Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-31
THE MOZART CONCERT.
A Highly Successful Rendition of
the Messiah at Old City Hail.
TIE QUARTETTE REALLY FINE,
And the Orchestra and Chorus Both Heard
ito Good fleet.
A REVIEW OF THE EVENINGS MUSIC

Every seat in the Old City Hall was
taken last night at the Mozart Clubs fourth
annual performance of Handels ''Mes-
siah." The concert was interesting for
several reasons. First, it introduced the
best quartet that Pittsburg has ever heard
in this production; secondly, the enlarged
chorus and orchestra filled the gap that
marred previous occasions, and thirdly, the
existence of = noteworthy harmony during
the whole evening had an unusually visible
effect upon the audience. which allowed no
number to be rendered without liberal ap-
plause.
The chorus did some splendid work in
every particular; the sopranos and the altos
sang feelIngly and with great purity, and
were ably supported by the mems voices.
Every number was rendered with a concen-
trated force and agreeable softness rarely
found in a musical body of this kind. 1t is
gratifying to know that Pittsburg, when
the occasion demands it, can muster 80 such
able instrumentalists as composed the or
chestra last night. Its execution in SUBJ
dued passages was very refined and it
attained, considering its size, real
dynamic effect in the forcible crescendoes.
Mrs. Bishop a Great Success.
The greatest interest, of course, centered
in the soloists Mrs. Genevra Johnstone-
Bishop, of Chicago, sang the soprano part
She has been heard here before and, if pos
sible, added to the favorable impression al
ready created. Lately there has been great
deal of newspaper discussion about the
Windy City becoming the seat of art and
letters in America If Chicago has many
literateurs and singers of the class to which
Mrs Johnstone-B Bishop belongs the ques-
seems only to be matter of time.
This lady is without doubt one of the best
oratorio singers before the American pub
lie to-day. Her voice is remarkably rich
aud pure: its freshness is rare and welcome,
and her execution accurate to a marked de- |
gree. She sings with wonderful amount |
of spirit and, expression, and her vocal en-
durance is nearly inexhaustible. The |
high range of her voice was
particularly pleasing in the air, |
"Come Unto Him Ali Ye That Labor
The orchestra's gentle accompaniment pro-
duced the impression of a sweet birds |
melodious singing on a quiet summer night |
with soft zephyrs waiting, carrying hopes |
of peace and good will to all "who are |
heavily laden" After her rendering of |
the number the especially musical audience |
was notably swayed.
Mr. Duffrs First Appearance.
The part in Messiah" that to the singer |
contains the most gratifying opportunities
is that OF the basso. In that Mr.. Carl !
Duff was heard for the first time last night |
He is a genuinely artistic oratorio singer
and proved himself worthy of the reputation |
he has acquired in New York. With voice |
full and round, pronounced sympathetic
ring and thoroughly clear enunciation he
csptivsted his auditors with his first rendi-
tion and carried them with him the rest of |
the evening, He is possessed of a COM
presence and aided BY an intelli-
gent interpretation he seems we'll adapted
for choral purposes
Mr.. Albert Lester King received hearty |
welcome when he sang the opening recita-
tive of 'The Messiah" The part allotted I
to the tenor in this oratorio does not give |
many chances for the display of his full |
vocal abilities; enough, however, was heard !
of Mr.. Lester King to fully prove that
his voice is sweet and carefully trained, his
delivery graceful and refined and his whole |
performance as musicianly as the work re-
quires
A Pleasant Musical Surprise
An agreeable surprise was manifest at |
the hearing of Miss Olive Fremstadt This |
young lady's career is as yet very brief, but
it is nevertheless markedly successful
She has q winning and sweet ap-
pearance that almost prejudices one in her
favor before she sings. That is not to say,
however, that her success is due more to
her looks than her voice, but merely i'm
plies that it would almost be i'm
possible to think of her render
ing any notes that were not artistic
ally true or feelingly impressive. As
is the case with the tenor, tine contralto
range in 'The Messiah" is very limited.
Miss Fremstadt's mellow and repcsaful
voice has an agreeable quality and telling
power; her style is finished, and
her whole delivery reflects the inner
feeling of the singer to such degree thar it
is sincerely to be hoped that Pittsburg will
soon have an opportunity to hear the young
lady in something that will do her greater
credit than ''The Messiah -
Considering the perfection of the quar-
tet, the success of the chorus and the merit
Of the orchestra, Mr. McCollum, the leader,
and everyone else concerned, should derive
great encouragement from last nights pro-
1uction. !