New-York tribune., 1889-12-30
MUSICAL COMMENT.
THE oRAToRIO SOCIETY'S PERFORMANCE
OF THE MESSIAH@-MR. D'ALBERT'S
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


From religions point of view, judge by the
character and conduct of the audience, the perform
snce of Handes " Messiah by the Oratoro Society
OF the Metropolitan Opera House on saturday evening
edifying. From artistic point Of view it was
chiefly depressing. moro liStleSs performance II
would be difficult TO recall. There were evidences in
plenty of desire the part of the chosters TO do all
that in them lay in behalf of the music. but
circumstances which they had control doomed
their efforts TO failure. 1t is pity, and II is passing
strange, that this one choral work. which enables the
society annually 10 recoup the losses made in per
forming other works should receive the least rever
in treatment and should show most plainly the
ravsges made by conventionality gone 10 seed For
the honor Of the great work which for many years
has quickened the religious heart Of the English
races at each recurring Christmastide, and which
refuses its charm in spite of the most
uncOnscionabe abuses. it would be grand thing were
some conductor burst open the door of the whted
sepulchre Of "MesSah" performances and scatter
It's dry bones 70 the winds. Tastes and ideals have
changed nightly since the oratoro written, but
a. much as any work of It's time II is endowed with
Immortality and like all masterpieces it contains
beauties that disclose themselves in their fness and
freshness only 20 careful earnest and devoted study
II has dramatic vitality than the public VIII
ever learn from humdrum performances such as the
Orstorio Society has been giving for several years
rinkering with the orchestral Accomplishments will
not supply the lack Of vitality and expressveness;
neither will the work bc helped by such experiment
Us Mr.. DamrOscl made Saturday night when he had
the orchestra sprawled all the stage with the
tasses, which never want assertiveness brought
down TO the front and the mellow wood
wind instruments and horns placed fifty feet away
between the vocal basses and tenOrs. Aside from
te want Of homOgeneity and sympathetic blending
of tone which resulted from this distribu-
ton Of the instrumental forces, the accompanlments
were ragged and nfecSs, especially in the solos.
But there is neither pleasure nor profit in reviewing
1l.a
audience. numerous always devOut in feeling
and uncrtcal always, enjoyed the oratoro for the
sake of what 1t has always been to them.
The solo singers Mrs. Estclle Ford. of Cleve-
land soprano: Mrs S. F. Osborn. contraltO: william
Dennison. tenor; and Emil Fischer. Sincere praise
can only be given to the ADM ed basso of the German
opera. Mrs. Ford has a bright voice and vocalizes
pleasantly, but her style is not large. while Mrs.
osborn. with voice of good musical quality, is sadly
lacking in animation and feeling.
The pianoforte recitals by Mr.. d'Albcrt, of which
promise was held out little vaguely some time ago
are now officially announced by Charles F. Tretbar
They will take place in Senway Hall on the afternoons
Of Friday, January 3. Tuesday, January Z, ana Mon
day January IL. The announcement will be hailed
with gadness by all lovers OF pianoforte playing Mr.
dAIbert's popular success in the concerts given in
connection with Senior Sarasate, though great only
feebly reflected the wondering admiration which he
has compelled from the panoforte players and teachers
Of the city. Men like DR.. William Mason and Mr.
Ferdinand Inten have pitched their praises Of
the newcomer in al exceedingly high key. The
programmes chosen by Mr. dAbert will be found TO be
tn Of interest by amateurs and students. lie seems
IN have aimed at presenting list of pieces calculated
disclose the development Of panofoTte music IN lis
intellectual. emotional and mechanical phases. In
the first recital Bach beethoven and Brahms Will be
called on 10 represent the classic school in the second
srhumann and Chopin the romantic; in the third
Schubert Grieg d'Albert Tausg and Liszt the new
romantic, school OF to-day. Tho pieces chosen are
Characteristic and representative in the best sense
Subscription tickets for the three rcctals now on
sale at seinway Hall and the sale OF tickets for the
Jrst recital will begin on Wednesday morning
Little otto IIeener is also down on the lists for
series of afternoon concerts TO take place at the Am
herg Theatre. beginning next saturday At these con
eerts he is to be permitted display his skill in i'm
provising subjects given him by musicians in the
audience.
The Lenox Lyceum, notable addition to New
York's high-cass music halls, which has already been
fully described in this journal, will be opened to the
public next Thursday evening. Mr.. Thomas will give
concert with his orchestra aided by approved talent
The programme of which VIII be as follows:
F0'na'e' Dor S orchestra by Muller Bershaus
overture, ..Melusina -- NJ endei,sohn
i1trscts flom The DamnatiOn OF Faust . Berlo1
Fantasia, 'Liebesnaehp .---.--F SchSfwrhho
Mrs Carr Alycs. ,,,
Romance
Franz Wiic1ck
Tersian March and "ochzetsk kaense" Waltz Strauss
ixracts from 'Dle Walkut wagner
Theodor Rchmann Will be the singer at the third
public rehearsal concert of the symphony Society
next Friday afternoon and saturday evening. lie VIII
sing scene from Parsfal7 and two songs by BRAHMS
The orchestra under the direction Of Mr. Damrosch
will play the prelude 10 "Parslfal," Brahmss third
symphony, the overture 10 lie Roi 1s' and LlSzts
%NeIeisto Weltz.a
~ rtirner <
}ormance OF GOunOd's Redemption will be given in
fhe Academy of Music, Brooklyn, on March II. The /
chorus will be composed Of the BTOoklyn CHORAL an
phon and Caecila Societies. the orchestra VIII be Nj
ihomas's and the solo parts Will be IN the hands OF
Ns Charlotte Walker, Mrs. Annie y. HartdeGen, Miss
Hattie j. Clapper William ii. Ricger. Francis FIschcr
IsoWerS and DIR Carl Martin