New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-18
MUSIC-ART.
HANDLES "IsRAEL IN EGYPT.


70 tbe first concert of the Oratorio Society which
will take place to night at the Metropolitan opera
House shows the same advance on the puonc ro-
hcarsal Of yesterday afternoon that has been usual
in the past tho Society as well as It's patrons VIII
deserve to be congratulated. OF all the oratorios
n the lat Handels Israel In Egypt" threatens
tho greatest disaster to afternoon performances
Under tho best of circumstances it Is difficult to So
cure the attendance OF a sufficient number OF men
singers in tho day timo to make ordinary chOruscs
90 we'll, and the difficulty is doubled when, az In
Handels choral masterpiece, the parts are doubled
and the number OF singers for each part halved
This circumstance makes 1t the moro plcasurable
TO record that the first public rehearsal OF the so
rletys fourteenth one Of the most satls
factory that we call to mind. Tho singers were
not daunted by the weather nor by the exceedingly
trying task set by the music and acquitted them
.elvo, with great credit in majority OF tho ehoruses
Of the olatorio Tho Gladstone" chorus and the
swelling triumpha psan which opens and closes the
second part of the work wero sung with fine VlsOr
and most admirable precision. The marked dell
ciencios were confined TO the long choruses In slow
time, such as "Tho People Shall Hear" and others
IN which tho dramatic effects are dependent upon a
large and suave boiy of sound and those rehnements
of expression which exceedingly difficult to obtain
Ircsson left by the public rehearsal. however. was
COOL and augured keen pleasure for the lovers oil
choral music at to nights concert. -
VAN soprano Miss Marie GrocbI contralto; Or.
Vaudeville, tenor: and DR.. Carl +. Martin ana MT
George rrehn BASES. The bulk Of tho little work
which Handel gave his solo singers to do In "lsraef
is very difficult. and those who undertake. II gen
orally 10 so in a spirit of self abnegaton. The bos
ferrous of the two BASES and tho one piece Of
lovely cantabo for cOnt3lto. Thou Shalt Bring
Them In" form tie only exceptions, unless one
Forth Frogs" which l. seldom sung effectively. Yet
the task by the music invites really lofty effort,
and II one could find a tenor with a voice like a
clarion tones and Miriam's cxaltaton of soul, the
pubic might learn that in tho two airs
assigned to those voices there is nobcr music than is
dreamed Of by the worlds majority Yesterdays solo per-
formancos while not ideal plane OF excellence,
yet deserving OF praise Miss Van the solo soprano
OF DR. Cuylers church. III Brooklyn ana has challenged
quality OF her voice and the intelligence and refinement
OF her style
These merits were noticeable again Yesterday espe
ciay in the exceedingly difficult air Thou Shalt Blow"
which she acclaimed and yOcaized with fine feeling and
in which beautiful effect attained by the sympa
hetic blending OF her voice with the obOcs that used
so well In the accompaniment and were played well in
Mr. DamrOschs orchestra.
II In tonights performance little more shading Is put
into the instrumental music the good impression made by
the air will he intensified The duet with Miss Groeb
1.-THE Lord is my Strength and my song" though well
sung was effective II would have been had there
been greater similarity in timbc between the voices
Miss Groebs contrao Is musical and pleasant to the ear
and is sufficiently extended In range but whom its upper
register heavy and when her notes went above those OF
the balance between the voices destroy
ed IL ID not that the OraorO has Few solos TINS
duet (Which Handel borrowed from composer named
Erba could easily be spared for Is thoroughly unincr
estug Miss (rOebl sang both her airs tasteuily and
efficiently and her voice out with unexpected power
DR. Vaudeville is who 10 New ork last
from the interior Of the state and has won considerable
his short amOngs u.s. Ills treatment OF
rectaye isextremcy faulty but his voice has brightness
consistency and power and that 1t Is not wanting in ex
bility he demonstrated when he sang The Enemy SAID
at a breakncck speed The two BASES rolled out must
cal sound great pillows in their duet reasonable
to expect from two such big voiced men.