The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-04
AMUSEM ENTS.


SAMUEL AT THE ACADEMY.
Last night Mr. Jerome Hopkins, the interchangeable
and irrepressble, made his bow as an oratorio COM
poser, producer aud conductor. Mr Hopkins Is, az
we understand it, undertaking TO DO the Wagner OF
oraioriothat IS he has discovered that has
always been written false principles and proposes
to reform II altogether His work OF last night
first step IN this direction. OF course say that
DID not IKE ~ is no argument We did not like wag-
ncr when we hsi heard hin. Let US hear how ora
torio has been wrong and how Mr.. Hopkins intends TO
right 1t
Ftrst-So says Mr. Hopkins-he old masters have
always made oratorio too difficult Those poor, dear
country societies who took up oraloro with the inten
ton oil studying and presenting u, always had 10 lay
II down again In despair. 80 Mr.. Hopkins is de-
termined TO simplify matters aud IN order TO do SO
has written all his choruses IN snison. VINO can fail
TO SEQ how great improvements this Is on the old
poiyphonc style OF Hanaei. ara Bach. and Mendels.
sohn. so unnecessarily dneaii, and 40 hard for the
dear public TO unravei and understand
Second oratora should be done always with scenery.
costumes and action should be In TACT sacred opera
The days Of Eluah in q dress coat and tho angels IN
evening costume are over; we must be dramatic or
nothing To the unregcnerated mind this has tho
unpleasant effect OF painted statue or OIL painting
In reievo--that Is TO say OF nh attempt 10 combine
two ELECTS each good In ITSELF but antagonistic In prn-
cplc but then the Generated mind s criter
The idea OF has always that dealt with
subjects too sacred to DC embodied though they could
with propricy DO suggested aud described. But TO
Mr. Hopk ms nothing rs sacred, apparently Should he
evor produce tho "Croation." he would undoubtedly
have Raphael, Gabriel and Urlel In diapnnnous gar.
ments, with wings OF real feathers. But how would no
manage the TO say the castI scanty costume OF
respected parents before the fallY However, Mr. Hop
kins has not yet produced tho 'Creaton," probably
he never VIII, aud our business at present In with
samuel AS Mr.. Hopkins imagncs him. Samuel was
personated IN the FIRST act by young lady with very
pleasing volce-o course according TO Mr. Hopkins
directions. Shc-we mean hc--made his nrst appear
shoes-a costuno which would undoubtedly have
tonished Hannah anu Eikanah n they had
II this IS the way In which ELI dressed Samuel we
not asonishcd that hts mother deemed necessary
take her son dress every year when she went 10 the
Temple Tho part OF David was sung by Mr. w. Leg
gett, tenor singer, frequently heard al concerts
His dress was simply absurd. II this WINS the style
oil costume worn by shepherds in those days pity
the sheep!
regards tho music Of this work 1t is quito In keep.
ns with Mr.. Hopkins idea OF oratoro--strunGc pass.
Ing strange. In TINS as IN the costumes no has bor
rowed wholesale from every source thin his reach
not Que bar worth listening to IN the whole compost
ton he has not produced original work. though he
has right TO claim II as IN original oratorio. We
cannot help wishing that II Mr.. Hopkins wanted sub.
ject Tor burlesquc he might have selected from
somo other source than the pages OF Holy Writ Tho
tendency oil the ago rreverencc Ia everything
certainly there was nothing ~ the music perform
anco OF last night that could IN any way elevate the
minds OF young or old on the contrary il treat
ing sacred subject with The familiarity that breeds
contempt, and II such to DO the oratoros tho
future we hope sincerely We may not be there to hear
them.