The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-20
AHUSEMEN1G
The orator,o Society. Concert.

The performance OF Mendclssohn's est
Paul" at the concert last evening was n decided
improvement upon the rehearsal by reason OF
the increase in numbers OF tho chorus MS well
rs the Increase In fervor and in the spirit with
which this noble work wis rendered The re-
suit showed the most patient and dscrimi-
mating labor ON the part OF the conductor. DR..
Damrosch. and a responsive and Jealous devo-
ton on the part OF the society.
Some Of tho choruscs arc OF the highest de-
gree Of difficulty. and the rendering OF these
with the accuracy. nrmness. and intelligence
with which they were brought out was n matter
upon which the society IL TO be most
warmly congratulated. For instance. that
fine example OF contrapuntaI work. Great
Is the Depth" is in itself an achievement
when It is properly given. and any musical
organ ization that can perform It with the
steadiness aud precision which the Oratorio
Society brought 10 its Interpretation last even
ing may well have feeling OF honorable pride
The solists we're Mrs. Swift Miss Drasdn.
Mr.. Simpson. and Mr. Whitney. II is a great
lack in our concert rooms that we have no
ssyIe Of music. Mrs swift has S "' pleasant ss ami
voice and nothing more. When she undertakes
such a work as this her shortcomings are
very manifest In the first place. her voice is
wanting in color. The tones are all the same.
and she is without the capacity TO express
lion or any degree 81 psthos or sensi.
hity-merely to sing with technical cor
SSa that Elicit Rc S Sr% not at ali
sufficient Vastly moro is required 10 express
It's exaltAuon ~ feeling. breadth. and grandeur.
70 this aud to other 9rius Of like character
Mrs. swift brought only u moderate talent a
voice pleasant. but thin In quality. and no
Miss Drnsdil. who took tho contralto part.
was more successful because nature has given
her voice capable Of depth Of expression.
But she constantly abuses her C1fts,
Mcndeseohn hns written few arias more
replete with beauty than that which
ora,orio. "But the Lord is mindful Of His
own Its Intrinsic merit always secures for IL
admiration. But Miss Drasdil sang II far
from we'll. LAYING stress on certain notes
merely for the display Of tone. whore no stress
~ 10 give the effect Of two or three voices
OF different tn,bre oycrstrainlng the sentiment.
forcing her chest notes. and. in fact furnishing
an illustration OF precisely how the aria
should not b. sung The rendering OF i was AS
| rs though il had been an example Of what was
In sharp contrast with all this was Mr.. Whit
| ney's singing We have no higher or better
| representative OF what IS commondable In ora
| torio singing than Mr.. Whitney. He never
sesses breadth OF style. and produces
ms ms n3s ~ n yo SAM so t Ta har
| violent transitions I'm the quality Of his tones
Although evidently suffering last evening from
| "A cold. his performance throughout was char
| acicrizrd by that smoothness and beauty Of
| style which have put him in the foremost rank
| OF our oratorio singers.
Mr. Simpson. though always sweet and per-
| sunsiye singer. has never been strong one
| md his voice was often inadequate TO the eX-
| preston Of the music In all passages OF mere
| sentiment he IL entirely equal 10 the occasion
| but where a higher Night is taken. and fire or
passion in the singer is required. his frigid and
| mOnotOnous delivery fail utterly TO interpret
| the situation. Surely there are great vacancies
in the field OF oratoriO singing that are waiting
| To be- filled