University of Virginia Library

Two Weeks Of Top-Flight Culture
Brought Here By Arts Festival

By Fred Heblich

Six top-flight cultural events
highlighted 1969's just completed
two week long Artist's Festival,
with Misha Dichter's piano concert
and a Broadway cast's production
of Man of La Mancha receiving the
most critical acclaim.

Aside from these two events, the
festival included the Virginia
Player's production of "Luv," the
performance of The Seasons by the
University and Mary Baldwin Glee
Clubs, a lecture by Sesquicentennial
Visiting Scholar William C. Seitz,
and a concert by the Festival
Winds.

Misha Dichter

Misha Dichter's performance
was the "featured event" of the
series according to John Bakhaus,
Chairman of the Artists Festival.
Mr. Dichter, who has played to
capacity audiences throughout this
country and in foreign countries,
did not seem to be discouraged by
the relatively small turnout for his
concert Monday night in Cabell
Hall Auditorium. If he was, it
certainly was not apparent in his
performance. His absolute genius at
the keyboard captivated the audience.
Mr. Dichter displayed an
impressive ability to change and
control the volume and speed of
the music, keeping the audience
attentive, almost to the point of
hypnotism. He evoked a dramatic
and emotional aurora during the
concert which left the listener
feeling weak at the end. His
interpretive mastery of his instrument
is the sign of a brilliance
which is a rare treat indeed to
witness. It is sad that more students
were not on hand to see this, the
outstanding performance of the
series.

Broadway Cast

Man of La Mancha was performed
by a Broadway cast, although
not the original, and drew
the largest student response. The
case showed considerable talent,
marred occasionally by an inadequate
acoustical arrangement in
University Hall, but on the whole
the show was so good that the
performance was very enjoyable
and impressive. David Atkinson,
playing the leading role of Don
Quixote, displayed exceptional acting
and vocal ability. Other members
of the cast, Patricia Marland,
and Louis Criscuolo, as Aldonza
and Sancho, were more than
adequate; although they at times
appeared sloppy in trying to overcome
the difficulties of performing
in University Hall. Mr. Bakhaus said
that the University Union "broke
even" on the production of Man of
La Mancha even though "University
Hall was as packed as it ever had
been for an Artist Series performance."

"Prophet or Victim?"

William C. Seitz, Professor of
Fine Arts and Brandeis University,
was one of two Sesquicentennial
Visiting Scholars at the University
recently. He lectured on "The
Artist: Prophet or Victim?" Mr.
Seitz showed an astonishingly fresh
outlook on this subject, which was
provocative and extremely interesting.
Refuting the notion of the
distinguished scholar, eccentric and
aloof, Mr. Seitz seemed to be
amazingly in touch with the world.
With lectures like this one, one can
only be optimistic of the other
visiting scholars who will be speaking
here in the future, as part of the
Sesquicentennial year.

Best Effort

The Virginia Players gave what
has been called their "best effort in
years." They put on a very laudable
production of Murry Schisgal
Broadway success, the comedy
"Luv." The play came close to
achieving professionalism, and the
acting was quite good. Leading man
Paul Kuritz handled his role with an
admirable balance of talent and
execution. Robert Nersian and
Penny Clark also gave credible
accounts of their acting ability.

Filled with slapstick comedy
and humor of the "absurd" the
play was received warmly by the
audience who viewed it, and
showed good response and enthusiasm.
With this performance the
Virginia Players established their
ability and showed signs of a bright
future.

Combined Forces

The combined forces of the
University Glee Club and the Mary
Baldwin Choir gave an impressive
performance of Haydn's "The
Seasons." Donald Loach did a fine
job directing the vocal sections and
the orchestra, and balancing the
sound. The Glee Club and the Choir
blended well in most numbers, and
the playing of the orchestra (members
of the Richmond Symphony)
at times bordered on brilliance. The

three soloists, Janet Stewart, soprano,
John Roberts, tenor, and
William F. Cale III, baritone, all
displayed exceptional vocal talent.
The Seasons was delightfully enjoyable
and effective. Performances of
this caliber should not go unnoticed
by the students.

In the final presentation of the
year's Tuesday Evening Concert
Series, the Festival Winds presented
a concert of pieces for windwood
quintet and piano. Although not
adventurous, the performances
were professional and competent,
and the repertoire was balanced and
imaginative. The program was
strongly devoted to French composers
and in this aspect the music
tended more to sobriety than
novelty. On the whole the concert
was a display of fine musicianship.
(Roy Bonavita's opinion will come
out tomorrow.)

The Artist's series has been
shown to be very successful. A note
of gratitude should be given to
John Bakhaus, Mike Murphy, Duncan
McRae, and all the other
members of the University Union
who helped to bring all this
enriching entertainment to culture-starved
Charlottesville. Next year's
Artist Festival promises to be even
better.