The Great Festival

What can one say of the great May Festival in the space of a column or so when eaeh one of the five magnificent concerts of which it was composed is deserving of two or more columns? It is simply preposterous to attempt any description of these grand events under such circumstances, so our readers will have to be content with a rambling and desultory article, giving the opinions of others, to a great extent, as gathered by the writer. The concerts were each successful, not only as fine musical events, but in a financial sense as well, which is the particular sense that is very important, for upon that hinges the future. Excellent It is but just to congratúlate the management upon the admirable arrangements for taking care of the people who came. There was no erowding, jaming, or unseemly liaste. The hall was not packert as last year, only as inany tickets being sokl for each entertainment as the hall wonld accommodate. The ushers, a goodly number of whom were young ladies, did their work well. Difficult to Make a Choice- Of a large number of people the writer has asked: " Well, which of the concerts did you like the best?" The invariable answer has been : "I can hardly say. That is a difficult question to answer; all were excellent." Admirers of Wagner, however, were sometimes prompt ia answering: "I liked Thursday evening the best." The general public, who are fond of a mixture in their music - and the list isa large one - prefeired the miscellaneous program of Friday evening. Saturday evening was not without its enthusiastic admirers, by any means. Ann Arbor's Big One of the most prominent musicians taking part in tlie great May Festival, but whose modest request not to use his name vvill be complied witli, said in effect these words : " 1 wonder if Michigan people - for I take it that all Michigan is interested in this wonderful little city- rippreciate what tliey have here in the University School of Music ? " Why, jost think of it! At this Festival Prof. Stanley, besides acting as director for the chorus and orchestra, produced a Symphony tliat will give hiin a standing among composers ; this work of his brain will live loDg after he has passed away, and be rendered for generations to come for the delectatiou of lovers of music, for it certainly possesses greatmerit. " Mr. Lamson took his place among the soloists, and no one can say that he was not completely equal to the task, and tliíit his star tlid not shine with a brilliancy eqnal to any of the otliers. " Alberto Jonas appeared as a piano soloist, and his rendition of Beetlioven's Emperor Concerto was so full of expression, and so perfect that it would be dirficult to find hisequal to-day in all America. He is a great pianist. " Mr. Zeitz, also, is a violiinst of far more than ordinary abilitv. He demonstrated that fact to the satiafaction of all musicians who heard him. " Look at that array of talent! Ido not say this to flatter your school here, but there is not another School of Music in America that could produce four such masters. If this high standard is continued, it will be but a few years until this school will become so famous that many of the students who now go abroad will come here in preference, for advanced study. " It is astonishing to me when I think of the superior talent which is now engaged here. It is a grand thing for the school, aud is establishing a fine reputation for it." The above was a private conversation is written from memory, and is told in simpler language, no doubt, than that employed by the eminent gentleman who did the talking, but it is in effect what he said. The conversation brought out some significant facts. A Great Concert- Ilerr Lohse, t)ie husband of Frau Klafsky, was a spectator at the Wanner concert Thursday evening. When at home he is a director, and stands high in the musical circles of Berlin, and all Germany for that matter. In speaking of the work of the chorus that evening he thought it marvelous. He was astonished that after only one rehearsal a practically perfect concert of Wagner mnsic could be given. His praise of the concert was without stint. Feil in Love With Us- Ann Arbor has made a conquest. ít captured Frau Lohse-Klafsky's heart. She acknowledged it herself, and with evident intense pleasure. She was delighted with the audiénce ; admired the shining liead of Prof. Stanley; went into ecstacies over the chorus; was wild witli pleasure when the boys gave the University yell for her benefit; and expressed herself as thoioughly happy because of her visit here. She was so captivated with our little city and the musical people that she carne in contact with that she assured Prof. Stanley that if she ever came to America again it would be her fondest desire to visit Ann Arbor once more. There is no question but that she was the dearest lady of any who took part in any of the concerts. Levity aside Frau Klafsky can be assured that her good thoughts and words are reciprocated. She is not only a great but a pleasing artist- two things that are not always combined. It Was a Great Success - The production Saturday evening of the Biblical Opera of Samson and Delilah, in its entirety, was something new for this section, and we have the authority of Max Heinrieh in stating that the production was practically faultless. Mrs. Bloodgood asDelilah was charming. She has a rich, mellow contralto voice, highly cultivated and under perfect control. Mr. Williams, as Samson, gave general satisfaction. He has a sweet, pleasant voice, though not extremely powerful. It is seldom that the kettle-drummer becomes the hero of an evening, but tliis was an exception. At the rehears" al the boys in the chorus had been attracted by hia remarkable agility in handling the drumsticks, and they put in their dimes and bought liitn a bouquet, and when Iris time carne lie created a gieat sensution, and bowed bis thanks with the grace of a prima donna. It was liis first great conquest. Prof. Stanley's Symphony- On Friday afternoon the orohestra rendered a piece of music that no audience in the workl had ever before listened to. It was the composition of Prof. Stanley, Symphony in F major, dedicated by its author to President Angelí. It was received with great manifestations of deliglit; by the ordinary people because of their great regard for the author, and by the musical people because of the real excellence of the piece. One prominent citizen, who is no novice in music, prouounced it equal to the (vork of the great masters. Even the Detroit Tribune correspond3nt spoke kindly of it, so it must have ireat nierit, for he is a criüc who has an idea that to be a great critic, one must be a very severe critic, so small imperfections are put under the magniiying glass, and thus bis pentakes thein lown. At the close of the performance abou:juet of huge proportions was handed to Prof. Stanley, labeled, " A Víctor to a Víctor. " When dissected the floral package proved to be a fine Victor bi3ycle. As Prof. Stanley rode the first safety that appeared on our streets, he svas not downed this time. Great 'Work by the Orchestra - From all moutlis come praise for the orchestra. The brilliant execution, the almost faultless rendering of every part assigned its artists - for every member was an artist in his speciality - added (vomlerfully to tl ie enjoyment of the auJience. Althougli no such extravagant lemonstrations were enacted as in the ipplause given the kettle-drummer, vet t did not follow tbat they were not appreciated. The unaninious verdict is ;hat no better orchestra work was ever listehed to in Ann Arbor. Sorry Were the Speeulators - It is not often tliat the general public rejoices over any ones discomfiture and hard luck, but the failure of those wlio bought up Festival tk'kets for the purpose of speculating apon them to realize anything upon their investment, causes no tears to be shed. The scènes of a year ago were not repeated, and it is altogetluir probable tliat the future will be free from this objectionable feature. A Dusky Diamond Star - W. L. Miggett, who is attending the engineering department in the University said to The Times yesterday: "Mr. Williams, the tenor who sang in University hall during the May Festival, is a Welchman and a former resident of Massillon, Ohio, where he was a coal shoyeler in the mines. He bas a brother who is as good a singer as the tenor, but who prefers the profession of a miner to going on the stago. Mr. Williams greatly resembles McKinley, who is also a resident of Stark coimty. Tbe Stark county people are the boys. You know T come from 'tifrere myself.'". - Daily Times. An Opportunity for Ann Arbor - The May Festiual just closetl lias redemonstrated the fact that was so glaringly apparent at the May Festival of last year, v:z : this university city has outgrown University Hall, and a new auditorium, with at least doublé it's seating capacity, is greatly neetled. It will be rernembered that when the present hall was built it was thought to be so large thatitseldom, if ever, would be fllled to its utmost capacity : that it was built for all time to come, and that it would never be outgrown. So great was the fame of this hall that the American Cyclopaedia devoted considerable space to it's description as one of the largest auditoriums in America. ■ But as the demand sprang up for more coinmodious assembly rooms, the demand was met, and to-day University Hall is but a moderately sized auditorium, with many in the country quite or more than doublé it's size. ' The demands here have increased also, and this building, which seemed so large, has been out-grown in less than a quarter of a century. A'musician who belongs to the orchestra said : " The concerts given here at your May Festival are equal to any produced in this country, even those in Cincinnati, which are advertised all over the continent. It isto be regretted that you do not have sufficient room in your hall to seat 2,000 or 3,000 more people. Your musicians .here are wasting their energies when they give such magnificent coacerts.with only some 2,000 listeners. There are thousands of people in this countrytwho would travel hundreds of miles to hear these concerts if they could be assured of seats and accommodations after they arrive here. "We shall hope to come to Ann Arbor before long and find such an'auditorium." The above is given as the opinión of one who [knows the merit of our May Festivals. This year the management did not advertiseoutside of this vicinity, and if any strangers were here they were entertained by friends or relatives. There were no transients, that is, people who came as strangers, in town. As a consequencu Ann Arbor as a city, reaped no pecuniary benefit. Supposing, for instance, Ann Arbor had a hall which would seat 6,000, and the Festival was thoroughly advertised. Then supposing again that 1,000 people from abroad came here - a moderate estimate - they would spend at least $5 a piece during the three days of the Festival, not counting the $4 each for their tickets. That would make the snuglittle sum of $5,000 for Ann Arbor, to say nothing of the $4,000 extra going to the musical society. Here is a plain mathematical problem, which the sirnplest mind can understand. It is a gain of $9,000 to Ann Arbor. Even the small number that came last year left, it is estimated, some $1,200 or $1500 more than was left here this year. TVliat il" Ann ArtDOT sliould bond liereelf to build a hall, allowing the University Musical Society to assume the burden of paying for it by these concerto, would it not be a profitaible investnicnt for Ann Arbor ? It certa i uly would. But of conree Ann Arbor wtU not do it. Shie is too conservative to enter into anything tlvat would help hierselt along in such a rapid and foeautiful way. Thjen again, an auditorium of this Bort would bring other great events lierO. Let it have a stage properly ïïtted, and ifhe great theatrical and opera troups who now come no nearer than Detroit o rToledo, would come to Ann Artior for they would be given an audience that would inducethem t9 make this a stopping place. The outsiders would again be with us, and instead of coming once a year they would come many times a year and each time our city would le the gainer. As one enterprise begets another, th edemand for hotel accommodations (Continued on Sth page.) THE GREAT FESTIVAL (Continued frora flrst puge.) ■would cause capital to seek investancut here in hotel enteïprises, anti hustead of Aun Arbor boins a plaoe that wouid !►;■ shun-i ■;!. as ii now is on t"nat account, it would be a place tHiat woulil be son'iit. I; Aun Ailior liad hotel accommodations it would le the greatest coi Tontion city in Mitíhigan. Eïvery tíer íind orgranixation would like tó come here, lut the invariable ery is, "you liav eao hotels in Aun Arbor, to take care o.' us." lTo be sure nearly every priva ïe house in the city would be open for tiae reception o roomers, and boardlng hlouses are numerous, lut tlx general public doei no tkae to fnat sort of iing, and prefers a. liotel. Here is Aun Arlvor's opportunity? Will Btue gnasp it ? Or is her oonservatlBm sueh tha.t she would preiter to "mog along" in tlve same oíd rut ? About the Woman's Gym Fuud - At a meeting of the gymnasium committee of the Woman's League held May IS the following resolution was passed: Resolved, That since on Saturday, May 9, the management of the Ann Arbor Railroad placed at the disposal of the 'Woman's League their excursión trains between Ann Arbor and Toledo and since the entire sum received frorn lite sale of excursión tickets was made available for the building fund of the Woman's Building, and no part of it was retained by the Ann Arbor road nor used to meet any of the expenses of the excursión, therefore the thanks of the Woman's League are thereby tendered to the management of the railroad in appreciation of their very great kindness. For the gymnasium committee of the Woman's League, Kathabixe F. Reighaed, Secretary. The proceeds of the excursión to Toledo given by the Ann Arbor Railroad are $242 for all tickets sold. Of this the gymnasium fund received $172.37, the remainder going to defray expenses and pay the Oratorical Association. Of the $172.37 the association gives $57.92 froin all the Julius Caesar performances this spring. The association received 114.45. E. E. Calkins' commission on soda water tickets, $55; Mrs. Jarley's wax works $177.35; Tuesday Club, Jackson, $10; Toledo excursión, $172.37; proceeds of play given by six girls, $10.25; Mrs. Mary Lou Dickinson, $4. The refreshmenta served after the Festival coneerts netted the Gym. $155.00. Mrs. A. B. Stevens, $vho took this enterprise in hand, carried it out successfully to the smallest détail. Rooms A and B were artistically decorated by Miss Alice Hunt, the Chinese room beiug supplied with articles from the museum. The associate members of the Women's League eheerfully responded to the calis of Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Campbell by furnishing coffee, cake, tables and napery. Many tlianks are due the young ladies wlio served, also to the ladies of the pharmacy department foi ent flowers. Credit should be given Mr. Mingay, of the Argus, who printec tickets, Mr. Holmes for drayage, Mr O. M. Martin and Mr. Dieterle for chairs, also to Messrs. Mills, Eber bach, Alams, Cady, Xickels, Stimson Maynard, Johnston, Dean & Co., to Cousins & Hall, Miss Walton, Mrs Buzz, Messrs. Cheever, Swan, Weaver Parmalee and to the various churches for services contributed.