Connecticut western news., 1916-08-10
FREMSTAD IN NORFOLK
Delightful Midsummer Concert Given
 by Miss EIdridge.

Delightful Midsummer Concert Given
 by Miss EIdridge.
 In all of the twenty.two years of the midsummer concert, given by Miss Mary Eldridge, at Norfolk, never have nature and art combined to make so beautiful setting for the event, as that of last Wednesday evening. It was at the close of a perfect day and when the trumpeters pealed forth their majestic strains from the belfry, as if by magic myriads of scintillating lights sprung into brilliancy and made an entrancing picture that caused many to finger about the church, long after the close of the entertainment.
 The interior of the church was equally as attractive. Festoons of laurel illuminated by countless gladioli, were suspended around the gallery, which is so essential a part of the typical New England church. The effective arrangement was even more artistic than on any previous occasion of the kind. s
 The marvellous maintenance of the standard of continual improvement in these wonderful concerts, is source of perpetual surprise. Each year as Miss Eldridge announces her numbers and her artists, both are of still greater in terest than in former years and each concert surpasses the one preceding. <
 It was not an easy task to find 8 singer who could acceptably fill the place of Mime. Schumann.H Heink, the great contralto, who has so many times delighted her hearers in this sacred edifice, and the choice of Mime. Fremstad was a happy one. Her in depreciation of the Wagnerian number was most delightful and her rendition of the folk songs showed her versatility. The effect produced by her singing of "Tenting Tonight" upon both singer and audience will be long remembered. The sounding of taps, by one of the trumpeCers outside the church, enhanced the impressiveness and the solemn hush that followed was broken by an outburst of applause that seemed almost like the defacement of beauti- ful picture. Every selection the great soprano sang was charming delight, and exhibited dramatic brilliancy and the various qualities of her glorious voice.
 Lovers of violin playing in its high est estate must now count Eddy Brown among the real artists, for he displayed gifts of truly masterful order. To those who understand violinistlc intri,. cacies from technical feats, as we'll ass to those who merely appreciate and love the music he makes, he affords equal enjoyment. MT. Browns ner- vous force and his intense emotional energy communicate themselves di- rectly to his hearers. His tone is rich and mellow and he gave his numbers with nobility of interpretation He received au ovation at the close of each number. ..-...
 MT. Charles Heinroth is so we'll known in Norfolk, that it would be superfuous at this time to insist upon his greatness as an organist The audience was immensely pleased by his clever use of the piano hammer in combination with the Celesta stop, pro- ducing music-box effect entirely foreign to the ordinary organ tones.
 The other participating artists, with the exception of Miss Louise Mac Mahan, soprano, whose sustaining voice added much to the chorus work, have appeared in former years, and are always given a cordial welcome. Miss Van Essen showed great improvement and her voice and her personality charmed her hearers. Miss Edmonds' singing is a source of pleasure to Nor. folk audiences, who feel a personal in terest ill her, and have noted with ap. preciation, her marked improvement from year to year.
 Daniel Beddoe and Donald Chalmers were in especially fine voice. MT. Chalmers sang "A Song of Steel" by Charles Gilbert Spross, who was at the piano. The composition contained a wealth of melodic invention and was peculiarly fitted to Mr. Chalmers style of interpretation.
 Miss Flora Hardie, Graham Reed and Thomas H. Thomas. with the above named singers, made up the octette which so satisfactorily performed the chorus work.
 Arbano's trumpet quartette of the Metropolitan opera house, New York, beside giving the vesper concert from the belfry, assisted in the program for the evening and added to the effect.
 J. B. R.