The New York herald., 1875-02-23
A M y S E M E N T S.
THE NEW YORK oRAronro SOCIETY.

IL mas been long suJect OF reproacn to this city
tnat IL was practically excluded from the enjoy
ment OF the great choral works. owing TO the
want OF capaole singing society. One by one
the feeble attempts al organization proved abor-
tive, aud while Boston could boast OF her
Handel and Haydn Society New York had
nothing Ia the oratorlo line. 1t remained
FOR such thorough musician, accom-
plished composer and clever conductor as DR..
Leopold Damrosch TO supply our musical needs
and to organize and train chorus OF fresh voices
and drill them 10 degree OF perfection hitherto
uninterrupted In this city. The second con.
cert OF the Oratoro Society took place last
night at Steinway Hall, the selections being
"Kyrien 'Sanctusn and "Agnus Deir from
Schubert's Mass In E nat ana scriptura
idyl by DR.. Damrosch. the beautiful story
of Ruth and Naomi The soloists were
Miss Bedloe. soprano; Miss Drasdtl, contralto;
Mr.. Bischon, tenor and Mr. Remmertz, basso.
As the Mass was not given in complete form It
would be unfair to crticse it too strictly. but 1t Is
very seldom that In such works the beautiful text
Is adequately Illustrated. The "Agnus Der,
seemed To us, too, OF rather noisy character Tor
such q subject. Miss DraSdIl sang aria from
Handels "Semele" with such exquisite expression.
united to contraltO voice OF OrgnD-hke r.cnness OF
tone and the most finished cultivation. tnat 1t was
instantly redemanded. In DR.. Damroschs beautiful
work sne sang the part OF Naomi. ana its sad,
mourniui spirit seemed to be cOngenlal TO the
ttinbre OF her voice, which Is tngcd with mean-
cnOIy. Miss BeuIOe mas an agreeuDic voice, SOtne-
what hard ana unresonant IN quality anu wanting
the dramatic power necessary 70 do justice 10 the
music oI Ruth. Mr.. Blschof had the hardest task
oil all and not grateful one-tne part OF the mar
rator-a number OF very trying rcctatives falling
TO his share. He acquitted himself as an artist
should. MIR. Remmeiz's nne baritone voice gave
effect 10 the numbers OF Boaz
The work OF DR.. Damrosch Is one fhat made Its
way mt once into the lavor of the audience. II is
thoughtful aud we'll diversified without being too
absti use or ragmentary There are really some
oellghtml mO'reauL IN 1t and one or two cnoruses
~ 10 Nf An
ished nature. calculated 10 present the WORK with
out feature to mar it. The composer deserves
nigh praise for the work aud ior The admirable
chorus he has org ganiZed.
LYCEUM THEATRE.
Mr.. Toole has wisely decided in giving all his
thoroughly English sketches, and last night he
appeared as Sergeant Buziuz In the great trial
scene, "Bardel VS.. Pickwick," dramatized
| especially for him with the consent of Charles
Dickens. Very many are unable to comprehend
Mr.. Toole's numor because they have no acquant.
ance with the types OF English life he so truthuly
and so powerfully represents; but to those who do
| under stand him he Is source OF unalloyed
pleasure. II horO ugnly artistic represent alton
OF the eccentric side OF ngsh national Lie the
lower and middle classes entitle a man to the
| reputation OF distinguished actor. Mr. Tooc
| must have his claim allowed. He Is one OF the
few men who are prophets in their own country.
| Whatever critics, who have no acquaintance with
the lie he portrays, may think OF his
ne can lal back on the esteem in which
he is he'd py Enghsn audiences as a
rather than limns types ci English character. I'm n
| fortunately IOr this artist English lun Is
rather heavy commodity, ana does not
prililancy and sp0ntauiety and depends
too much on grimace. 1t lacks the sparkle
| the refinement and pathos which are found in the
best modern plays which ann at amusing as well
the unny side OF GnSsn lie with oIe
power and those VINO would like to gain some
acquaintance with some OF tie peculiarites OF the
Inhabitants OF tho "tlght little island" cannot do
| better tnan pay him visit al the Lyceum.
| OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Two immense houses gathered. at the olympic
! Theatre yesterday. AS many people were turned
| away from the matinee performance as were able
to obtain seats, and there was not even standing
room to be obtained early in the evening. The
bills at this theatre lor some time past have been
very strong, and rhls week the programme suffers
no dimnutlon In strength. The oio last night
comprised such performers as Mr.. Sol Smith
RUSSELL and MIR. Luke schoocrat and
gel and Miss Jennie Morgan, besloes the
Gymnaslc ieats Of the Garnellas ana Mr.:
which closed The performance. The double somer-
saut OF the little Garneia, accomplished from
| allghts Is one vi the greatest successes Of the
KIND ever achieved and. IN one so Oung, Is SIM
the pronounced hits OF the season The musical
travestie Is lull OF iayorlte melodies ana
equally full OF fun. Miss Ace HARRISON
| plays prince that might be mistaken Tor a
| larry, ana Miss Emmeline Young, who has not
appeared since her success Stalacta IN the bur-
| lesque OF "Black Crook" enacts a ialry easily
trausfOrmable into a princess. Few better bis OF
acting are To be witnessed Oh the buresque stage
1 eSDeClat
and correct eocution. MISS Jennie Lngel also
plays q eood.p part, and the nineteen hundred
| which adOrds much meriment.
WOODS MUSEUM
The theatre OF the Museum was crowded last
night, ana the play performed was Of that mixed
kind which comprises the pecunarlties OF the old
time melOdrama and some OF those OF
the now favored variety persor nance It is
Inc principal performer III II was Mr.. JOhn
Allen, gentleman or certainly varied abilities,
who Is KnOwn to ali kinds OF audiences. he Ii
not only Breitmann actor, out also negro
minstrei of reputation H. pleased his auditors
play Will not stand CRITICISM neltner VIII more
than the majority Of the performers in 1t.
MRS. CoNwAYs BROOKLYN THEATRE.
Last evenings performance at this theatre was
most pleasant finale to those attending 1t OF the
days celebration. The theatre was crowded IN
every part, and. Notwithstanding that the com.
pany had all played their parts at che matinee
performance, they exhibited no lack OF effort o,
interest In delighsing the crowded audience. The
piece was an ADAPTATION Of Dumas "rhree
Guardsmen" whicn the management put
on the stage with all the accessories to WIN
eject to tue most striking scenes with which tue
play abounds. Mr.. Kcnnedy's Atnos the cnie
OF the guardsmen, was cxcellehtly rendered, and
the part which he and ms comrades presented
was, OF course, with that repl esented oy the
Queen the pivotal part OF the play. MISS Waite as
Queen ol France, and Miss Lillian Conway, as Con.
stance, however, gained the aures OF the
evening. Mr.. Hastings was not very emotional
as MS Emlnence, the Cardinal kichelleu. and
the King Was altogether 100 Stacy and too
commonplace to ill the roe with any credit to
royalty, even on q theatrical stage. Ine piece is
1uil OF strlklng scenes Of personal combats, and
struggle between love ana treacnery on one side
! and personal devotion and unself1shness ON the
other, all so well portrayed as TO enlist the inter.