New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-23
MUSIC AND ART.
MUSIC
THg FEsuyAL--RLIJAH.

MUSIC.
THE FEsTIyAL--HIIJAH
Tho musical festival opened last night a.
Steinway Hall under Dropifious ercirDstane..
Inc audience was very large, and-What Is not lea.
gratifying-yery sympathetic and demonstratiyr su,
prise and delight were almost every face "a tina
superb performance passed on We assured our reaser
In advance that the Handel and Haydn Society Womb
give them new conceptions OF chorus singing but va
hardly expected that prediction would be fuallsa
In such brilliant and extraordinary manner A.
II was last night We have often heard thi.
great society In Boston, and have mado IL a
practice to attend their trienDial festivals when
they muster TO the number OF 800 in the famous mns
Hall but heard them sing so magndcently A,
they ala on this occasion To soy that they gave ncon
paraby the finest performance Of Elijah" ever heard
In New-York would DO 10 say very little there would
not be much risk IN prosumng 1t TO he the hDe.t eyer
heard In America Tho number OF slngers-lbout 600 q,
5Oowas well adapted TO the size OF the hail. they had
the help OF much richer accompaniment than
they havo at home; they oil on their
metue; and 1t soon became evident tina,
the enthusiasm OF the audience was thoroughly
enlisted what wonder that they surpassed them.
selyesi Tho solos, too, were all good. Mr. whitney
gave the music Of the Prophet with the dignity feel
ing which have often admired and 0ppauded be.
fore. Mrs Julia Houston West had the principal sopran,
solos. She has long been favore Boston and h no,
unknown In NewYOrk as an artist with excellent
voice. and mistress OF the best Oraoro school II seemed
that she felt the excitement Of the occasion and
greatly surpassed her usual standard OF excellence
pcclay In the famous duet with EijGh. What hayo
TO do with thee, o man OF Godl" Miss Cary.
rendering OF the alto music was delightful.
Tho tenor Mr. Nelson Yarey whose voice strong
aud pleasant-n part OF the register decious-and
whose style has been formed the best models. lie
sings too much In tho throat. and little annoyed
and then with huskness. He sang the aria "Tben
shall the righteous" admirably Good service also
rendered by the second Soprano Mrs Bracket AMI tho
second bass Mr. Wilde and tho four quartets ond the
trio sung with precision, ncatnes, decacy,
and oppression. The very difficult quartet. " o como
every that thirseth" better done than
heard 1t before.
1t was the chorus, thought that mado this perform.
ance so remarkable. How shall begin "
point out particular excelences where oil was grand
We did not notice mistake. We could not detect
false note. Not passage was slurred The timo
irreproachabe. The attack splendid The balance
OF the parts was perfect How sweet and strong and
pure was tho glorious volume OF the sopranos; how
nicely adjusted the middle parts how ricn and
deep the bass. The first chorus with its solemn opening
"Help Lord wilt thou quite destroy ~ and thatvon
derul passage that follows, The harvest Is over"
produced an immediate sensation. Tho eject upon
the audience grew more and more marked "a the
evening wore away. The magnificent crescendo in lie
nerees thousands fall;' the exquisite beauty OF
Blessed the who fear Him." the splendor Of
the Pagan chorus Baal cry to thee" all felt
but at the conclusion Of the THANKS be to God" the
people broke through the ordinary restraints and many
Of them shouted with delight. He watching over
Israeli was as good 1t could possibly be- Behold
God the Lord passed by" was sublime. No Jubilee cho
rus, with 10000 voices and bells and cannon. ever
equaled the majesty OF OF these glorious chOruos
Here one found the true grandeur Of multitude %
trained voices. Here the music which lifts up tho
heart and brings moisture 10 the eyes
We have said word about the accompaniment. Il
was furnished by Mr.. Thomas5 orchestra enlarged "a
about 80 players, and supplemented by tho organ es-
peclally in the pedal bass Mr. Lang from Boston being
the Organis The instrumental part OF the performance
was so gorgeous beautiful and different from any
thing wo have heard at any rendering Of this oraoro
before that it took greatly by surprise. Tie
extraordinary quality of the reeds, as well as tho
extraordinary drill of tho band, was first noticed
in the Baa cry 70 thee" chorus, the first part OF
which Is accompanied by wind instruments alone. In
that passage of of the last choruses, 10, there
came fiery chariot" tho tone OF tho brass was hne
beyond all precedent and in every part OF the work
the orchestra played with remarkable sentiment and
precision Mr. Zerrahn, OF course, was the conductor
and be received very cordial welcome when he came
upon the stage. We may add that the Elijah" WA
sung in It's integrity not single measure being
omitted.
Thus the Festival makes grand beginning, ana we
are sanguine that 1t will have permanent effect upon
musical culture in this city. Tonight Mendelssohns
Hymn Of Praise will be given, together with selee-
tions from Israel Egypt" Qncuding the great Hail
stone Chorus). We shall take further opportunity OF
speaking certain conspicuous merits Of the Handel
aud Haydn Society's singing which we have not tns
to discuss.