Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-18
THE RUTLAND HERALD.
Our Boston Letter.
BosToN, May 10.

quite a variety of distinguished men in
town. The Globe Theatre, very neat
select place on Washington street, was
the place Of meeting for recogritions and
selection of officers. The stage and the
represented wood, and upon
the stage were two cannon, several stacks
of muskets, fags, ETC., with tent, so that
from the house it appeared like veritable
encAmpment. The audience had the OPP
portunity, many Of them for the first
time, to see the leading General officers
of the Army of the Potomac, Generals
Meade, Hooker, Burnside, Gustav, Kill
patrick, Sheridan, and many others pub
liely introduced. Each were called upon
for remarks, bat as general thing they
are no great speech makers. But it is
probable there will be more freedom at
their supper at one of the public houses
at $3.50 plate.
Our weather does really grow warmer,
but tte is great chance for improve
ment in that respect. Warm pleasant
weather affects the appearance of the
streets of Boston more than most large
cities, on account of the great inflow of
people from our neighboring populous
country, crowding the streets and attrac.
tive places of amusement and recreation.
1t is a most fortunate week for the music
al concerts which are crowded. There
are no associations that are gradually
forming for the people of this place more
pleasant than those centering at our Music
Hall, chiefly musical. 1t is the place
where the musical tastes and culture of
our people make their highest expression
known and felt. 1t is impossible to make
the inhabitants of distant and thinly in
habited portions of our States realize the
power of association and concentrated
effort long continued in any branch of art
TO perfect and insensibly educate the
people up to its refinements. That of
music is the most feeting and liable to
change or loss, it must be enjoyed as it is
made known at any period. The favor
able circumstances which make the pres
emit concerts of of the Handel and Haydn
Society the best it ever gave may not be
repeated next year, or in the lifetime OF
many, who are now able to attend and
enjoy them, yet who do not, waiting for
what no one knows, living out their lives
in common way, regardless of the great
experiences, which great occasions might
afford them, by which ones soul is devel-
oped to some purpose.
In this series of concerts, in the third,
the oratorio "Elijah," by Mendelsshon.
was sung on scale and with perfeetness
that has not often been equalled in any
country since its introduction to the
world. at musical festival in Birming-
ham, Eng, in 1646, when the author him
self conducted the performance. AT the
opening day his "Hymn of Praise" and
Farewell to the Forest" were also sung.
Whoever has heard these and others of his
works, can realize the loss to the musical
world when he died in 1S47, aged only
,hirty.eight. 1t will he seen that bis mu-
sic ia quite modern. The great variety
ia style and movement of that composing
"Eliiah." and the subject and the events
10 Israelitish history, which it portrays,
will! make it very enduring in all protes-
tant countries, but it is in Germany, En-
gland, and this country, that these sub
jects and their music have particular force
and meaning. So when we are called
upon to make comparisons, judging OF
the performances of these works-the
oratorio-it is that of knowing what few
cities in Germany, and few in England,
and perhaps only one in this country,
have done, or are doing. At any one Pc
riod, that important part which the authors
have required to be sung by few single
voices, the voices, and persons fitted by
the required judgment, taste and cultiva-
ton for this duty. can, in all these coun-
tries, be told in a few numbers.
1t is perfectly natural that this society
should call to it's sid two singers from
England, where very great attention has
been given to this kind of mu-ic, and the
fact that with equal cultivation, this mu-
sic is the same to the feelings and senti-
ment of the people of the two countries,
brings these subjects at once into full
aympatby with the singers Of this city,
and are probably judged reasonably and
oharitsbly by them.
Madame Rudersdorff is of good size
and rather feshy. Her complexion lie
fair, with dark hair; she has considerable
color that arises from good health and
oheerfulness. She seems perfectly famil-
lar with all the complications of this mu-
sic, and takes great interest in all that oc-
Her voice is marked by richness, but is
not now one of the best over its whole
range. She sings with great depth and
Intensity Of feeling, and any short-com-
ings in her voice are forgotten in her
good taste and the general effect Of the
whole. Her voice is rich and melodious,
and very powerful, accompanied with
equal energy.
M. Cummings has tenor voice of no
great power, and is not quite clear, and
seems stiff to manage, but he probably
has it in as good cultivation as possible.
His style is not energetic and pleasing to
musicians, as a stronger voice would ena.
BILE him to be. His conception Of these
works is that of plain good sense, and &C.
cordingly he does not give way to ex.
travagances.
Last evening "Israel in Egypt by
Handel was given. This is characterized
by very heavy choruses, most Of them
double, representing the miracles and
events preceding, and the departure
from Egypt, and passage of Red Sea of
the Israelites; each is characteristic in
proport;oc nod 20 vpoyavnopt of th~ var