New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-26
MUSIC
sTEINwAY HALI-THE NJ

srEINWAY HALL-THE MESSIAH
A performance Of Handeps Messiah by the
Harmonic Society essential part of the Christmas
festival In NewYork as the turkey plumpuddng IT.
self and certainly there could more glorious close
OF tho festival which lies at the foundation OF Christianity
than this monarch Of oratoros in which expressed
all the pathos the emny the divine beauty super
nal majesty and the happiness and triumph OF Christian
faith We have not heard for years more enjoyable
performance than that OF last night The choruesand
who is nsensbe the grandeur Of tho gigantic choruses
Of "The Messiah were given with the precision which
OF long practice and the spirit and truth OF ex
preston which born OF true musical intelligence and
musical enthusiasm The Harmonic Society has rarely
done itself more credit We commend especially
tho singing Of "For unto US q child born" IAN we
like sheep" notable for the excellent dminuendo Lift
up your gates" the grand "Halleujah," which was
almost fauess that wonderful closing chorus which
regret to say hundred or 80 OF the audience were
foolish enough TO lose and il-mannered enough to
disturb, by going out in tho midst OF it, Mr Simpsons
Comfort ye my people, excellent and his air mme-
diaely following It, Every valley shall be exalted
likewise given with taste and correctness This gem
teman always welcome in oratorio because his voice
has that pathetic quality which counts for more in this
style OF music perhaps, than any other. Mr.. Thomas,
who took the bass parts made good Of his agreeable
organ but he has hardly tho necessary robustness and
animation, and consequently was often tame. But his
reeitatiye, "For behold darkness shall cover
praise We wish to be understood literally
when we confess that we are at a loss to determine
whether the honors OF tho evening belong to Madame
Rosa or Miss Hutchngs Madame Rosa Is admitted to be
the first Of living oratoro singers and have seldom
heard in better voice than last night Her first reel
totiye And 10 the Angel Of the Lord alittle gem
OF vocalizatiOn; all her subsequent airs we're SUI
porbly rendered; and 81 know that my Redeemer
liyethv made a profound impression by the
delicacy Of the phrasng and the general correct
ness Of tho conceptlOn-the latter part "tor now Is
Christ rsen being especially instinct with dramatic pas
sion: due praise for all this belongs 20 Madame Parepa
Rosa and hearty applause she got but Miss Hutch
lngs received abundany the most eloquent testimonial
which an audience bestow their tears There Is an ex
quste pathos in her voice. and her singing Of that most
pathetic OF all airs lie despsed" seemed to stir tho
depths OF feeling ia hundreds Of hearts until the sensation
became absolutely painful When she repeated H. IN
obedience TO demand there was many bowed head and
molstened eye among her listeners II IS no slight com
plmen 10 the young lady that this air should have made
such profound impression when It is remembered that
il occurs Immediately after Madame ROsa's He shall
feed His hOck'
The orchestra was better than Il at either Of the
preceding ora0ros this season, but the fault which we
have before indicated is still apparent There lack OF
dehcacy There il little inspiration in the playing It Is
too much like job-work. The accompaniment to 81
know that my Redeemer lveth," for Instance, was
very coarse There Is deep feeling IN the music but
the instruments did little nothing TO interpret
It; yet the members Of the orchestra are nearly
all good players The fact IT, an orchestra must
always take its inspiration from the conductors II he
does nothing but mark the time and give an occasional
signal, the performance VIII inevitably DO mechanical
Mr. Ritter Is capable musician and good chorus leader;
but with every disposition 20 be kind and sst TO gentle
man who has received than his share Of censre we
must admit that an orchestra IS beyond his
control He has now had Mr.. Theodore Thomass forty
mon under his direction long enough 70 Undue them
with his spirit he has made them precise in their time
and ntonaons that TO be as far as he can 60
The orchestra In his hands has good body but no soul
The organ-playng, by Mr. +. j. Connolly, was in good
taste and added great deal 10 the general eject The
Hall was densey crowded. and several ladies were re-
moved fainting.
FRENCH THEATER.
| Last night Mile. Tostee and "Ihe Grand Ouch
ess" which be the attractions nj this house only
three times more this season. drew together very ap-
prccatyo audience The upper part OF the theater was
moro thoroughly filed than usual, and the performance
was an excellent The opera will be repeated to-
/ f,-ht nj to.rp tina matinee