The New York herald., 1868-05-21
MU sEMEN rs.

FRENCH TuEATRE-Althouph the weather last
evening was even more than usua " detestable, it
could not prevent " The Bohemian Gin l." the best Of
Balfe's operas, from drawing full h,,use at the
benefit of Mr. Edwin Segun. The house WAS literally
crowded. as II viii be again, doubtless, on haturday
night when this deghtful opera viii be repeated:
MISS kichn9s sustained the role OF Airline, one OF
her most successful roles and was deseryedly en-
cored IN that charming song, al dream'd that dwet
was also encored in "The heart bowed down. y and
Mr.. Castle. as Thaddeus, in that other favorite
song, "When other lips and other hearts.r Mr. Sc
gum displayed his acknow edged talents as an actor
in the part OF Deyish0of. The fine choruses OF
TINS popular opera We're wen given and the entire
company Justined the applause which has been be-
slowed upon II throughout its present engagement
THE NEW YORK MUSICAL FEsTIvAL.-It would
seem as If the elements had combined against Lafa-
yette Harrison in his latest essay in music All day
yesterday and especially in the evening the skies
were of the gloomiest hue and the rain came down
increasingly. There was not ray of hope for any
unfortunate manager last night; yet we were agreea-
bly, surprised to find in Steinway Hall real, bona
Hde orat0rio audience Of the largest descrip-
tion ana the small hall had to be opened
on the occasion. Mendelssohn's immortal work,
"E'Dah' was given by the Harmonic Society, fully
two hundred strong, assisted by large and efficient
orchestra. The principal sooists were:-Miss Maria
Branerd, soprano; Miss C. V. Hutchings contralto;
Mr. George simpson, tenor, and Mr.. j. r. Thomas,
baritone Mrs. Reed, Mrs. James and Messrs Tucker
and Scott were also ON the programme. very able
analysis 0i the oratorio was given in
the ibretto, which we suppose every one
present was provided with, and there is
little for US to add in the way Of description. Eah'
is one OF the most popular and interesting works in
the oratoro ine for 1t is dramatic from first to last.
The prophets terrible denuncatiOn in the opening,
''There shall not be dew rain these years. and
the iine old style fugue, Then shall your light"
which closes the marvellous and eventful
scsnes Sscst,oos o dne ,n prophets life are sufficient
great composer, and there is not single number in
the f0rty-two divisions of the work uninterestng.
The contest with the priests OF Baa and the coming
OF rain as described by the dialogue between Elijah,
the youth and the people are dramatic in the highest
sense OF the word. The grand chorus which serves
as climax to the first part OF the oratOriO Thanks
be to God Is truly food Of joy, to use the words OF
Mr.. Dwight The orchestra and chorus last night were
uneXceptionable II we may object to the uneven
balancing OF the latter. The sopIanH were weaker
than usual, ana the tenors rather too prominent. OF
the soolsts the highest praise must be accorded to
Miss Hutchings. She sang each of her numbers as
thorough artist should sing them and communicated
TO her beautiful contrato voice fire, expression and
energy which took every one by surprise Every
word was distinctly Enumerated by her and she gave
y" sar nsrt eVdence & OF long and careful study
encOres in Woe unto themr and "Oh rest in the
Lord" and proved herself to be of our leading
OratOrl0 singers simpson sang very well and made
even lore favorable impression than in the 'Mes-
siah" on Monday night Miss Branard was not in as
good voice as usual, and Mr. Thomas evidently
labored under severe cold. Yet in some of his
numbers he was very successful and his fine BARI
tone voice came out with marked effect. The
double qnartet "For He shall give His Angels"
ductor, has evidently benefited by our previous
structures on his Tempo for he welded the baton on
this occasion with spirit and intelligence. concert
VIII he gwen Tonight In which two orchestral pieces
ny wagner and Liszt, Beethoven's pastoral SYM
phony, piano solo by Mills and two vocal solos by
MISS Brainerd, are on the programme.