New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-28
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
"THE MESSIAH.'

The New-YOrk OratOrio Society gave their
second performance of Handels Messiah at stenway
Hall yesterday afternoon, the first having been on
Christmas evening. The society has shown steauy I'M
provement it has been in DR.. Damroschs hands
and yesterdays in respects the pest
that we have had from them as yet Dr. Damrosch 8
careful training ia evident only in the finish when he
has impaired to his chorus and the good control uuer
which he has them, but also In gain 10 the na'teI Vi
sefcOnfdence and a boldness about singing OUT lha'
few amateur choruses haze in the same degree Inc
work OF the chorus yesterday was exce'leht
a rule, sometimes remarkably good. Inc
parts were fairly well balanced, though DOM
sopranos and tenors 1.-THE latter especially were short III
point of numbers and occasionally weak The DeSt Oh
the parts is the bass, both In volume ana accuracy
Among the choruses And the glory OF the LOru was
captally done, as, too was that most gracelui anu
charming of all the chOruses OF this work. Uh'o US
child is born" Gan We like sheep" and lift up your
heads" went spenddly but the best work OF the per
Torrance was reserved OF right, for the "Iaeiwah
chorus. This was magnifceDtly sung throughout Dy
the chorus. and DR.. Damrosch conducted IL win I'M
wOned spirit and fire. Tie choruses at the end "orh
is the Lamb " and the "Amen" chorus were also wen
given The society deserves the highest credit or DONG
admirably especially with the disadvantage Oh having
two of the parts seriously crippled.
The sOlOists Mrs. ImOgene Brown soprano; MISS
Anna Drasdil, contrato; Mr.. George Simpson, tenor
and Mr. A. E. StOddard baritone. Mrs. Brown mas u
light soprano voice, of very great range, but OF
pleasant quality la the lower and middle registers "e
little harsh on the higher She sings nicely with goOd
taste and intelligence but she has neither the voice nor
the breadth Of style requisite for such music IA this she
sang the aria Rejoice greatly" very WELL as also
"Come unto Him." but " ( know that my Redoemer
lyeth was not so good. II weak and lacking III
dignity and inpressiveness. She has, too, an I'M
pleasant ribratO in her voice when she forces IL
that mars the effect OF her work very Sc
riousy Miss Drasdil sang excelently, except III
the recitatiycs, which her defective enumeration
spoiled in great measure. Why will so many oratOrlo
singers In declaiming recatyes leave out all the
consonans and thus make their words utterly unlne-
gible1 Miss Drasd made amends for her other short
rendering OF e shall feed His fock" which perhaps
the thing Of the concert Mr. Simpson was excellent
Mr. Stoddard has improved very decidedly since last
year. He sings very carefully and int ligenty but he
has one or two bad tricks Of vocalzatiOn yet which no
ought to get nd Of There very serious dsad-
vantage under which all the artists sang yesterday,
which should be borne in mind The Of the hall
was drcadfuy Of tune with the orchestra, and when
the singer was accompanied alternately in tho same
piece by organ and orchestra il was impossible to Keep
I'm tune with both almost impossible 10 keep with either
such state Of affairs this ought not 10 exist II the
steinway Hall organ Is so from the concert pitch 1t
should be made right any not used in coniunc-
ton with orchestra Yesterday several solos we're a5O-
utely ruined by the discOra and the enjoy OF the
audience very seriously affected