Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-30
WEDNESDAY CLUB OPENS
BRILLIANT FESTIVAL
Celebrates Its Twcnty-F'ifth Ami
vcrsary by Concert OF I'm
usual Merit.
CHORUS WINS HIGH PRAISE
Sullivan's Golden Legend" Sung
With Fidelity to Spirit OF Text AMI
Scorc-lts 80, Gladstone Light"
Climax OF Years OF Training.
ny JOHN GEORGE HARRIS,

ny JOHN GEORGE HARRIS.
The Wednesday Club. in tho frs,
concert OF it's music festival. giver
last night at the City Auditorium. cell
ebratcd its twenty-hfth anniversary Il,
IL most brilliant manner and inaugu-
rated the three days of the annual
festival by 4 concert which was. in
All respects, OF irreproachablc merit
and artistic excellence. Tho Wcdncs-
day Club chorus. the Russian Sym
phonr orchestra. the solo artists Mo-
deSte Altshulcr, and lastly. and by way
OF climax. W. Henry Baker. united in
the presentation Of Il program which
one may venture TO say. has. in Tho
clubs history. seldom been eGualcd
and Will not soon be cNcellcd.
The splendid work of tho Wednesday
Club chorus amply deserves primary
cons Iteration. While. throughout the
performance of Sullivan's Golden re
gcnd." the chorus sang with fidelity
to the spirit OF text and score. with
delightful quality Of tone and irHmcd!-
ate response to the direction of Mr..
Baker, yet. in the majestic evening,
hymn 20 Gladstone Light" tho chorus
rose to a height of perfection which
would Justify journcyinE from the ut
tornost parts of Virginia or elsewhere
TO hear IL this was not the real eli
max of the work, il would he difficult
10 say where else one might look for
it, The perfection OF blending. the
accurate attack and release. the cftco.
or great composite voice with a
tinencss OF enunciation which left hard
ly word to the Imagination. tho
singlcness Of mind In the crescc0do
and diminuendo all united TO make this
beautiful selection n choral master
piece.
Hardly less effective was the other
unaccompanied chorus, 30 Pure in
Heart" which. though brief afforded
another opportunity TO hear tho chorus
at its best. Considering the necessary
limitations of a mixed chorus "I at
least 80 voices and embracing hut
twcnty-cight mcn-an admission which
ono hcsitates to make for tn" sab" Of
tho musical manhood of Richmond -
the artistic results reached by me
Wednesday club Chorus under It's re-
mari<ahly able conductor, Mr.. EaNcr. in
all of it's work last night justiiies tho
most extravaEant praise
The program was opened with the
"Migncn" overture by the French COM
poser. Thomas, and this number was
given by the Russian symphony Or
chcstra under Mr. Altshuier. intro
taken up by the violins. and developed
III the fall orchestra, it proved AN in
spring opening number. II aroused
imme diatc enthusiasm, TO which MIR.
Altshulcr resnondcdbin brief an
nounccmcnt which appealed a. once
to Il Eichm ond audience. He said. in
substance: AS an encore number. We
Will play tho Banjo Picker by John
Powell hope YOU Will like It; love
it," The admiration which is enter
tanned for Mr.. Powell was expressed
in the burst OF applause which fol!
lowed the announcement, and tho sue
ccedinE enthusiasm and enjoyment OF
the hcwitchinG orchestral arrangement
Of Mr.. Powelrs composition. introduce
ing Just q strain or two of Dixie" inn
PEELED Mr.. Altshulcr to respond again
with tina, dear old song Of the South,
in Which everyone joined who had a
voice. II there could be have been a
moro auspicious openin; for the tes-
tiral, Il must hav. been an announce
mcnt that the war over. or some
thing equally patriotic and inspiring.
Thc duct from the prison scene in
''Tgovatorc" by that greatest OF Italian
composers. Verdi was given by Miss
Marsh and Mr.. Diaz. and il was de-
lGhtfuliy ana beautifully sung. Thn
La 81 darcm" duct from Mozart's Don
Juan" given by Miss Morgana and Mr.
Chalmers followed. tho selection nrov-
ing a happy one. and eliciting repeated
demands for An encore number, withou,
avail
At this point. II may he well to
digress long enough to say tina; the
" cdnc iday Club is fortunate this wear
IN its choice OF solo artists Each a,a
every one q! the nine solo lists is Amer
lcan born and their selection is an cy
cel'ent e3amnle Of the wise iud.mcn,
OF the club. affordinE. narrower an on
nortunity Tor the festival audiences 10
",ScetA mat We need net 20 outside
o! our own domain 10 secure artists Of
anilitE and distinc,ion. As Ia ,bc a.
nsts Ct last night, MISS Morraua is
,d'INe or buffalo. Sew York. Nis.
Marsh and Mr.. Chalmers Of Nov. Wi.
IT, "'S'. while Mr piaz is Texan
III nlt OF hioSra ply may not be a,nise
lhc Bella Firlia" Quartz, frnu
'crn1s fiEolctto closed Tho frs. MARI
o' INC program. In this. number ,bc
voices OF the four artists united excel
,"ht'N' ana tho dramtic qualities of Nj,
"a" superb tenor and Miss Morgana.s
pTiiilhNt topnotcs were bri!liantIv ON =
phasizcd. The Rigolctto ouart., i
aim ost inevitable in the choice OF :,
m!Ncd quartet number. since i'm on.
Fatlc lore there is no other selection
ennalling II for briiiancv and cnoc
tiveness
THE Golden Legend" given bv the
eno'us' s"ioisls aud orchestra for the
second part Of the program. proved :,
splendid selection on tho par; Of tho
MANAGERS OF tho Wednesday Club II
rs SuNclcntiH dramatic. provides AIDE
qud'e contrast IN scope and variety of
chorai treatment. with telling mas
S@Hes Tor the solo voices. The story.
based upon I.ongfcllow's poem. deals
WIN INC illness Of Prince Henry the
wiling sacrifice Of Elsie to I.ucifcr "a
secure the princes recovery. despite
III" opposition Of her mother, Ursula
and the prince himself. Elsie is rescued
from '.ucifcr tho prince is cured bv "A
miracle ana bucifor is defeated This
hrief outline is sufficient to disclose The
possibilities OF an adequate musical
score to such composer as sullivan.
demonstration and choral work unite in
masterpiece, which from its FIRST
hearing has been onincntly successful
and which displays Sullivan's master
iul ability IN combining rhythm and
melody.
Mr. Chalmers in his parts Of the sole
work. disclosed a baritone OF splendid
lyrical quality. possibly better adapted
to lyrical opera than dramatic score
though he delivered his solo and obli.
~ n for a it'll