The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-05-08
na,,ar fron Boston.
The Oratorio of Sdmson-Fanny Kenaole's
Reading.

Reading.
BOSTON, May 6, 1868.
To the Editor Of the Press:
At an early hour last evening the spacious
Music Hall was filled with brilliant audi
ence. l believe every seat was taken and all
were anxious to hear Handeps celebrated ora
torio of Samson, many portions of which are
truly sublime. 1t is more dramatic than some
other works of this great master, and there
fore more pleasing to many. The music is
not SO 1orid as that of Moses in Egypt or most
of Rossini's compositions, yet it possesses other
characteristics which have won tie approba
ton of past generations and will continue to
please the Anglo-Saxon race through all COM
ing time Some of the songs will never be
forgotten and the chorusses are grand. 1t ha'
been said that the human voice, when its ut
terances are clearly articulated and it is sup
piled with good lungs, will fill 100000 cubic
feet of air, provided they be enclosed in prop
er manner, and the voice placed and directed /
as it may be. This space would be represent
ed by hall 125 feet long by eighty feet wide,
and forty feet high. The same voice in sing
ing can fill much larger space. Now we can
form some idea from such data what will be
the effect of seven hundred voices reinforced
by one hundred wind and stringed instru-
ments and large organ, which were all heard
iu chorus last evening. 1t seemed, sometimes
as if roof and rafter and walls would give way,
SO powerful was the volume of sound that
arose within this great hall. 1t was enough to
take one from his seat and carry him up I'M
less he was made of very gross materials.
1t may be true that seven hundred
voices, singing or speaking together
will travel no farther than single
voice yet it will readily be perceived that the
volume of sound is greatly enlarged, But L
will not pursue this idea farther.
The oratorio of Samson was never SO fully
and ably performed in this country as it was
last evening. The solos, duets, recitatives and
choruses were most admirably rendered. Mad
am Parepa-Rosa is even greater in oratorio
than she is in opera, and Adelaide Phillips
appeared to great advantage in her
roles. Both were in excellent voice and
seemed to be warmed by the same spirit that
fired the heart of the great composer. The
first chorus of the priests of Dagon was really
powerful and electrified the audience. Mr..
Simpson sung the air, "Total eclipse! no sun
no moon" with fine effect, after which the
chorus 80 first created beam" broke upon the
crowd as if the heavens were opened and
food of light was poured upon the world. 1t
was magnificent. But have no language to
express its startling power. ALL the choruses
were rendered in grand style. Miss Philips
singing of the air, Return, o God of hosts,
reminded me of Anna Stone who used to sing
the same air with great pathos in years gone
by. Madame Parepa-Rosas rendering of the
air, with plaintiye notes and am'rous moan,'
was all that could be asked for by any reason
able, human being. Delilah was admirably
represented by the great artist, and Micah
was equally ell represented by Miss Phillips.
The air, "Let the bright seraphim," was sung
in style thatwould have pleased the great
author himself if he could have heard it, And
who knows but he did? But let that pass. 1
have not time to do justice to the performance
of this great oratorio. / have heard it many
times, but never heard it performed so well be-
fore. There are many portions of this compo-
sition so dramaticed that ifi were performed
in operate style, its effect would be greater;
costumes, scenery and acting would add much
to its power over an audience f.a
This afternoon grand orchestral and vocal
appears for the first time in this city. She is
said to be great as a pianist. 1t was hard, but |
L stole away short time fromthe oratorio to |
hear Fanny Kemble read the Tempest" The |
Meionean, a sort of underground hall in Ire
mont Temple, was filled by a brilliant and ap- |
preciative audience. This celebrated lady is |
now ty-eight years old, but who would be- |
heve it? Her appearance indicates no such |
age, and her voice has lost none of its power |
musical charm. Her reading of this fas- |
cinating play was really wonderful. Fully |
understanding every character in the drama, |
she represented them in their true colors |
Perhaps it is not too much to say that no liv- |
ing woman can interpret Shakespeare so well |
as Fanny Kennble. f1siW
1t is astonishing how this woman alone can /
so completely personate Shakespeare's char
acters without any stage appointments and |
scenery! Every character is fully represented,
and the magic of her readings is felt by all |
Prospero, Miranda, Caliban, Stephano and
Ariel are all set before the audience in all |
their peculiar characteristics, and very little
stretch of the Imagination will make one be-
lieve that he is really in their company, such |
and so great is the magic of her reading. But |
have no words to describe the power of her
voice or the fascinating expressions of her face.
The citizens of Portland will have the oppor-
tunity of hearing her next September. Port |
land is down in her programme for that time |
to my certain knowledge. Perhaps some of
your readers would like to know what kind of |
clothes Fanny had on last evening. Well |
she was dressed in a LIGHT purple gown,
trimmed with purple velvet and black lace,
and it fitted her form exactly, and was fash |
ionably cut and made up of course But |
those who hear her read and listen to the mu- |
sic of her voice do not much mind what she |
wears.