, 1876-06-04

lent Judgment, for it was the most effectively
rendered. To Alr. Singer is due the honor Of
its success, Tor he introduced the idea which
occas1oned it.
thus WAS an Interpretation novel in this city
effective in practice, and authorized BY history
The fugue set to the lines up to the names given
the promised Messiah, Nr. Singer has the chorus
sing mezzo .eee, and thus leads up to climax
and a grand burst Of harmony On the words,
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, the Ever
lasting Father, the Prince Of Pence" !" which arc
sung with all the powers OF the united chorus
and orchestra. The effect is beautiful, and the
fact that Handel originally wrote the fugue
parts for q qua1tette of solo voices, and
had the chorus join them on the pas
sages sung Jorte By the chorus under MF. Singers
was that Of the chorus "Glory to God" which
contains a striking example Of the consummate
| skill with which Handel produced effects, with
tendency toward realism, without doing vio-
lsnee to doEm Or perfect beauty The chorus
on the words ''in the hlghest;" to this tie
| male voices at once form contrast by falling
an octave FROM on the t1fth line to 4 on tie
first space Of the bass and tenor staff, In unison
with all the instruments Of the orchestra, on
the words and peace on earth" The design
can be perceived at once, aud is retained Ill
through the chorus, whenever the words are re-
peated. The " "Hal1eluiah" chorus was ap-
plauded, but was Lacking in power. While It
was singing, the soloists, in obedience to an old
and beautiful custom, arose and united their
voices to those OF the chorus.
The soloi5ts acquitted themselves OF their
tasks right nob1y, aud reaped rich haryests OF
appreciation. ALI were in good voice, and all
sang as though their hearts were In their work.
Miss Drasdil carried oil the honors By her sing
ing Of the gem Of the oratorio, "He Shall Feed
His Flock which WIS clamorously demanded
Smith aroused the same enthusiasm, but
slightly modified, owing to the fact that Miss
Drasdl had already sung the same air, BY her
"Comc unto Him" Miss D1asdn's ovation,
genuine feeling Infused into song than sha
Rss ar Of Ae Haaass xas,
almost unfortunate, for It sadly masTed
.aa numr :sm9Sasy asy two and seutveees es 5 aa
feed His dock,' etc, and 'Colne Unto Him."
are sung by two voices, yet they form but one
number. The first is sung by the alto so1otst, in
the key Of nlalor, then occurs brief orchcs-
tral interude, in which there is transition into
same melody is sung By the soprano solotst to
the words, "Co,ne Unto HIM. etc The np-
plausc given Miss Drasdil's performance, and
the demand for repetition, drowned the Inter.
ludc, and thus ruthlcssly destroyed tho unity Of
the number, and the effect caused BY the sudden
change to the higher key. II We did not know
that Mrs Smith is never guilty Of slipsho0
singing, S:a| we might say ,,t tlat Miss D1as- as
best efforts, but her love Of music, in SO exalted
and pure form US oratorios, is always iucent-
i've enough to do that Her success was no less
marked than Miss Drustlills, though all the ad-
vantage was ou the side Ut tho contralto voice,
which has less hardness, more feeling, and mov-
ing power than the pure soprano voice. We
also wish to place on record artistic successes
achieved by aiiss Smith In the airs g How Beau
.iful arc the Feet" and - Know that Ny Re
dcemcr Lvcth," and By Miss Drasdl IL she
Was Dcspiscd and Rejected" Mr.. Bischotr
sang the tenor airs in the same vigorous manner
which he exhibited In "Eiijah-' u Is not the
style Of singing demanded by oratorio, though
it was successfully employed in the dramatic
and frightfully difficult air, t Thou shalt break
thcm." Two or three times Mr.. Bischoff gave
bad note by overstraning his voice This is
unparlonable, because unnecessary; Mr.. Bis
ch0if's tenor has ringing cicarncss and power,
and in Handers music sinootlness is u first
requisite. Mr.. Whitney sang at his best, aud
awakened great enthusiasm by nlnsterly rem
derlng OF 'sWhy do the nationss"
trumpet shall sound," had to be omitted, owing
to the German edition OF the oratorio being
used, which contained changes with which Mr..
Whitney is not familiar. Tie performance, as q
whole, stands on the record a success.