Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-07
THE SECOND ALLEGHENY CONCERT
Good Work by the Chorus and soloists-A
Successful Close.

Good Work by the Chorus and Soloists-A
Successful Close.
The second of the Allegheny Musical As
sociation's concerts, with the New YORK
symphony Orchestra, proved to be strong
enough attraction to draw fully 1900 people
through last evenings snow to Cyclorama
Hall. Allegheny. But little Improvements OF
the acoustic defects of the hall had been at
tanned by the additional streamers hung
from the ceiling since the previous evening
Considerable numbers of the audience
moved from one part of the room to an
other 1.-THE 1,s00 chairs made such exchanges
easy) in a vain effort to escape the reverber-
alton that muffled and muddled the more
brilliant effects
Interest centered chiefly upon the per-
formance of Benedict's cantata, "The
Legend of st. Cecilia" which had been
heard here before at the very first concert
of this choral society. two seasons ago, when
an orchestra was lacking and the presenta-
tion was otherwise inadequate. Sir Jullus
had the good fortune to secure an unusually
poetical and effective text, written by Henry
+: Chorley. AS the full title indicates, Mr..
Chorley chose to treat the story OF ST. Ce-
ella herself, instead of writing still an
other poetic apostrophe to her IN the
To the description of the cantata given in
this journal last Sunday, not much can be
added this morning. Benedict's muse ap-
pears in its most dramatic aspect; the cnar-
acters of the well-contrasted personages are
sharply defined and strongly set out in the
music they sing; both orchestra and chorus
are also handled with an eye to picturesque
and dramatic effectiveness. One single
number-an altered version of part OF the
familiar psalm, ''God is our hope ana
strength"-embraces an extraordinary va
riety of original vet wholly legitimate. eff
fects in its successive combinations OF all
the performing forces; it might be termed
miniature oratorio in itself, and one OF nigh
type.
The choral singing last night marks the
highest point yet reached by the Allegheny
Association. A few fugal passages were
blurred and unsteady, and occasionally in
other hard spots the volume of tone fell OIL.
But there was splendid spirit and earnest
ness and, especially, careful attention TO
the finer grades OF shading, which, along
with other good points, made this choral
performance, as a whole, exceedingly credit
able to Conductor w. A. Lafferty and his
still comparatively
The spirit of the orchestral players was by
no means so commendable. They showed
even more than the usual carelessness and
lack of sympathy for a chorus conductor in
an unaccustomed situation. Mr.. Lafferty's
beat was not as masterful, and his orchestral
cues far from being as frequent, as could De
desired. OF course That is in the nature
of things, and orchestral artists of the
higher sort ought to understand it so as to
lend cordial aid in overcoming the inherent
difficulty of the situation.
Mrs. Ida Klein had as Cecilia, most try
ing part, and yet one of rare opportunity to
the singer able to master it completely. She
earned great success no less by the range
and quantity of her vocal resources than by
the emotional strength of her interpreta-
tion. Miss Mary Bankerd, yonng local
contralto, gave much besides bright
promise for the future. Her rich, vibrant
voice, of the true contralto timbre, was well
delivered, and she sang in an ef-
plause. Mr.. W. j. LAWN did some
delightful singing in the role of Vdleridntts.
He is not a tenore rObttstO and could not attain
the two or three powerful climaxes required
of him; but the major portion of his lines let
him show forth the luscious, velvety quality
he has the secret. Mr.. Homer Moore added
one more to the growing list of popular
cvations received in his newly adopted
home. The lines or the Prefect are bitter and
vengeful, set against turbulent orchestra
tion, which last night was made still louder
and rougher. Mr.. Moore's straining for
tonal effect, thus made necessary, was the
only noticeable blemish in a performance
characterized by rare vocal skill and the
most dramatic intensity.
Mr.. Damrosch and his orchestra con-
tributed to the programme the "Frei-
schuetZ" overture and LISTS "Les Pre-
ludes, in addition to which the string band 4
upon his own. Austrian national hymn
about the only production of a first rank
composer that an entire people has accepted
for its own. 1t is unnecessary to go into de-
tails, the performance of the orchestra had
still fewer shortcomings than on the pre-
cellent qualities of which extended mention
was made yesterday morning. Mr.. DAM
rosch and his men will always find a warm
welcome in Pittsburg. c. W. S.