Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-09
WEDNESDAY CLUB
SCORES SUCCESS
Singing of Great Chorus With
Metropolitan Orchestra Is
Warmly Received.
OLIVE KLINE WINS APPLAUSE
Opening Night of May Festival
at City Auditorium Is
Brilliant Event.
OLIVE KLINE WINS APPLAUSE

Whatever may be said OF the first
concert OF the Wednesday Cubs
annual festival. at least the playing
OF "Vorspier' from WaRner's .Meister-
singer" which opened the concert, was
above just criticism. Indeed, the Met
ropolitan Opera House Orchestra, by
whomsocver conducted. is Mt it's best
In Wagnerian music. hut when IT leaves
lts chosen field Of opera it sometimes
leaves much to he desired
In the Caprice Espagnole.' by Rim
sky korsakon, perhaps the fault was
that of the great Russian composer In
cutting adrift from the weird. rich and
Characteristic music Of his fathcrland
bu; the effect was not particularly
pleasing. The Introduction Of odd and
unusual instruments vas dsconcerting.
and beneath the dignity OF even that
rather undignifed Caprice One
easily recognizes the sheep bells and
the COW bells OF the pasture. and longs
Tor the lusty notes of the anvil. which
have so often actually INTERRUPTED the
music of the orchestra at matinces in
the past.
the TWO movements from the New
World Symphonic" were played with
exquisite deitcacy and some unavoida-
bic samencss. Dvorak must have been
In gentle mood. in spite of his stir
ring theme. and Mr.. HaEeman and his
orchestra must have longed for the
vigor and chaotic weirdness of the over
ture 10 "GoetterdaemcrunE" After the
gorgeous work o. Stokowski's Phila-
delphia Orchestra last year. it seems
unfortunate that another change was
made. Let us not forget. however. that
In the 'Norspicl" the orchestra was all
that could be asked
MANNERS OF AUDIENCE
GREATLY IMPROVED
II Is pity that the Richmond au-
dienceS on the opening night are
sometimes comparatively small There
we're many vacant seats last night
which ought 10 have been filled with
the music lovers of Richmond. The
Wednesday Club is for the purpose
not only of elevating but OF educating.
musical taste. and that can best be
done when series is heard, when
comparisons may be made, and even
little mild criticism may be in
dulEed in.
Richmond audiences are not especIal
ly noted for their good manners at
musical entertainments but among
other educational work which the
Wednesday Club has undertaken IL has
succeeded almost absolutely in prc-
venting the interruption of numbers
by the seating of late comers. Last
night. for instance. very few were al
lowed by the watchful ushers to seek
their seats during the performance or
any number, and those few only at
tho beginning of the first number.
oh h.,
outdoor noises could be lessened, and
If enough officers could be spared to
patrol the southern and eastern side
OF the auditorium. as we'll as the north
ern and western sides. the audiences
and the musicians would be spared
many noisy Interruptions suffered at
the hands of frolicsomc boys.
Another achievement OF the We'd
nesday Club and its management must
not be overlooked. The programs an
nounced that the concert would begin
at S:3o and at $50 to the minute the
conductor raised his baton for the
opening measure of the first number.
These comments are not strictly mu-
sical, hut they proclaim the success or
the Wednesday Club in very important,
though minor. particulars.
ART OF OLIVE KLINE
IS WELL NIGH PERFECT
The artists last night were Miss
Olive Kline. Il soprano we'll known and
popular in Richmond. and Pasuuale
Amato, the famous baritone. about
whom some musical people positively
rave.
The character Of Miss Kline's selec-
,ions was very different from her
numbers when she was here before
Her work this time was conspicuously
of the coloratura class, except some
passages in Mendelssohn's "Loreley"
with the chorus, and the Aria from
Puccinis "Tosca," sung as an encore
after the song from Carmen" Her
voice is very beautiful. and her art is
perfect, and though she lacks in dra-
matte power. II Is n delight to hear her.
She sings with absolute ease, without
effort or straining for effect, and won
derful t" say in this day of varying
quality of tone, her voice was abso-
lutcly the same from it's highest to its
lowest note-from it's sweetest lowest
whisper to its highest and greatest
climax. Rlauvelt in her prime never
did more brilliant sing Ing than IL was
the good fortune of the audience To
hear from Miss Kline 1T last nights
concert.
Amato. said to he the creates, living
baritone, was Justly compared in
former notice In this paper az singing
very like Caruso. the great tenor. They
are alike--they gasp and sob alike. and
like Caruso. Amato's voice changes in
character and quality from note to
note, and he sings with tremendous
power and skill, but without sweet
ness or real beauty. His fame has
gone before him, however. and he ia
immensely popular with Richmond aud
fences, as was shown by repeated and
continuous and evidently very sincere
applause. Besides the numbers on the
program, he sung. as encorcs. our old
friends, the Figaro" song from the
Barber OF Seville" and the "rorea-
dor" from Carmen" as we'll as anoth-
er little song. in which he seemed TO
be resting after his labors. This was
sung to the accompaniment OF a piano.
and though it could not be heard, 1t
looked to he quite n jolly little song.
The Figaro" as sung by his great
baritone IL wonderfully rapid and
CONTINUED on Ninth Page.)