The Washington times., 1894-12-29
HandeIs MasterWork Rendered by
the Choral Society.
A NOTABLE MUSICAL EFFORT.
Convention Hall Filled with Mag
nificent Audience.
Emma Juch, Katharine Fleming, William
Rieger, and Ericsson Bushnell Were the
Solo Artists Chorus and soloists Heartily
Applauded From First to Last the Closest
Attent on Was Paid to Every Detail.

1t was magnificent audience that heard
The Messiah sung at Convention Hall last
night; magnificent in point of numbers for
between 1000 and 4.GG0 people were there,
but also because OF the critical attention it
paid TO the work OF chorus soloists aid or
ehestra, and the enthusiastic approval it be-
slowed whenever il was deserved.
At every concert performance, no matter
what IFS character, there is a great deal OF
perfunctory applause, for good many peo-
pie, lacking discrimination take it to be the
proper thing TO applaud every time a singer
comes to q long pause. This was not want
ing last night at Convention Hal, but, on the
other hand. there We're several instances
when the audience was fairly carried away
artist.
One instance may be mentioned as cxeep-
tional. Madame Emma Juch sang the beau
tiful aria Come unto Him all ye that labor
with tenderness and sweetness rs rare as it
was exquisite 1t went right to the heart of
every one. the vast multitude vas motionless,
and as with n wealth of lyric expression she
sang the final ''and He will give you rest, y
something that sounded like agreat sob went
up from the audience Ii was more per-
feet compliment to the power of the singer
than the storm of
APPLAUSE WHICH FOLLOWED.
The performance of Handei's master work
last evening may be accounted by the Choral
Society n notable achievement The ork of
the chorus WAS far more exact aad rounded
than when they sang the SAND oratorio last
season. They attacked each phrase sharply
and clearly and there was none OF the drag
ging in the closing so frequently noticeable
in chorus singing. Mr.. Joseph Kaspar con-
Quoted with his accustomed skill and deserves
much of the credit due the society for their
per -ormance. Once or twice he took his
tempo rather too slow, but on the
whole he nerited all the applause the audi
ence bestowed Gpou hinl he orchestral
part was i'll the hands of members of the
famous Peabody Symphony Orchestra OF
Baltimore. Their playing OF the pastoral
symphony in the first part of the oratorio was
a highly crediIable piece Of work. Mr.. John
Porter Lawrence and Mrs. Joseph S. Thomas
played the piano Accomplishments.
OF the choral parts, For Unto Us Child
Is Born, Lift Up Your Heads, o ye Gates. y
the weil-known ''Hailelu. ah!'' and worthy
Is the Lamb were sung with
ESPECIAL yIaoR AND EXPRESSION.
The soloists OF the evening were Madames
Emma Juch, soprano: Miss Katharine Flem-
ing, contralto; Mr.. William H. Rieger, tenor,
and Mr.. Ericsson L. Bushnell, bass All these
are well and favorably known to the musical
portion of Washingtons people. Mad
anne Juch has been heard here in opera
more than once but never did she score
more perfect lyric triumph than she did last
night. She was in Ierfect voice, and every
note, even the faintest pianissimo, could be
heard in the remotest part OF the big audito-
rum. There was a superb breadth in her
rendering the soprano s first recitatiye "There
We're Shepherds and the Immediately sue
eeeding "Reioice Greatly. o Daughter of
Zion was a very poem OF jubilation. Il
Know That My Redeemer Liveth" was a
noble effort. but the gem of the evening, as
already stated, was Come Unto Him.
Miss Fleming has n coniralto of consider
able range and power and gave eminent sat-
isfacton. Mr.. B1shnell's great voice gave
the audiences exquisite pleasure and he sang
..Why Do the Nations SO Furiously Rage?''
with magnificent effect Mr. Rieger took the
tenor part most acceptably
The arrangement Of Convention Hall since
the seats have been placed phitheatrically
| is @ great improvement, in that al persons
have an equal chance TO hear and see.