The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-11-12
FRENCH MUSICIANS
EARN GREAT OVATION
Immense Crowd ut City Auditorium
Comes Under the Spell Of Har-
Mony--Director Wins Mark
ed Approval

Just at first, after the national
been played IN n scene of intense en-
thusiasm, it appered last night as II
the concert of the French orchestra
at the city auditorium was to be a
decided anti-climax for a day Of I'M
exampled enthusiasm.
The crowd was bit late in arrfv-
ing. partly deplayed by the confusion
and congestion on the streets, where
happy throngs were noisly celebrat-
ing the victorious close of the war.
The house was finally crowded to the
doors The appearance of the musicians
was greeted with cheers, the crowd
, standing. An ovation was given Direc-
tor Messenger when he came to his
stand and picked UP his baton. Storms
Of applause for the StarSpangled
and handclapping when the big org
anization swung into the inspiring
sweep of LA Marsaillaiss.
"Patrie Overture" by Bizet, the
opening number, won less approval
than 1t deserved. The audience. with
ears wearied by an aIi-day chartvari
on the streets, had not yet become at
tuned to the exquisite artistry Of the
Societe des Concerts du CONSERVATORY
ing passages of this great work. writ
ten ION the sorrow of the war of 1870 -
simply did not reach the Americans
who had all day celebrated the victory
of France and Britain and the United
States over the foe which in that long
lago rayaged France and robbed her
az her dearest possession.
The Franck Symphony IN u Minor
went better. The hearers were be-
ginning to relax. to feel the witchery
of the violius and horns and drums,
to sense the possibilities of entranc-
ing harmony. which those masters OF
music produced 1t was not. howevr
until the third number tthere were no
encores, Paul Dukas' LApprentier
sorcier. with it's zephyr-like poesy, tina,
those who were fortunate enough to
be present began to realize that there
on the familiar stage, with it's animal.
ed background OF high school students
was an aggregation of genius and
skin, finest flower OF French musical
art
From that moment. through the
Saint-Saens prelude du Deluge,'
which introduced a wonderful violin
soto by nj. Alfred Brun. and Ialo's
"Rhapsodie Norvegienne," the audience
missed never note. never one Of the
fine shadings. the close harmonies. the
irapturous flights of wood winds aand
strings and reeds and brasses.
After all. the concert was more than
an artistic success Besides presentins
la somewhat difficult program in a man
ner which awakened the appreciation
of the musical layman, II brought to
all a SOLDERING and inspiring realization
of some of the things which the vic
tory at arms has secured for us and
for our associates In the war-the I'M
speakab}e privilege of cultivating the
higher things OF life. of evoking our
souls, that freedom OF the spirit en-
dangered through four weary years by
the barbarous hordes Of German kul-
tur.
The director, NJ. Messenger, IL entitled
to n special NEED OF praise. Dlscardin &
all the acrobatic and spectacular gesti-
cations OF some famous leaders. reiyinx
on his mastermusicians, each in his
place, to play his own part when the
time arrived. and to play 1t under
standingiy, he yet was the master OF
the concert. every inch the great
musician