New-York tribune., 1868-05-07

accord, the song burst forth. The opening piece was
NIcolai's Festival Overture based upon Luthers
choral EiH Jeste Burg ist pnser, Got and the
those 75O voices, with the magnificent har;
monies of the swelling orchestra, ana
the monster organ filling up the back ground with
its deep rich tones, was of the most impressive
performances to which it was my lot to listen.
The rest OF the overture is in the fugue STYLE ad
miraby written, but to my taste, dry and somewhat
monotOnous. 1t closes grandly. however, with a
recurrence of the theme The whole was well done.
The orchestra was expressive and intelhge2t, the
chorus firm and exact. Mendelssohns Ninety
fifth Psalm" which followed opens with
solemn and beautiful tenor solo (by Mr. Simpson,
20 come let us worship" with accompanying
sopranO-solo with chorus, forms q de1ghttnl con-
trast. In this the buoyant tones of Madame Parepa
Rosa hoated lightly on the sea OF vocal harmony
in this superb artist we are scarcely
accustomed. Then came the noble four-part
Miss Phillips and that billOw-like chorus
For his is the sea- with the sweet tenor solo so
dexterousy woven into its texture, where again Mr.
Simpson did himself much credit singing better,
thought, than had ever heard him sing before. He
tagged little in the last number of ALL which in
deed with its subdued finale is but too apt TO seem
tame after the highly music which has pre-
ceded it yet his performance as whole was good
and his reward, anywhere but in quiet Boston, would
have been loud salyO of applause.
The second part of the concert was that master"
piece of MendelssOhn's, the LObgesdng or Hymn OF
Praise In the three symphonic movements with
which 1t Opens-the majestic m0eStOs0 con m0tO, the
GllegTeO HR POGO dgatO with its ravshing bit OF mel
ody repeated between choral inteTudes, and the Sc
rene dddgiO TeligOsO-we had good opportunity Tor
measuring the capacity of Mr.. Zerrahn as con-
ductOr and contrasting his force, delcacy, aud intel
gence with the weakness of some Of the conductors
to whom accustomed in New-IorS ana
the cOarseness of others. Bergman would have
managed TO draw more expression out of the VOllns
but we have no other leaders to compare with him.
When the symphony ceases the cantata properly be-
gins, with superb chorus All men, all things sing
to the Lord" The voices attacked 1t IN splendid
tme the glorious harmonies rolled together
and gathered in massive force, and heaped
strength upon strength; the hundred instrn-
ments and the deep organ-pedal poured forth
their stupendous power; then suddenly out of the
clouds broke Parepas silveTy cry, Praise thou the
Lord my spirit The beautiful effect of this pas
sage fitting introduction to what was to follow
for the whole cantata was so admirably done that
cannot hope TO hear it better 1t is hard to say
what part was the best The Tandest single phrase
was Madame PaTepa ROsas The night Is depart
ingp-one of those magnificent Outbursts of
song which are so characteristic OF her. ana
which at times seem almost like inspiration. YET
equally fine, in different way, was her duet with
Miss Phillips with chorus sotto uoce waited Tor
the Lord 1.-THE two voices blended so perfectly each
set off well the peculiar richness OF the other ana
each of the singers showed so nice an appreciation OF
the pathOs of the music. When they ceased, Boston
appeared bewildered for while, but the demand tOr
a repetition (started, believe by q party OF en-
thusiastc New YOrkers) ran gradually around the
rOom and became at last emphatic as anything In
the nature Of applause ever is in this very deeorous
city. so the duet was repeated. lne
LET all men praise the Lord" excellenty sung.
In the first stanza the orchestra is silent, and the
organ gives the accompaniment alone. IL was good
test of the power of the instrument Even with 100
strong voices shouting III unison the organ was
rather too loud. . 9,
The evening performance was Handeps Samson
We all know how good Madame Rosa is in that and
how nicely Mr.. Simpson does his part also. Miss
Phillips Ineed hardly say was glorious exchange
for Mrs Kempton, who took the alto part at Stein
way Hall last Winter. and Mr.. Whitney was
great deal better in the bass than Dir.
j. r. Thomas But the excellence of the solo singers
was entirely overshadOwed by the magnihcence OF
the chorus. / can give no higher praise than TO say
that the spirit and perfection of the performance did
full Justice to the sublimity of the composition.
great chorus of Handes adequately sung Is the acme
of musical grandeur and the Samson" certainly
was superbly sung tonight. This morning the sopra-
nos and bassos rather too strong for the other
parts but tonight they better balanced, several
accessions having been made to the ranks.
The hall is hardly big enough for the performers,
but regret to say that it is little too big for the
audience. This morning it was nearly full but not
ut all crowded. tonight there were at least 200 va
cant seats. Many of those, no doubt, had been
sold for the season; but the fact re-
mains that, with all the excitement
over this festival and with the liber-
ality which has impeed the solid men of Boston to
contribute q guarantee fund TO meet any deficiency
in the receipts they asked for $4,000 and they
gave nearly $500O0 the demand for seats so far is
not as great as il ought TO be- Indeed doubt some
times whether Boston knows what a good thing 1t |
has done. J. II. q. IL.