The New York herald., 1875-11-10
A M u S EN- E Mt S.

sIEINwAY HALL-oRAroRIo or ST. PAUL
Dr. Leopom Damrosch has supplied the metropolis
win musical organization which t has long needed
nrs' class ora'orio society. steinway Hall wis
oehsely crowded last night on occasion or the frst
performance this season Of this society The chorus
was not particularly large in numbers but
'no material was excellent The excellence or
'ne ohora department considerably en-
hanced by detachment or instrumeDtalists from
the celebrated orchestra Of Theodore Thomas uis 80
seldom 'hat critic can commend oratoro perform
in New York that the unstintod nra,so h,cn :,
due TO the efforts Of both chorus and orchestra IL,
night must awaken the breast of evarv musician q
feeling OF Intense satisfaction Tho Oratoro Society
has now been IN existence two years and the seed ora
thorough musical training in what may be considered
the gTandest and highest type Of the divine art has pro
duceda rich and welcome harvest The oratoro selected
for the opening OF the season Was "St Paul ~ Mem
dclssohn. Forty years have passed away since tho
composer completed this work al Lepsc al the aye 81
twenty-seven years. BY some Il is considered his
master work; by Others OF discernment Thought
agmentary as regards musical IDEAS and betrays an
undue fondncss Tor ancient forms There more study
and thoughtiuiness about IL than IN Elijah but Ii
lacks the inspiration that has placed the latter in
the foremost rank of orntorIos. leaning toward the
Handean school, especially in the orchestration or
some OF the choruses, is plainly perceptble. The
soloists last evening were Mrs. Imogene Brown,
soprano; MISS Anna Drasdil, contralto; Mr.. George
Simpson, tenor ian apology being made for the absence
OF Mr. Bischof1 and Mr. Stoddard, basso Mrs Brown
finish; Mr.. Simpson gave sufficient proof Of his
long experience and admirable method. in oratoro
singing, and Mr. Stoddard nulIdcd the gem
Of the oratorio, the magnificent air. 20 God have
mercy by the harsh, unsympathetc manner In which
he rendered IT, But the SOLO sensation OF tho perform
ance was Miss Drasdis superb singing of the ayloso
"But the Lord Is mindful Of his own" IL encored
and deserved even third repetition No conrato has
visited America since the days OF Alboni that
pare in richness and volume OF tone and heartfelt
preston IN oratorio singing with Anna Drasdil
The choruses were delivered IN most praiscworthy
manner, the four parts being nicely balanced the at
TACK being simultaneous and The expression
being observed TO the letter The orchestra far as
the strings and reeds concerned faultess the
splendid discipline to which they have been SO many
years subjected being shown in its brightest light
we question the judgment of placing the brass
Instruments over the chorus and other musicians
The result last evening drown the voices at in
tervals Mendelssohn certainly intended that. It
would cheer the heart Of the composer were he alive
and present, TO hear the swing, fire and expression
given by Or. Damrosch's chorus 10 the noble number
that concludes the first part Of the oratoro 60 great
Is the depth Mr. Simpsons voice altered once in
recitatve but otherwise he is entitled high honor for
the prompttude with which he replaced indsposed
tenor and the earnestness which he brought 10 an
arduous task. ''St Paul. believe has been given
only twice in this city by the Mendessohn Choral
unon-once al the opening Of tho Cooper Institute,
and again at Dodworth Hall, with Morgan as con
ductor and Berge at the piano.