The Portland daily press., 1873-04-25
Festival Week in New York.


their criticisms of individual singers, speak
warmly of the recital of the ''Elijah' as a
whole. Miss Cary is the only soloist who es-
capes censure. They are warm, though dis
eliminating, in praise of her. Maine has rea-
son to be proud of the comments which her
great and well-beloved singer has called forth.
We give the Times account in full:
Mr. Thomas festival week was commenced
at Steinway Hall, last evening, with recital OF
Mendelssohn's oratorio of elijah" We can
recollect no equally 81 nm. trical rendering OF
the composition. The work of most of the So
loists was exceedingly impressive; that of the
chorus has never been outdone in point OF pre-
cision; and the orchestral accompaniment was
absolutely faultless Hence it will be inferred
the rehearsal was very satisfactory one. The
oratoro of elijah is perhaps the most at
tractive of the ponderous scores bequeathed us
by Handel, Haydn, and the successors OF these
giant composers; and as a reasonably coed vo-
cal and instrumental delivery brings the highly
descriptive story within the comprehension of
any music loving audience, its Interpretation
by skilled artists may be depended upon to
supply something more than the pleasure de-
rived from the generality Of OratoriO perform
ances. In this respect, the soloists, the choral
forces, and the band, yesterday, succeeded fully
Nelson Marley, Mr.. Hiram Wilde, Mrs. J. II.
West, Miss G. A. Bracket, and Miss Annie
Louise Cary. Mr.. Whitney has magnificent
voice, and he uses it with much art; his articu-
ation is perfectly distinct, and his style, in reci
tative, is that of a master of oratorio singing
We are not prepared to say that Mr.. Whitney
effaced the recollection of Mr.. Santley, whose
dramatic picture of Elijah was as replete with
details as the closest student of MendelSsobns
words and notes would exact, but he executed
his numbersi with answering dignity, find
with a vocal charm to which we could scarcely
wish moro potency. In Mr. Nelson Marley, the
public greeted a very valuable Accession to the
concert-room. Mr.. Varley is a tenor OF rather
limited compass, as the taking of fiat is a
serious matter for him; but his tones are those
well as powerful; there is no break in the
passage from the chest sounds to those for the
production of which the voice is directed to-
ward the head; the gentleman has capital
method both as regards attack and phrasing;
and his reading Of the text is as clear as can be
heard. Mr.. Varley's merits were apparent
after the first bars of Obadiah's solo, s'H with
all your hearts, aud his final solo, 'Then
shall the righteous" afforded fresh proof of
his talent. We cannot write with the same
admiration of Mrs. West, whose voice is worn ;
nor of Miss Bracket, who is but an acceptable
soprano though the eff orts of both ladies bore
the impress of experience and conscientious
ness. The h onors in reserve for the fair sex
were borne off by Miss Cary, whose exquisite
voice and pure style wrought an effect familiar
to all who have attended concerts in this city
during the past few years. Miss Cary distin-
guished herself in the trios and quartets with
which the severity of "Elijah'' is happily di-
versified; and the delicious aria SO, rest in the
Lord" allotted to the lady, only escaped repe-
tition by her unwillngness. to accede to the
demand. OF the labors of the chorus it is not
necessary to speak at length. AS announced,
the choral music in "Elijah" was sung last
night by the Handel and Haydn Society of
Boston, and was rendered with unexceptiona-
Bile sentiment and nicely of shading. The or
chestra consisted of Mr.. Thomas men, large
ly reinforced, and, as implied above, was quite
up to the standard Mr. Thomas musicians
have set themselves. Mr.. Carl Zerrahn con-
ductod the recital, which was enjoyed and
loudly applauded by a numerous assemblage.-
Tonight the last oratorio-rehearsal will be
given. Selections from 'Tsrael in Egypt" and
Mendelssohn's "Lobgesang' then to con-
stitute the programme. It should be observed,
too, that matinee-rehearsal of the same
works may be attended this afternoon.
The World says:
In the so1oists we had high and recent stan
dard of comparison But though Mr.. Whit
ney's voice cannot be fairly pitted against MI
Sankey's in this part, nor his method against
that perfect art of singing, he makes evident
that he has as high and as clear conception
of the part as Mr. Santley had. The success Of
the performance in solos is to be divided be-
tween him and Miss Cary. Even Miss Cary's mos
ardent admirers, and she has many, were sur
prised by the dignity and simplicity, the noble
breadth and fervor of her manner. Mr.. Nelson
Marley is good tenor, but we doubt his being
superior in any respect, unless it be mere vol.
ume Of voice, to Mr.. Simpson, who is indeed a
much more thorough vocal artist. The sopra-
no soloIsts are the weak point of the Handel and
Haydn Society. Mrs. West, the principal so
prano, has a style utterly unsuited to oratorio,
and trained upon for different models. Mrs.
Smith was prevented by some cause from ap.
pearing, Miss Bracket, who took her place,
sung SO much out of time as to spoil the effect
of the lovely last quartet, "Ho! every one that
thirstetb! But there are spots on the sun.
The performance, as q whole, has never been
equalled or approached,
The Herald is lavish in censure The follow.
ing is the only praise it has the give:
With the exception of Miss Cary, who sang
lovely music allotted to her in the oratorio like
conscientious artist, the solo singers were moi
success. But the weakness of the solo parts
was more than compensated for by the SPLEEN
did triumph of the chorus and orchestra.
The Post says:
Miss Annie Louise Gary sang with artist.
skill Jezebel's deuuuciations and the more tran
gully beautiful, go, lest in the Lord" The
quartet Cast thy burden upon the Lord wal
encored, but the trio lift thine Eyes was for
tunately not interrupted, and consequently the
chorus with which it is connected, "He Watch
ing over Israel" was heard to the best advan-
tage. If ever music deserved the term heav'
emily, it is doubtless something like this. The
erywhere effective, so much so that it would be
invidious to single out any of them for special
notice.