The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-31
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.I ]

NEW YORK, December 2S, 1877.
send You some hurried notes touching
I hat have seen and heard in this city anG
l Boston, where have been passing The
hristmas holidays.
~ Leaving home on Thursday evening, Goth
instant, in company with valued friend
ia resident OF New York., | reached here
Friday morning. and that afternoon attend
ed the second public rehearsal, under the
auspices OF the Philharmonic Society, oi
Theodore Thomas's grand orchestra (nincty
peccs), the pieces performed being Brahms
symphony In G. minor, Opus GS; overture,
Leonore, No. =" by Beethoven and
Torspiel: die Meistcrsinger Won NtIrn.
berg by Wagner. There were also two
arias sung by the great contralto, Miss
Anna DraSdil, who was in excellent
voice and sang magniticcntly. Our citizens
will not soon forget the rich musical repast
af'orcd Us by this lacy when in our city not
many months ago in one OF Mr. Wheat's
concerts.
THOMAS'S ORCHESTRA.
Prominent critics in New York say that
Mr.. ThomaS'S orchestra was never rs good
rs now, and your correspondent, viewing
matters from his standpoint, is inclined to
believe it, for they certainly interpreted the
great classical works above named in n man
immense audience gathered in the Academy
OF Music to hear them.
Arriving III Boston Saturday night, the
streets presented a scene OF almost as much
animation and good cheer rs when Rich
mond Commandery, No. =, knights Ten
afternoon OF the IUTn OF June, 1875.
The sidewalks OF the principal streets
upon which the retail stores are located
were literally iammed with peopie-ladles
and gentlemen, boys and glrls--all intent
upon purchasing gifts for their loved ones.
The stores were brilliantly Illuminated, and
the display Of sall kinds OF holiday goods
most tempting and beautiful. Old citizens
informed me that
SUCH SCENE HAD RARELY BEEN WITNESSED
ill., Boston before, and it was hard to tell
4 EkA induced such al immense outpouring,
s se !. was promoted by the beautiful
ssf o.. ag--it hcng pleasant
. .uur days | remained there to
wSalk the streets without an overcoat.
On Sunday morning attended service at
the New England church (Alusic Hall), aud
heard quite Il good sermon from the pastor,
Rev. ". II. II. Murray. His subject was
ChriStmaS,'' from the text: For unto lis
Is born this day in the city OF David Sa.
yiour, which is Christ the Lord"
The music was conducted by Mr.. Charles
Zcrrahn, with l. fine quartcttc choir and Z
chorus OF some one hundred and fifty to two
hundred voices, and the great organ OF BoS'
ton, Mr.. Eugene Thaycr presiding. Among
the beautiful and classic pieces sung Wert
the Haleluiah' chorus, by Handel; the
uuartette go Lord, veil not thy face" by
Beethoven; and the grand baritone solo
..Nazaretb," by Gounod, the latter being
l. Mr.
is simply stupendous. lie is in all respects
an artist, and is, in addition, very prince
OF good fellows. The music at this service
was ali well done, and reelected credit upon
the singers, conductor, and organiSt.
In the afternoon l attended the First Uni
tartan church, Rev. Rufus Ellis pastor
THE MUSIC HERE
was almost uncqualIed, the choir consisting
OF a double uuarteltc (all soloists), and tht
selections were OF the most appropriate ant
classical order. Among these may be men
toned the aria from MeDdclssohn's "St
Paul. Be thou faithful unto death, >
which was admirably sung by Mr.. Pfueger
who | learn is Il new tenor in Boston, bu
who think bids fair to take high rank rs i
singer.
At night attended the oratorios, &c, o.
the Handci and Hayden Society ut Music
Hall.
THIS SOCIETY IS now ABOUT FIFTY YEARS OLD
and is composed OF the substantial people
OF Boston. 1t has about six hundred sing
crs in the chorus, and on this occasion sung
parts ! and Of Bach's "Christmas Ora
torlo,' J. {. d. Parker's Redemption
Hymn," and Saint Saen's ''Noel," with the
following soloists: Miss Emma e. Thurs
by, soprano; Miss Annie Louise Cary and
Mrs. Ii. +. Sawyer, contralti; Mr.. William
J. Winch, tenor, and Mr.. A. +. Stoddard,
baritone. The orchestra was composed OF
sixty pieces, and the great organ, played
upon by Mr. b. J. Lang (an admirable ac-
companist, the whole under the direction
OF MIR. Carl Zerrahn. wish l could say
all would like about this great musical
performance, but my space viii not permit.
1t was splendid. Miss Thursby had never
heard before. and must say her singing
suiiS me as well as any / have ever heard,
She is said to be
ALorELY CHARACTER
in the home circle. and I Shall never forget
her innocent, supplicating face. Miss Cary
is known here, and l will only say that she
fully sustained the exalted opinion already
entertained OF her by our people as con.
summate artist The others all did well.
But the crowning musical event OF my
trip was the performance Of Handel's great
work the oratorio "The DIessiah," on
Christmas night, at the same place and by
the same society, but with Miss Thursby,
Mrs. Barry, and Messrs. Whitney and Mas
as soloists. This was incomparably the grand
est thing ever heard except the great
"Peace Jubilee"
MR.. waITSEY's MARVELLOUS BASS
rolled like distant thunder and was fire.
auently plainly discernibie above the cho-