Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-02

The success which att anded the first pub
lie concert of the Nashville Choral Society,
when they performed Handel's grand ora
tofio, ''The Messiah to one of the largest
audiences ever attracted to an amateur en-
teTtainment in Nashville, induced the So
ciety to repeat It last nislit. They were
Influenced to do so by the urgent solicita-
tons of host of friends who had heard
their first entertainment, and by as many
who were unable to attend on that ocea-
sion and were anxious to hear Handels
great masterpiece. Masonic Hall was Sc
cured for last night, and due notice of the
Concert was given. In the meantime the
Society, numbering some fifty singers, prac-
ticed the oratorio with great asslduity, de-
te:mined, if possible, to eclipse their for
mer effort. To prepare for the occasion, much
time, great pains and considerable sum
of money was expended. 1t was somewhat
disheartening, therefore, to find about enc
third of the seats in the hall unoccupied last
night. True the audience was much
larger than many first class entertainments
have been able to call together in Nashville,
and it comprised the elite Of the city, but
a concert combining the best amateur talent
in the city should have filed Masonic Hall
till standing room could not be found. As
it is, the receipts viii about cover the heavy
expenditures, and no more.
The concert was opened at half past I
o'clock, 18th a brilliant overture by the So
cieiy and an excellent orchestra. The
choruses throughout the oratorio were
rendered with fine effect, and without
a discordant or faulty note to mar the
harmony. The time was simply perfect,
every voice and every instrument pursuing
the difficult strains as if controlled by the
volition of single person. Nothing but
long and patient practice under skiDful di-
rection could have produced such admira-
bic symphony.
The solos were all well rendered-some
with remarkable power and brilliancy.
Among the ladies, Mrs. Ida Rains, Mrs.
French and Mrs. II. Vessel seemed to be
the favorites with the audience. Miss Cot
ton, Miss II. HasslOck and Mrs. Beauman
sangtheir solos with much sweetness and
expression. Mrs. Ida Rains and Mrs.
French possess exceedingly fine and well
cultivated voices. Their solos (they sang
but one each) were among the most bril-
liant gems in the entertainment Of the even
ing. Mrs. II. Vessel received an enthusi-
astic encore to her rendering of the air 81
know that my Redeemer liYeth." In return
she favored the audience with polite cour-
tesy-"only this and nothing more"
Among the gentlemen, Messrs. Jackson, j.
Ashford and Molengraft, and James An
derson, sang solo. The only one rendered
by Mr.. Jackson, "Why do the Nations SO
furiously rage together" was enthusiast
cally encored, but he declined to respond to
the call. The other gentlemen sang their
parts most creditably, and the audience tes-
tifedtheir appreciation by frequent applause.
AquartetJe by Miss Cotton, Mrs. Vessel,
Mr.. Molengraft and Mr.. Jackson, with
chorus by the en'ire society was fully rend-
cred.
The oratoria was on the whole one of the
most successful entertainments of the kind
ever given by amateurs in Nashville, sur
passing in all but the size of the audience
even the former concert Of the society.