Thing Of The Past

       Successful May Festival Closed Saturday Night
                                   ____________

                             WAS A STIRRING FINAL
                                   ____________

       To a Superior Season of Music That Was Provided.
                                   ____________

           Prof. Zeitz Demonstrated His Ability as a
                      Coneuctor of a Large Chorus.
           The Hall is Not Large Enough For Crowds.
                                   ____________

Saturday afternoon's concert of the May Festival was chiefly an orchestral exhibition of a popular character, beginning with the overture, "Hansel & Gretel," by Humperdinck, followed by "Ronde d'Amour," by Westerhout. Of course, there was an encore, for in spite of the ultra classical atmosphere of our university town, there is real flesh aud blood below it all.
Accordingly the orchestra answered with " A Petit Pas" - an orchestrated frolic by Sudissi. The second number introduced Miss Lohbiller, a tall, graceful young lady with a clever-cut, high soprano voice, which. she uses skillfully.
She sang "Villanelle, " by Dell' Acqua, giving the coloratura effects easily and distinctively, quite deserving the double encore she received, to which she responded with bows.
The next number was for the orchestra: The first, third and fourth movements of Goldmark's Symphony No. 1, in E flat major, op. 26. It was well rendered and was equally well received.
Then, as though to give the audience an abundance for their money, Van Veactor Rogers, the harpist of the orchestra, played a Fautosie by some author whose name was not announced, and in answer to a recall he played another fanatasie.
Mr. Rogers is a competent artist upon his instrument, and his performance was an agreeable diversion.
The orchestra's next number presented the (a) Valse and (b) Czardaos from the "Coppelia," by Delibes, after which Miss Towle sang the aria: "Che faro," from Gluck's "Orphueus, " receiving a double recall.
The concert ended with. the performance by the orchestra of Steck's "Liebesgefluester" and "Last Day of Terror" overture by Litolff.

It was a stirring finale to a superior season of music that was provided through the presentation of Saint-Saen's superb opera of "Samson and Delilah," because it gave to the audience the Festival orchestra in its best form (having publicly played the work upward of 30 times it exhibited the best efforts of the Choral society and introduced George Hamlin as 'Samson," Gwylim Miles as the "High Priest," Myron W. Whitney, jr., as ''Abimelech" and Mme. Josephine Jacoby as " Delilah. "
Mr. Miles was very accurate and quite agreeable in the singing of his songs, his voice being wholly adequate, while his dramatic appreciation was distinct and forceful.
Mr. Whitney sang the small passages falling to his care very well indeed, and Mr. Hamlin carried the solos of his part with superior vocal power and judgment.
The triumph of the evening, however, indeed the pronounced feature of the entire festival, was the unqualified success of Min. Jacoby. Her magnificent voice, her true vocal conception of the score, her personality and her intensely dramatic temperament, all combined to place her Delilah on a plane above everything ; so much, so, indeed, that the audience - and it was an Ann Arbor audience, remember - did not hesitate to break in upon orchestral interludes and finales, to bestow its applause.
The University choral Union may very contently rest for the coming year upon their work Saturday evening. It was adequate in every respect. Too much credit cannot be given to Prof. Herman Zeitz the conductor. He has fully demonstrated his ability to conduct a large chorus and have the members do good work.
The free fire and spirit of the chorus Saturday night was admirable.
One wish was heard repeated from all sides, "Oh, for a hall seating 6,500 people.