Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-29
MAY MUSIC FESTIVAL IS
FLAWLEsS PERFORMANCE
Wednesday Clubs TNvcnty.Sixth An.
nual Event Ranks With
Finest.
HIGHEST PRAISE FOR voCAL1sTs
Tonight's Artists Arc Rosa Ponselle,
Emma Roberts and Forrest La
mont-Orchcstra to BE Led by
Richard Hageman.

The Wednesday Club inaugurated
It's twenty-sixth annual musical fcs-
tiVal last night at the City Auditorium
with The Creation" of Haydn. The
PARTICIPANTS were the wednesday Club
Chorus OF approximately 200 voices,
iiickett. tenor. and Arthur Middleton,
baritone, as soloists, and the Metro
P9iitan Opera House Orchestra, w.
MIX Mathews conducting.
through Il career of over a quarter
OF century. annual choral CONCERTS
i nnxe been been given by the Wednesday,
Speaking. of last nights concert.
o enenf can be no difference of
epa1,io, IT. was. in AL essential re-
iolality, as well as in all it's parts,
, las, al nights performance must be
TN G with the finest work which
From the first bar Of the orchestral
n IN mn 70 me closing Of the Achieved
end OF Part H.. which marked the
close. as we'll as of the concert, there
wa, Mas precision. a certainty of rendi-
praise for the efforts of vocalists. as
well as orchestra This happy result
h Is aitarihuta6ie TO the mastery con-
troll OF his forces was wholly admir-
able throughout
ohorun Meets General Approval.
Last nights chorus met with ron
crai ana unqualified approval for Tone
Iuaiity, balance of parts, and for ali
sing sing sIfs rose 90 make in up good chorus
II AT times there seemed an insutti-
cheney OF tone in the higher reaches
~ thG soprano parts. 1t was amply
able qualities. The male sections con-
turiDuicd plentitude of volume and
aousht% spirit in their stirring pass
OF the chorus, was given most
praiseworthy performance.
tiuh Fortunate I'm Selections.
In the selection of its soloists. the
club was fortunate. Each with n ma
tional reputation, they justified fully
inc expectations OF all. In the vari-
Gus parts allotted to them. they sang
according TO the highest traditions Of
orator!o. Particularly effective were
the trio phrases in The Heavens Are
iei .,g and ON Thee Each Living
especially the closing phrases were
strik!ngly effective.
Miss H.nkle in her "vcrdurc Clad"
ana ana on Mighty Pens" disclosed splen-
winch evoked warm admiration. Her
voice commands the nexibiilty and
Dri!!!anGe required in the Haydn score.
Ihless l am much mistaken. her voice
mas lost something OF the volume
"hich II once had, and this was marked
IN the ensemble parts, but If there
miss another soprano who can sing
where TO seek for her
hnckcu's Arin Gets Ovation.
Mr Hackett in his aria I'm Native
mOrth gave US some of the best sing
M OF the evening. and 1t mer!ted
me warm response which it received
from The audience. This young artist
mas Il voice of delightful mellow
qua! under excellent control and
cathD!e of ample volume in its upDer
range. oPPet
Arthur Middleton. in many respecss
gave the most finished performances of
inc evening. His massive voice
agreeable and beautiful in all lis
reSfSterS. more than met every re-
1uirement of the score. and his superb
enumeration. as we'll as his keen sense
OF interpretation. deserve extravagant
praise. 1t is certain that the com
poser gave Raphael some OF the most
effective work of the oratorio. and
likewise the most eXactinE, but Mr..
Middleton was moro than equal to it's
demands. which is paying him a high
tribute.
Orchestra Is Satisfying.
The orchestra on this occasion was
thoroughly satisfactory. Its members
played with precision and with
ideiiiy to. tone. rhythm and leader
ship. Their accompanmentS were in
tenSely Interesting and they PLAYED
the Haydn score as we'll as one could
wish. Numerically, they were not up
to Metropolitan Opera House stand
ards, but the undiscerning ear found
little wanting in their tone supply
Last nights audience was large