The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-23
A FEAST OF MUSIC
Openiag Or tire Thomas gesstvRf-
PersornsSes 90 tine Orssorto -
ssElilah.-

rersorWs0ee % the Oratorfo ga
sEliJah.-
close. has been sinsuIarly barren Of interest. or
rather, the principal artistic interest has been
concentrated upon two special features. the lev
and ar between" visits 81 rheoscre Thomas or
chestra and the concerts OF Rahinssesn. The
opera. In it, two subscription engagements. has
been confined IN attraction 20 q single prifnA
donna, and our local organizations. except Q lev
unimpressivc attempts OF the Philharmonic So
cieiy, have slept peacefully during the winter.
Now and then portenioas promises made
and rumors % coming festivals nilcd tine air but
when the time u iunlfncni came they passed
harmessiy away There was a danger that the
Empire city was ~ DC deprived Of her annual FEAST
Of oratorio, aud that The customary invocation n
the Names 81 handci. Haydn aud acndrissohn
would be omitted. Hut Mr.. faeodote Thomas
came pluckily 70 the rescue a. ne has
been the most saccc@sai apostle Of the
divine art In tins country IL was meet that
he should not forget, IN her dires, need.
the c.is "a which he nrsi has American tri-
unph-. The absence u has orchestra aud the
apathy OF local Managers len = yotd which aaring
characters might attempt to oar with q Gsiiyal ol
Onenbach sandwched between Lecoca. Herve, aud
Max Brnche. Instead 81 "ile watching over
Israel We were threatened with ! An que lsne
les militaires." ana loT scaller's Elymn % soya
an erupiiye chorus from New Jersey OF wcst-
chester In JusiIatc" ~ the local organ,.t. Rn,
thanks 70 our Young representative conductor. New
York witnessed last night al Stelnway Hal the
commencement Of what promises % bc one u the
most successful festivals. IA popular A. well -
artistic point OF view thar has taken place In
this country. The elements cangregated together
were, as a body, IN chorus and orchestra OF the
best description. The work combines all the
lidty OF the oratorio with the dramatic Quality Of
the opera. The strange and romantic story OF the
prophet OF Israel. from thc time he announced 10
| the stnnecked people the awful mandate OF God
| that their land should be cursed ~ Heaven Tor
their sins unlil hts miraculous translation 10 the
realms above IN q hery chariot q told with power
which MAY be called inspiration IN music. and yet
| a vividness OF illustration which h understood
| by all. 'Eluah" viii stand one OF those
impershable monuments Of genius while music
is dear to the human soul And yet some Of those
musicians Of the school OF the iuture" dare 10
sncer nj Mcndclssohu
The Boston Handel and HAYDN society. number.
ing 500 voices, and Thomas orchestra were the
attractive elements 81 the performance. roih or
ganiZatiOns have had the great advantage OF long
and constant experience IN standard works, ANA
both have attained degree OF perfection scarcely
| attalnable otherwise. Under Carl Zcrrahn the
conductor last night the vocal society has acquired
q national character Tor s finished and conscicn-
tious rendering OF oratorio music, aud GER
spread beyond this country. The opening
chorus Help LORD" re gave t6 me mmeass
discipline and spirit o. the chorus aud orchestra.
Then the despairlng wall OF the people OF Israel,
'sYet doth the Lord IL not" with Its grand de-
camatory effect, was given with an intensity ana
unanimty Of expression rarely To he expected from
Of Ahab's courtiers against the bold aenouncsr OF
the King and the frantic prayers OF the priests OF
Baal to their deity were effective IN the highest
be Se'' to God i;P' with all is SoSdrous gram.
OF the oratorio to triumphant close. In the sec
ond part the most successful choruses were, "lIe,
ana Tnsn Y DID an the few bemsSes Which
marred the efforts Of the chorus in one or two OF
their 'numbers'' consisted principally Of a want OF
| promptness in attack, especially at the COM
! mencement of some dramatic phrase calling
marked emphasis. But the general effect was
good that one is inclined TO forget slight irregular
| ties In detail. As for the orchestra IL was simply
perfect. 1t Is the fate Of oratorio societies generally
! to have miserable orchestra, which founders
about amid the sea Of voices like whale in shall
low water. Mendelss0hn has written some trying
| things Tor the instruments in this work. Thomas
orchestra omitted nothing IN unanimity or tone,
tempo and expression that the composer himself,
! were he present, would desire.
Mrs. J. Houston West and Mrs. Carrie Brackett
soprani; Miss Annie Louise Cary, cOntralto; Mr..
Nelson varley, tenor, and Mr.. Myron W. Whitney,
the lovely music allotted 20 her In the OratorO like
conscientious artist the solo singers were not a sue
| cess Mrs. West has d voice which, i'm the middle
register is pleasing and well trained but its upper
notes are nard, strained and ANYTHING but flexible.
| In the entire range OF oratorO there Is hardly
any music so expressive, intensely dramatic
or so varied in emotional quality as the dialogue
between the prophet and the widow, whose sou lie
rescues from the grave. soprano must have
voice and soul capable OF giving utterance 10 the
touching Sa not sing this
the slightest degree OF interest. Mr. Marley
is an English tenor who brings with him name OF
considerable magnitude, bestowed upon him by
| our brethren across the water. In his first air,
III with all your hearts," the pleasing hope that
we had at last secured satisfactory tenor Tor ora
''throaty'' order, the tones being singularly un-
| natural and forced. There are some agreea-
If peculiar, affected style OF singing
were absent, might modify the unpleasant effect
produced upon an audience by his singing. But
without throatiness, there Is little TO be hoped
from him. Hard metallic, unsympathetic tones in
such case are unpardonabe. Mr.. Whitney is an
admirable bassO, but the music OF the prophet was
never written for such voice as his, which cannot
60 beyond without straning ana consequent mt
instance, the effect IS very different Consequently
although Mr.. Whitney sang the music OF the pro-
stood its meaning and vivdness OF dramatic
power, yet his voice refused to carry him
through The ,oe double
trio, "IAlt thine eyes" and :hG snsrtes,
come every one that thirsteth,r were not
these concerted pieces was atrocious in execution,
the soprano singing out OF tune from beginning 10
end. The charming quartet, Cast thy BURDEN
served recall. But the weakness OF the solo
parts was more than compensated for
orchestra. There viii be another oratorio
performance this evening, Mendessohn's Hymn
OF Praise" and selections from Handei's 'Israel in
Egypt forming the programme. grand public
rehearsal VIII take place at SteInway Hall, con-
venlng at one O'Clock this afternoon. The musical
N heinz no IA ~ n n