New-York tribune., 1870-04-26
MUSIC.
TIE HARMONIC socrgrY-ELyAu.

TIE HARMONIC sOCTHTY-ELLJAH
The first, and we suppose the last, oratorio
performance Of the season. apart from the customary
Christmas Messiah" took place last night at stnway
Hail. The audience furnished substantial proof that's
taste for this somewhat style Of music survives
the trials to which IL is exposed In Sew-fork Tor
although the cast OF the solo parts Onered
special attraction, the seats were nearly all
filed. Mrs. Gertrude Frankau Hess, the soprano, has
very fair conception of music, and sings intel
gently and correctly but her voice s thin, sharp and
tremulous. Mrs. Barry. the conrao, Boston singer
rcpute with peasanter voice than Mr. Hess and
better style. Her tones neither mellow nor strong
she ia in fact mezzosoprano rather than contrsto
Mr.. Simpson sang the tenor solos with the even
excellence and repose which he displays on oil
occasiona Mr. W. II. Beckett, the bass was
indisposed, and his appearance was preceded by
apogy, but he sang with 40 mueh
refinement and accuracy that every one was pleased
with him strength and spirit were the only guaeso OF
which sickness seemed to have robbed him. and the lack
OF these brought him about down TO the level " the liar
monic Society. or the chorus singing we have little to
say The Harmonic Society has given Elijah" often
enough to know It by this time and IT Is not very DIN
cult work either But tanner and more slipshod per
Torrance we have rarely heard Not single number
was rendered with either delicacy or ygor. The
ladies and gentlemen OF the Society seemed 10 he
quite sure whether they ought to sing be sent-and
sometimes indeed, for example, when they 10
company the soprano recitatye Have ye not heard"
It was doubtful which they had adopted. Thoy
dropped into their parts one By one. They felt around
for the pitch. They slurred over the marks
OF expression and in that splendid chorus, Be
hold God the Lord passed by" which any.
body with soul ought to sing WELL they produced rather
less effect than good double quartet We do them the
iustiee 10 say that there was but little sumbng but The
whole affair was weak and uncertain, the palm Of inen
cheney belonging probably TO the tenors. There are
voices enough in the chorus but their owners have no,
learned yet TO open their mouths The 0eauu! double
quartett For lie shall give His angels charge ovei
tbeev was omitted; and after hearing tho terzetto
Lift thine eyes" by Mrs. Hess, Mrs. 5eit, and Ars
Barry, we were glad OF it.
LIEDERKRANZ CONCERT.
1t is interesting to compare with the liar
monte socictys performance concert given al The sam,
hall on Sunday by the German Liedcrkranz. Ihe oces
sion was "a benefit for the German Hospital ana th
audience filed the great hall and oycrilowed into t'
smaller one The first part Of the programme CONSISTED
of Handel's cantata OF "Aexanders Feast" written
the words Of Drydens famous ode but welded on thh
occasion to German translation, and performed by t
full chorus Of the Society, about 10 strong uaI t'
direction OF Mr. A. Paur. The orchestra was IN Iaf
part composed Of amateurs, members OF the Lied'NAh
hut strengthened by number Of best prOicssona
players. Now If there Is any music N Nhet
the Llederkranz ought not 10 beat the HarmolR
Society, 1t is Handcl's. To the works OF TIM
composer the choral societies Of England and
America are supposed TO devote the studies Of
life time He is the beginning and the end OF their nn
steal education. Germany the contrary, is compare
lively Indifferent TO her mighty and is not ashamed
TO call him an inspired bore. Yet We have rarely IN
New-York heard choruses Of Handels sung with more
spirit more intelligence and relish than by The
Liederkranz on Sunday night. The Handel and Haydn
Society Of Bos ton do better but the Harmonic so
cety of New York cannot The recitatiyes in this can
tata unusually dry. There is hardly any melody In
the aras, but the tenor has good deal Of vigorous
defamation, the soprano less the bass very ntue Mt
Fritsch, Madame RotterDiefienbach, and Mr. Remmer'
did their best with ungraeful parts but the
cess the performance belonged entirely TO the oho
ruses Three Of theseand especially the final chorus
| are in HandePs best vein.
The second part Of the programme included two nal,
choruses in which the Lederkranz were still more suo
cessful The first was LISTS effective but immensely
difficult Gang urn Mternocht % Midnight Marchg. with
/ which the Philadelphia Junger Maennerchor took the
second prize the National sangerfst in Baltimore la
Summer. This admirably sung, though fastidioD
| critic might object that the expression was lita
| exaggerated The second song was Mohrs Hogfus
| C'Hope'0, aud this, too was almost faultess.
The miscellaneous part Of the entertainment consisted
OF superb performance by Miss Mehlig Of POlonae
OF LsZts quartet Of Haesers for French horns the
overture to Ruy Bias" and an aria from "semramde'
20 qte gornO) by Miss Perl This piece suits Miss Ped
|
as it gives full employment to her rich lower register
and does not obge her TO the upper notes In Which
ner defects voice and school most apparent On
being recalled she sang in German the segTeo iroa
Lucreza" taking great many liberties with and no'
! pl6111cing a very happy result.
| MUSICAL NOTES.
The Parepa-ROsa troupe began short season
in Chicago last week. "Oberon" 10 have excited
as great interest in the prairie city did here.
Brignoli is giving Italian opera in Philadel-
phia, with Gazzanga, Miss McCullOgh, Frda de Gebee
and Susni. Tomorrow, Brignol is to sing in Faust
! for the first time.
Professor Semnacher announces q musical
| soree tomorrow evening at DE Garmos Hall. He will
be assisted by Miss Bebee, MI Randoh Mr.. lockwood
| Mr.. Werner, Mr. Dachauer, and SgnOr Butrago and
| several OF his pupils will also perfom.
| Mr.. Frederic Bergner, one of the best Of our
musicans.ds to have his annual concert Thursday
evening Association Hail. We risk little in predicting
an excellent entertainment Miss sMehlg will play, and
| the iuciu1es "A trio Of BcctlOYlns and