SUMMER NIGHT CONCERTS.
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“Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast,” said Shakespeare,
and whether it does so or not it soothes the ruffled feelings of
the thousands who attend the summer night concerts at the new First
regiment armory on Michigan avenue near Sixteenth street. For the last
ten years the summer night concerts in this city have been given under
the direction of Theodore Thomas in the old exposition building, but
with the demolition of that time-honored structure Thomas has retired
from the summer musical arena, leaving his baton to be wielded by Max
Bendix, who for several seasons played the first violin in the Thomas
orchestra. The great exposition building, dirty and weather-beaten as
it was, had charms for the thousands who congregated there. It is true
that the occasional weird and unearthly shriek of a locomotive on the
Lake Front interfered sadly with the witching harmonies of Schumann or
Gounod and even drowned, at times, the ponderous volume of Wagnerian
outbursts. But it was delightfully cool and refreshing to sit among
the potted shrubs with which the great hall was dotted and drink in the
seductive strains simultaneously with one’s Seipp or Bass and watch the
never-ceasing procession of comely youths and airily clad maidens who
passed to and fro.
The atmosphere surrounding the armory concerts this year is perhaps
rather less democratic than that of the vanished exposition building,
but the general effect is the same. The massiveness of the structure as
viewed without heightens the pleasant impression received on stepping
within. The polished floor is covered for the most part with long rows
of neat chairs, but at each side of the big hall is a row of boxed
fir-trees behind which are scattered the miniature tables at which
light refreshments are served. Overhead are flags and bunting, while
light is supplied by rows of big electric lamps depending from slender
wires. Placed in niches at intervals along the walls are electric fans,
the incessant whirling of which supplies a pleasant draught, almost a
breeze, in fact, in the sultriest of weather.
As the hour arrives for the commencement of the concert the hall fills
up. The stream of amusement-seekers contains all qualities of people,
from the society belles of the adjacent avenues and their escorts to
the musically-inclined shop-girl from the West side, and the plump
capitalist to the thrifty book-keeper or ribbon salesman. Music is
the ostensible attraction for all, but it is quite as much to chat
with their friends in quiet nooks and to see what the other girls are
wearing that the prettily attired belles have made their appearance.
And some of the costumes are veritable dreams. The warmth of the summer
season affords every opportunity for the display of fetching feminine
apparel, and Solomon in all his glory was never arrayed like some of
the dames who patronize the summer night concerts.
The music itself is of the very best quality. Certain nights are
devoted to certain music. There are two “request” nights, when the
programs are made up from the numbers patrons have asked Director
Bendix to play. There are “popular” nights, when the classical idea
is pushed into the background for the nonce and the simplest of
compositions, the comprehension of which does not involve the knitting
of one’s brows and the tearing out of one’s hair by the roots, played.
There are two “ball-room” nights, when the best style of dance music is
played. Thus all tastes are catered to and all desires satisfied. He
who hankers for classical music may attend on such nights as classical
music is given and stay away on others. Others may consult their tastes
in the same way.
The general idea, that of supplying two hours of light entertainment
each night through the hot weather season, is a most excellent one.
The delicious strains discoursed by the fifty shilled musicians float
through the air, sending the listener into dreamland, their soothing
effect enhanced, possibly, by the magic effect of a mug of golden Bass
and the clouds blown from a fragrant weed. And ever and always there is
the procession of beauty, daintily clad, that pampers the eye and gives
rein to pleasant imaginations. A garden of pretty girls in a setting of
sweet sound--that is a good definition of the summer night concerts in
Chicago.
The concerts at the armory are given under the direction of Mr. Anson
Temple, the same active gentleman who manages the Schiller theatre on
Randolph street.