Miss Ruton Concert

     “The large audience which invariably crowds every concert of note this season is a gratifying proof of the popularity of these entertainments. Last night Miss Ruton, a young soprano, supported by a number of artists, gave a concert at Dodworth Hall. This lady certainly possesses merit, but she requires long and severe training of her voice before she can occupy even a secondary place among artists of note. Our young American sopranos too often forget that the road to distinction in their sphere is an arduous one, and that their voices require more care and attention than contraltos. The latter seem to be the most numerous and most popular, and many of the débutantes in this line who appeared this season ill compare favorably with the most vaunted of the Italian artists. Such a contralto is Miss Hutchings, who sang a duet by Balfe with Miss Ruton, and gave ‘Beware, Beware,’ with archness and expression. Mr. Thatcher displayed a good deal of Sims ‘Reeves’ power in ‘Come into the Garden, Maud,’ and Mr. J. R. Thomas’ fine baritone voice was heard to advantage in Ernani and one of his own compositions. The pianists were Messrs. Pecher and Davis. The crying nuisance of repeated encores was disagreeably prominent at this concert. Applause, when deserved, should certainly be given to vocalists; but to thump on the floor with canes and umbrellas every time a singer opens his or her mouth is both doing the artist injustice and causing a great deal of annoyance to those who wish to hear good music.”