Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-12-28

A Brilliant SuccesA-A Large and e
thusIastie Audience.


IhusIastie Audience.
People who attended the production of the
Creation" last spring given by Prof. Jepson's
chorus were prepared for the fine work done
by this organization last evening when Ham
del's "Messiah" was sung in most creditable
manner. The interest in these concerts is
purely choral and vocal. The production of
such a grand and venerable work as the
''Messiah" with the simple support a piano
and small organ, while placing upon the pi-
anist a most difficult and thankless task, de-
prives the listener of that smoothness and
beauty of coloring which the orchestral score
alone can give. It, however, directs the
hearers attention entirely to the vocal score
and to its Interpretation. 1t must be said
that the work done by the chorus and soloist
was deserving of highest praise. Since last
year the chorus has noticeably improved in
decision and health of tone. There is at
times, to be sure, a weakness in the sopranos
and tenors, the latter part being often very
unsteady
Notwithstanding the difficulties the work
of the chorus was good, and 1t is pleasing
fact that New Haven has s society capable
of doing Oratorio with such fine effect. To
undertake the Messiah entire is indeed a
worthy ambition, but the precedence of such
societies of the Handel and Hayden of Bos-
ton, and the New York Oratorio society, in
cutting out several of the less interesting
numbers is worthy of emulation, and would
be appreciated, no doubt, by the audience.
It is hardly necessary to make special mem
ton of special chorus numbers. In the Part
I, however, the chorus showed MUCK greater
familiarity and sureness. In part IL the
chorus, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and
the HAllelujah chorus, were well done, and
in pant III, Worthy is the lamb, was given
with surprising breadth of tone in the sus-
tained chords of the largo movement.
Mr.. Bushnell has this season taken high
position in New York musical circles, and
his magnificent singing last night would in
dictate that he has still greater horors await
| ing him The bass part of the Messiah is
| is seldom done in a more satisfactory man
ner. In his first recitative, "Thus Saith the
Lord" Mr.. Bushnell at once secured the ap-
proval of his audience, which grew with each
number until at the end of the Aria, "The
Trumpet Shall Sound, /" he was greeted with
| q double round of applause.
Miss Roberts has not been heard in orato-
| rios before, and her work last evening was a
surprise as well as pleasure to her audi
| enoe. The "Oh, Thou that Tellest," rather
ungrateful number number to the singer. was
| well given, but in the more pathetic solos
1 'He shall feed his flock" and che was des-
pissed" the beautiful rich quality of her voice
i was heard to great advantage, and after the
| latter solo she received we'll deserved mark
/ of appreciation from the audience.
Miss Russell sang her part in most ad-
| mirable manner. The effect of her first reci-
| tation Yves somewhat marred by the failure
| to take the key from the small organ, which
| by the way should not have been used. Miss
| Russell, however, finished out the number
alone in fine style, and in the solos which
| followed, noticeable. "Rejoice Greatly" she
sang most effectively, and the audience did
1 not oil tn ah0u THAR aDr1r0Val
Mr.. Osborn has been under the physician's
/ care for over week and there was doubt
| about his being able to do the part. Judging
| from his reception by the audience and
| chorus no apology need be made but to those
| who knew the voice there was lacking of
| brilliancy and power. His first solo was
| considerably marTed by the late corners. The
beautiful recitative and air in Part II: "Thy
Rebuke' and "Behold and See," were most
| finely given and the aria: "Thou Shalt Break
Them," received storm of applause. Tenors
do not usually sing this number and that it
should be so well received last night with the
/ singer out of condition is sufficient evidence
| of Mr.. Osborn's ability.
! The pianist, Mr.. Harry Jepson, performed
| the almost impossible task of giving salts
factory support with the piano in most &C.
eeptable manner. To play continuously for
| three hours with constant change of key and
1 beat is q strain upon even a mature musician.
/ Mr.. Jepson, however, showed no WEAKNESS,
| and his success in his part marks him as a
/ young musician of great ability and promise.
| AS a whole the concert was much greater
success than the previous one by the chorus,
and Prof. Jepson may well feel repaid for his
effort in bringing this work to such a sues
i cessful rendition. With such fine start we
| hope the Messiah will remain a distinctive
1 feature in the Christmas season of New Ha-
i ven. With the ''cuts" taken by the older
/ organizations of the country, and greater
i familiarity on the part of the people, audi
ence, chorus and soloists this masterpiece of
/ HandePs would endure itself to the hearts of
all, and become, as it should, as well known
/ in our city as in the great musical centers.
HDrsfOrd's Acid Phosphate
For Abuse of Alcohol.
IL relieves the depression therefrom.
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