New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-02
MYSTICAL INTELLIGENCE.

r,,v 'ORAToRIo or ST. PauL To-SiGHr. Tue
Msn6elssohn Union will perform for the second tue
,bs Oratorio Of st. Paul ths evening at tue Cooper
In..ote, WITH full chorus and orchestra IneeN
u,ion Of this superior composition Of Menicsoha l,
We oopfded to Society which has such force 7nl
takes soch pains to do 1t properly The qn nAtie' %
This music are particularly well sdsp'eI 70 efhpt
good choral singing; pure writing for fonr VOICES IN
Grand manner BETTING the subject ine text OF this
oatorio has unusual inteest and thcrs - moreover
In II considerable attempt at dfa'nauc c'nsfnclon
In the opeuing part is the marty rdom q! S.tpheo,
then the conversion If PaUl, folosed By chmacteric
se.ais Then We have subject cal u sted to take
5,en hold Of the Christian feeling Of the apditofy.
-ber. ia a vigorous chorus, IS one him to desth"
-,b;cb nresepts excellenty well toe picture Of the
Jewish mob in ebultion of hate for the Apostle
Who Of all others, appeared to have the most
courage and ecstacy Of character. The SOM
bre chora's which portray tue sorrOws Of the
carly Christians are likewise among the most
ipteresting portions Of the work. TIE solos
ofthis like some other modern Oratorios general
.he least satisfactory for the reason that "heo choral
mssse, ana ultra-ful inst aton end melodyshoul
begin; bot the rule for writing orat rio melody ap
n.aIs TO be TO knock it on the hea1 so soon as il
appears TO have some shape and take up with lot Or
Goo -forselen ODDS and eI ds Of would-be incoiic
detail. There is rsason except ignorance folly and
pedantry, why the melody Of oraiorO should not he
81 clear, and square, and contiouols that Of an
opera. The aw ul crime OF being simple aod well
defined in tune-Wskng seems To haunt comp,Se IN
constructing those abotoDs called oratono melodies
O iuc,n ron. A fine voice and impsssoned manner
often carry off this solemn, pretentlous matter with
success not due to its trnc HueDcy and grace; but
singers Of the Mendelrsohn Union are good,
they create success for the melodies which is
stwetimes not intrinsic. We have great satisfaction
in citing the genuine OratOrio singing of Jatame I-
nemann. Sbe gives tue most careful readings Of her
music and with remarkable distncuess Of utterauce.
Miss Mary 4. Hawley, of otfr best voices, also
illustrates the atoo to the delight of the auditory
The number Of Young ladies among who b.ve
made progress and attained TO emineDce in oratOro
and concert sirgiog is remarkable. Mr. George S mp.
SOD has beautiful tenor VOICE. His rendt Of tue
Iuusc 20 well for the aria describing tee death
Of Stephen msy be especially cited. Tonight DR..
Gumete ore Of our best bsssos will take the part of
st. Paul. and doubtless give that intellectual charac
ter in bistory-snd here in art-wh much efloc;.
We wish 10 impress on our readers the excellent
effect of the choral singing Of thus society and the
quality Of the pieces which it gives Toe orchestra,
too Is good. Toe Instrumentation of MeOdelssOhn is
one OF his strong points. Not naturally felicitous
nelodht-and wanting the dramatic element
suficis nty strong to enable him to make opera
there is composer, who by virtue of his s8 good
TASTE aud for masicsl color, gives gicaer nteres;
10 bic orch estrsl details. These in the work in que
hop are among his most elaborate efforts, and, as
heard tonight, will sloDe reward al attendance The
orato,io is directed by Mr.. George w. Morgan, 80
ws! known for his skill in organ music, and his
familiarity with orstoiio matters.