
West"
Miss Anita Kirkwood. the accom-.
PIANIST Of the orchestra, who has fire.
1ucntly been admired as pianist of
conspicuous talent and ability. was at
her best last night IN the Concerto i'm
q Minor. OF Saint-Saens. Altogether a
musician. she plays with uncommon frs.
ana certainty. with rare dclicacy and
YET with a power not to be expected
Her left hand. in particular, has de-
veloped notably within the last wear
or two, though her playing has alto
gether broadened AMI deepcncd both in
Fred. r, Daprrich, the conccrtmcister
appeared for the first time as :, solo
Isl, playing little piece by Mr. Baker
called June Zephyr" written for solo
violin. with accompaniment for piano
ana n.uted strings. Mr. DappricE sur
pris"d even thosC who were familiar
with his accomplishments at the first
desk BY his technical command of The
violin. He played the enchanting
melody provided by Mr.. Enkcr with
'aste and discretion in pfyusiu., and
handled the difficult harmonics with
which the piece concludes "ith Ger
tainty and keen sense of pitch
MIR. Bakers equipmcnr was again in
fullest evidence during the concerto
when his orchestra played amazingly.
and during the performance OF his own
Di"ce. when the sections emploved
played delightfully."-.
Certainly the Philharmonic Associa-
tion has every reason 10 be proud of
its soioists, its orchestra and particu-
larry Of its conductor.