Connecticut western news., 1917-07-26
MIDSUMMER CONCERT AUGUST i,
Annual Event at Norfolk Eagerly
 Awaited.

For 22 years these remarkable musi- cal affairs have been given and in all this time there has been no intermis- sion to bring disappointment. Now the summer would not seem complete without them.
 The musical spirit in the country surrounding beautiful Norfolk is most pronounced and to the early concerts of this long series is due an awakening to knowledge and deeper apprecia- tion of the best in music, so that their influence has been beyond comprehen sion.
 For seven of these 22 years the won- derful voice and personality of that great artist, Mime. Schumann- Heink, has done much to make these occasions of great interest and pleasure. She is to appear for the eighth time at this years concert to be given on Wednes' day evening, Aug. 1, and comes direct from her California home to Norfolk. This will be her first appearance since her distressing accident at St. Louis, when the world nearly lost one of the greatest singers of all time.
 Another favorite singer who returns to these concerts this year is H. Evan Williams, the well. known tenor. There is hardly household in America that boasts of photograph which does not own and prize Williams record.
 Among the new artists will be Maurice Dambois, the famous violon- cellist, who created veritable sensa- tion last winter in his New York reel tals and at his appearance in the Metropolitan opera house concert. AL though a very young man, he has already signally honored by King Albert of Belgium with a special appointment ill the Brussels conserva- tory.
 Another player new to Norfolk is the harpist, Stefano di Stefano, and no artist in New York in his line has appeale1 more often in concert there in the last couple of years. The Mozart, Beethoven, Rubinstein and CGca,ia societies, with many others, have given MT. di Stefano busy seasons with his work as harpist of Grace church, Broadway, where his beautiful playing has deeply interested musical people. His solo harp is regarded as one of the finest instruments in America.
 Of great local interest will be the appearance of Miss Minnie Welch Edmond, Winsted's soprano, who is now recognized as one of the foremost singers in the state Her advance as a vocalist in the last few years has been most gratifying to the people of her native town.
 Of the other singers, Miss Louise MacMahan, Miss Marie VonEssen, Miss Flora Hardie, Thomas H. Thomas and Graham Reed have been heard in these concerts before. The bass, how ever, Wilfred Glenn, comes for the first time. Since coming to New York few years ago from his home in Cali. fornia. near that of Mime. Schumann. Heink, he has made prominent place for himself as a vocalist in the east. In New England he has been heard in the Christmas performance of the E"Messi. ah' in Boston, with the famous Han. del and Hayden society also at last years Worcester, Mass, festival and four times in Providence, R. I. with the society under Jules Jordan, besides numerous concerts. In New York he is known as the bass soloist of the great cathedral of St. John the Divine on Morningside Heights, where his fine voice is heard each Sunday.
 AS in former occasions, Charles Gil. bert Spross, the composer pianist, will accompany the artists, and Charles Heiproth, the distinguished city organist of Pittsburg, will conduct the concert and open the program on the noble organ of which the people of the Nor folk Congregational church are so justly proud.
 The unique feature, instituted by Miss Eldridge couple of years ago, of having quartet of trumpeters from the Metropolitan opera house band play a program from the belfry of the church as a"call" to those who attend the concert will be observed again this year and is one of the most beautiful features of these midsummer concerts in Norfolk.
 The sale of tickets will be at the usual place Wednesday morning, July 25, at @. m.-Citizen.