It Was Truly Brilliant Never Has There Been A May Festival That Surpassed The One Just Closed Calve Captured Everybody Nevertheless The Other Artists And Participants Were Given Their Share Of The Honors

The May Festival bas come and gone. It filled expectations. Altliough péople liad been longing for it for many weeks, and had built up within their minds high hopes ior the event, yet not from even one concert did any of the audiences go away disappointed. That is saying a great deal. The Festival was a glorious success from start to finish, and Prof. Stanley, to whom this success is largely due, raav well feel proud of it. He lias done for Ann Arbor what but few men could do for a place of this size. He has made it a musical center, and has given the people here an opportunity to listen to the best of music by the best of musicians. He has done more than that, he has educated our people, so that they understand and appreciate classical music. He has also made the name of Ann Arbor famous all over the world, for wherever there are people learned in this delightful and refining art, there the name of our city is known and favorable so. Of what benefit will it be to our readers for us to go through each of these concerts and give a "criticism?" A criticism is not within our province, for a lack of knowledge relative to music would forbid that. Every train that carne to our city bore a great number of people as visitors, to attend the Festival concerts, and University Hall was filled at each concert, wbile at the Calve concert even standing room was at a premium. The rain of Thursday and Friday, while it was dismal and dispiriting, did not deter the crowds from assembling. People came in delegations from as far south as Cincinnati and as far west as Chicago, and from what we were able to learn they were well cared for, and there was no fault finding, either with accommodations or any of the arrangements. It is estimated that fully one thousaud strangers visited our city last week. TIIURSDAY EVKNING. Among the uew soloists who were iere and extended their reputations thereby, were Mr. J. II. McKinley, who surprised even bis friends by reacbing the high registers with perfect ease. The prettiest thing he sang was no doubt an aria from "The Queen of Sheba." Miss Jennie Mae Spencer, contralto was new to this place, but pleased her auditors very tnucb. An extremely cordial reception was tendered Mis. Francés Dunton-Wood, who rendered the recitative and aria from Donna Garitea, in an exquisite mamier. The program for the flrst concert was one of the very best of the series, and brought out more stars in its niiscellaneous compositiou than did any of the others. Campanari reudered the beautiful aria "Ah Patria Mia," in a way that brought him an enthusiastic encoré. But probably the great feature of the evening was the strikingly beautiful "Stabat Mater," by Kossini, rendered by the soloists and the great chorus, accompanied by the orchestra. FKIDAY AFTERNOON. At the Friday afternoon concert the orcüestra had its day. And right well was it imprpved. It is no flattery to say, because it is truth, that Mr. Mollenhauer is succeeding in putting this orchestra ou a level with the old Boston Syuiphony, that won such glory for itself under Nickiflh. In reappearance liere improvement lias been noted, and to day this Boston Festival Orchestra is a rival of any other orchestra in America. At the Friday afternoon concert Mr McKinley was forced to disappoint the audience, but when it was announced that petite Miss Stewart would take his place, the cheers told how glad her tlionsands of admirers were to liear lier once inore. And si ie (iid not disappoint them. The height of exciteineut culminated in THE CALVE CONCERT. Calve! What can be said of Calve? Alinost the minute her feet touched the loor of the stage she had captured the audience! Souie six thousand eyes were strained in expectano.y for her appearance, and when her presence aanifested itself, every one of the six thousand either daneed with joy or sparkled with pleasure. Calvéis aqueen. As one man expressed it: "I have read ibout queens but Calve is the flrst one [ ever saw." She has a charra of manier that is not only captivating but so ngenuous, so natural, that she wins at once even the most un-winable. And her voice ! Accompained by a lute as she was in one selection given, it was impossible to teil by the ear which was the flute and which tlie suman voice, so pure, so olear, so marvelous were here notes. Why, even ;he songsters of the air that charm us with their sweet melodies in the clear morning sunshine, could to advantage take lessons of Calve. That is the impression Calve left liere in Ann Arbor. She is the only great singer who has ever appeared liere that has not been criticised. And when the Ann Arbor critica can flnd no fault, it can be put down as a fact that the artist is not only au fait but sang defaut. This entire concert was charming, simply ravishing to the senses. Mr. Meyn gave in perfect form Pogner's Addi-Rss - "Die Meistersinger," theu the orchestra rendered three exquisite little selections by Th. Dubois, that not only pleased the auüience, but proved to every one tliat the orchestra was composed of flfty first class artists. Then caine Calve, and everyone went into raptares over her. But even with their appreciation of that great singer, Mrs. Bloodgood, who rendered the Aria by Gluek, "Yieni che poi sereno," was given a reception that raust have been pleasing, as it certainly was flattering. The good nature of the audience was shown to Mr. Berthald as well, for bis fine version of Siegmund's Love Song, fiom "Die Walkuere." Berthald stands well up to tlie front, and is greatly admired by the audiences here before which he has appeared. The reception given Mlle. Calve was evldently pleasiug. She seemed to express pleasure in her every action, and to watch the expression of her face when some new form of applause more enthusiastic tlian had heretofore been giveD, - one of the college yells for instiince - was sprung upon her, was a studj' and delight. Should this lady ever again favor this city with her presence the capacity of University Hall would need to be doubled. She was very gracious iii responding to two eucores. THE SATURDAY CONCERTS. At 2:30 p. m. the concert goers were treated to an orchestral matinee that was about as near perfection as could be. Mr. Meyn also rendered an aria from "Che Faro" by Gluck. ïhe grand culmination of the series was in the evening when the chorus of 300 voices rendered "Arminius," by Max Bruch, it being the flrst performance of this oratorio in Michigan. Mrs. Bloodgood, Mr. Berthald and Mr. Lamson were the soloists, and they sustained their reputations. Mr. Renwick presided at the organ, and Trof. Stanley acted as conductor. ïhe chorus surpassed any of its former work, so the musicians say who know. Thus closed the series, brilliaut from an artistic standpoint, eminently satisfactory from the standpoint of a pleased audieuce ; successful from a flnancial standpoint. What more could be desired? And what more could be said? FESTIVAL NOTES. Calve can not speak or sing a word of English. It is not necessary. Calve can have anything she wants i Ann Arbor. The town is hers. The concert was heard on the Ion distance 'phone in Detroit, Chicago, anc other cities. There is a rumor - hut it is a rumo only - that Melba will be secured fo uext season. (Continued on 8th Page.) T WAS TRULY BRILLIANT, Contiuued from Ut Pa?3 .1 One man paid $15 for two tickets to he Oalve concert, and thought himelf fortúnate. There were soine in the audience who hought that the orjran was too loud at imes Saturday evening. Mollenhaur has improved since he irst canie liere, as well as his orchestra. ?homas is his only rival. Little Miss Stewart still liolds a warm lace in the hearts of Ann Arbor people. lier bird-Iike notes are a pleasant memory. Mernbers of the orchestra are warm in praise of the chorus, and several of them asserted that it was superior to any chorus in Boston. The ladies of the chorus appeared Saturday afternoon in their gay spring hats, and the scène both upon the stage and in the audience was a pretty one. A young man from Detroit who squaudered $4 to secure a ticket and a good seat for the Calve concert, told a friend after it was over: "I never spent $4 with leas regret in my life." All the great cities of the west had delegations liere during the entire series of concerts, and there were some present from as far east as New York City, and as far west as Salt Lake City. The weather was a damper upon f uil dress and light spring costumes during Thursday and Friday. But it did not dampen the ardor and enthusiasm of the people. Saturday was delightful. A lady who has excellent judgment criticised the sending of boquets to the stage for our home people who took part in the concerts. She thinks it not in good taste. If friends or relatives desire to show their kindly feelings in that way, either present the flowers after the concert is over or send thein to the home of the one favored, as now it looks as if it was done for show only. An old soldier who attended the Friday afternoon orchestral matinee said that the description of the battle as executed by the orchestra, was wonderfully realistic. It carried liirn back to the scène of the war, and he had the same feeling aroused in him that he feit when on the field and in an engagement. This is one of the fiuest compliments we have vet heard. Col. Peyton, of Salt Lake City, carne to Aun Arbor to attend the May Festival. In conversation with friends after the event, he express hiinself as being much pleased with the concerts. He said that althougli he had been to Xew York to witness the grand opera, y et he considered the music of this festival much more satisfactory. Such complimeiits, frona people who are capable of judging, are indeed corapliments. Prof. Stanley's nervsouness while acting as conductor was in considerable contrast to the ease and grace of former years, which told the weight and strain tliis great event had been upon him. He now deserves a good rest, and everybody hopes he will pass the suminer in Europe in a quiet marnier, calculated to restore unduly taxed nerves and wasted vitality. "We all want him for many jears vet. His services to Ann Arbor in a musical way are beyond price. 3111e. Calve was a guest at the Cook House from ïhursday afternoon to Friday forenoon, and before leaving she requested her manager to see the Ann Arbor newspaper men and say to thein that she was, "delighted with her stay in Ann Arbor." She also wanted it understood that her entertainment while at the hotel was all that could be desired, and that the meals furnished her were equal to any she had ever partaken of at the Cadillac. In fact she wanted the people of Ann Arbor to know that she left the city charmed with her reception and pleased with her entertainment. It is said that when Calve first learned that she was to come to Ann Arbor, a little place of only 15,000 inhabitants, she protested vigorously, and was inclined to refuse. But she finally consented, and carne, rnuch against her inclination. This opinión held its sway until she entered the hall and for the first time gazed on the great audience assembled. ïhe magnificent chorus, the great organ, the Burprising audience for so small a place, were all happy revelations to her, and when she fully grasped the situatiou she deterrriued to do pennance for her rebellionst honghts and give the audience her best efforts. And her manager sCated that ho never heard Calve s!ug better in bis life. She was pleased with her enthusiastic receptione she revelled in the college yells, and did what Bhe seldom ever does, responded to an encoré. Not only once but twice did she respond. Calve was so happily surprised in Arm Arbor as Ann Arbor was in Calve.