Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-13
IN GRAND CHORUS.
The Marked Success Of the Choral So.
cfety Concert

The Washington Choral society opened their
seventh season last evening in Music hall with
a performance of Max Bruch's "Arminius. ~
1t was very considerable undertaking and the
success with which it was carried out was of
| such sort as to speak much for the zeal and
enthusiasm OF the chorus in mastering its diff
culties and to give most convincing guarantee
OF the successful season that remains before
the society. "Arminius" is work in the most
advanced tendency in music and Is above all
else dramatic-picturesque its quality. The
composer has abandoned those symbolic for
NAL elements which enter so largely into the
composition of the religious oratorio Of the &C
cepted type; he has striven to picture as WV
IDLY and as directly as possible the stirring
scenes OF the rugged old legend that forms his
subject, the elemental emotions and exalted
mysticism that enter into it, So his materials
are broad and massive choruses full of dynamic
contrasts and effects. worked out in rich and va
rled harmonles, an orchestral accom-
paniment glowing with color and
brilliancy which. indeed, scenes designe
and relief, rather than merely to accompany,
and an abundance of passionate dramatic
defamation. While the chorus is thus relieved
OF certain difficulties in the way of contra
puntal complications it is faced by other and
perhaps equally great ones, to secure a strong,
vivid, coherent rendering. The way it met
them last evening resulted in performance Of
splendid effectiveness. Its mastery of the
work was evident at every point and there was
no single moment of doubt in the progress of the
work from the opening bar to the last. SO far
as the GLORIOUS was concerned. Its body Of
tone was superb, fine not only from the volume
that numbers give, but rich. well balanced and
fresh in quality. In the moments of climax
especially did it reach thrilling impressive
ness, and throughout its singing was character
lied by a magnificent fire and enthusiasm,
kept, however, well within the bounds neces-
sary for precision and certainty. Criticism
would be against the tempo in which many of the
choruses were taken, especially the slower ones,
which were seldom slow enough, the differences
being insufficiently marked while somewhat
similar complaint must lie against the matter
OF shading in ''Arminius." SO important and
effective means of expression. 1t was INSULT
cienrly elaborated in detail a real pianissimo
being rarely attained and subtle differences in
dynamic power seldom set forth. Some allow
ance ought to be made in this respect for the
disturbing influence of the orchestra, whose
playing was somewhat rough and strident,
lacking in delicacy and finish. The soloists
were Miss Gertrude Edmands, Mr.. George
Prehn and William H. Lawton. Mr.. Prehn had
the burden of the solo work i'll the exacting and
difficult part assigned to "Arminius." and gave
an Interpretation of it magnificent in dramatic
power and artistic insight in the fire and
passion of his defamation and the splendid
quality and endurance of his vocalism, upon
which very large drafts were made. Miss
Edmands, though somewhat indisposed, sang
the comparatively unimportant part of the
prIestess with much fervor and sustained
dignity of style that gave it a SURPRISING
interest. MIR. Lawton was an insufficient
"Siegmund." the quality and power of his
voice and his conception and artistic formula
ton OF the part being deficient in many points.