Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-15
LAST MOZART CONCERT.

A Brilliant Audience Heard . Brilliant
Performance-AH the Parts in Good
Hands-Merits of tho Chorus-Its Con-
ductor Congratulated.
A third brilliant audience not quite SO
| numerous, but quite as appreciative as its
predecessors, was gathered in Old City Hall
last night for the last of the Mozart Clubs
series of festival concerts with the Boston
Symphony Orchestra.
1t is to be regretted that the oratorio night
was not sufficiently advertised and heralded
on its own merits: compared with the other
two concerts, that of last night had
distinctive charm not at all less
engaging than either of the others.
This was true even il one were
to judge solely from the evidences of enjoy
ment displayed by the respective audiences.
From higher. artistic standpoint the last
miscellany of the night before and quite on
level with the fine instrumental pro
gramme of the first evening.
Mendelssohn's elijah" is too well known
even in Pittsburg to require detailed de-
scription. Among the foremost oratorios,
this can fairly claim to be the most dra-
ma matte, both in subject matter and in N m9si ss
lite of Elijah that have made him, for all
of US from childhood, the most familiar
and interesting figure among the prophets,
are such as lend themselves readily to q
such a dramatic text for oratorio purposes,
it is no wonder that Mendelssohn could not
find any opera libretto to satisfy him.
We are particularly interested in
the character of Elijah because he
was so human. He had his moods
like the rest OF us. seeming at diff
role is essentially dramatic, portrayal of
flesh and blood humanity, not-as Taine
says OF Ben Jonson's characters-a vice or q
virtue personified and made to move on the
or an,1i ~ al rofv
1t takes something more than merely
vocal skill to interpret the role of Elijah.
And Mr.. Gardner Lamson, whose introduc-
ton to the local audience was effected in
thing. He was not content with the
display of his exceptionally rich bass
voice and his very respectable,
was dramatic personality in his perform
ance, and that personality was so intense
that it quite dominated the entire produc-
was not slow to appreciate this fact: MIR.
Lamson now has hundreds Of warm admir-
ers, where a few hours ago he was quite un-
known.
The solo part next in Importance was the
soprano, assumed by Mrs. Georg, Heuschel.
whose only prior appearance here was In
the same work with mostly the same asso-
ciates three years ago. Since then marked
development in Mrs. Henschers voice and
style has taken place. Upon the purely lyric
excellencies of that time have been grated
others of a broader and higher type. Her
voice, without gaining great volume, has
taken on q distinctly dramatic quality; it is
warmer. richer, more intense in tinsbre. Her
style has in like manner deepened and
strengthened. So that last night she sang
even the most stirring numbers with a con-
vincing power formerly beyond her reach.
Her Interpretation of the great air, "Hear
Ye. Israel" was thrillingly effective.
were also heard in the previous periorma- ce
alluded to. Miss Adelaide Forseman's
luscious contralto was pleasure to the ear.
and she sang the milder measures with much
tenderness. Herdelivery of the recitatives,
however, should have been more incisive
and more pregnant with meaning. Mr..
Paul Zimmerman, too, might have
from purely musical point OF view Mr..
Zimmerman sang up to his own high
standard. His fine voice. rare example OF
tionaiiy S % fine trim RIM last night and he iV deliv
cred it with telling effect at climacterlc
points.
But after all it was the chorus that formed
the backbone of the performance. The
Mozart Club and its faithful conductor, Mr..
James P. McCol1um, have every reason to
congratulate themselves upon this perform
ance. At the outset it is pleasant to state
that the piantssino that could not be heard
on Friday night was frequently and
just sufficiently audible last night.
Indeed the chorus has never done whole
evenings singing so 1ull or renned dynamic
effects as this. Particular praise under this
head was earned in the lovely women's
chorus Originally trio), Lift Thine Eyes"
and in the superb scene on Mt. Horeb, be-
ginning, "Behold, God the Lord Passed
By!' With very few minor exceptions,
the chorus singing WAS in all other
respects worthy of the utmost commenda-
tion. The body of tone has never been more
sonorous or quite so well balanced. and it
became mighty instrument OF musical ex-
preston. Many passages were given by the
chorus with degree of musical intelligence
and dramatic feeling that many soloist Of
repute might envy.
Out OF the choral ranks rose Miss Irene
Sample, who sang the lines of the Youth with
certainty and effectiveness, besides
Miss Carrie NJ. Angell and Miss Ella Semple.
who assisted in the quartette holy, Holy,
Holy" and did it very we'll. The accom-
paniment OF the Boston Symphony Orches-
ira was OF course a very important feature
Of this altog ether admirable performance of
the great oratorio. T.. VS..