Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-23
THE CHORAL SOCIETY.
Its Program for the season Completed
-Intere.t in ..st. Paul"


-Intere.t in .st. Paul"
The season for concerts projected by tn,
Choral Society comprises four OF she most
interesting choral works. representing three
different periods in musical history-,h,
oldest. Handrs immortal. The Messiah"
the parent of sacred oratorio. composed In
114l; next, Memberships st Paul" With
the methods of the earlier masters broaden.
ed and beautifed. n 1856. then Safat-Saens
Samson and Delilah." of the sacred OF
biblical opera school OF compp, ition, com.
posed in 1872. and lastly. Councils The
Redemption" composed i'm ISL in tht
more purely oratorio style. resembling
st Paul" in the Introduction OF chorals
This work is the most recent. having bees
composed in lSS2
In the order Of performance ST. Paul"
comes first that work being In preparation
for the first concert, Wednesday evening
November .. Apropos Of st Paul" the
records OF the society show that portions
of it were rehearsed at one OF the first
meetings in November. lss3 Of the singers
who became the founders Of the Choral
Society" and that II was contemplated
producing the work but for one reason and
another il was laid aside. Prof. Kaspar. the
interchangeable musical director of the So
Getty. expresses the opinion that IL is likely
to be the most successful work that the
society has ever given, excepting only the
ever popular Messiah and as h has not
been produced here since i'm the seventies by
the cid Philharmonic Society, considerable
Importance attaches 10 its present revival
by Ihe Choral Society. As an oratorio st
Paul has a varied coloring ranging from
the stately, solemn chorals or hymns, 10
the mob-like choruses, such as stone him
to DEATH AMI the tender song OF alteration,
How Lovely are the Messengers" IL
treats of Stephens ma rty rdom, Sauls jour-
ney to Damascus, and his seizure with sud-
den blindness; his conversion. snd. Paul.
his Christian work, and mis- leaye-taking Of
his friends at EphesGs on his final departure
for Jerusalem.
OF the character and scope Of THE Mes
siah,' which will be given on Friday even
ing, December -. little need be said. Its
treatment vi the prophecy of our Lords
coming. Of the fulfillment. His passion ana
resurrection, is well known to all music
lovers.
Gounod is probably best known 10 she
musical public through his opera of
Faust" His COMPOSITIONS are always tune
ful, and his most important work of the
oratOrto class, The Redemption" Is no
exception. The scope Of the work is in
part identical with that of The Messiah"
but with greater elaboration of the sub
ject of the Savtor's crucifiXion and resur-
rection. 1t is set down for performance on
Tuesday evening, March ). the first week
of the Lenten season, to which IL is es-
pecialy appropriate, aside from its great
n usical attractiyeness.
Probably the greatest interest attaches
TO Camille Saint-Saens' samson and Deli
lah." announced for Wednesday evening,
April Ia 1855 This work has never been
produced in Washington, though solo selec-
tions from il have for several years fire.
qUently appeared on our concert programs.
1t Is less of a choral work than any OF the
ether compositions mentioned, and possesses
more of the elements of a miscellaneous
program, the scloists and orchestra having
large opportunities and the chorus being
comparatively unimportant though there
is by no means a paucity OF chorus num-
bers. The story of Delilah's allurement Of
the Hebrew champion, the muscular Sam
son, and Of his downfall and captivity, Is
told in a most charming manner in this
great work.
OF the soloists there are none announced
as yet that are not already established ia
vorites with Washington audiences. Mime.
Lillian Blauvelt, who made her first APP
Iearance in Washington at the society's
performance of The Creation last spring
has been re-engaged for st. Paul. The
contralto is Miss Florence A. Stidham, one
of Washington foremost singers who will
make her debut in oratorio on this occasion
The tenor and bass will be Mr.. Anton SchOtt
and Mr.. Emil Fischer. For The Messiah
an Incompatible quartet will be presented
comprising Nine. Emma Juch, Miss Kath-
crime Fleming, Mr.. VIM. II. Rieger and Mr.
Ericsson +. Bushnell. For samson and
Delilah.' Mr.. A. l.. Guile, who Is perhaps
best known here as the principal tenor OF
the Hinrichs Opera Company, is engaged
with DIR. b. Merrill Hopkinson in the bari
tone role. and Mr.. Emil Fischer for the
two remaining bass roles A number OF
artstes are under consideration for the role
of Delilah," and the decision of the So
ciety VIII be announced early I'm November
The prices for these concerts are ex-
eeedingly low, and the terms for season
tickets especially reasonable, being s. so
ana -, and emitting the holder 10 seats TO
the value of So and 81, respectively at his
convenience. Convention Music Hall has
been vastly improved for concert purposes
by the reduction OF the audience space and
tne elevation OF more than half dncluding
the entire balcony of the $500 seats which
the nan now accommodates. Under the
capable direction Of Prof. Josef Kaspar the
society Is Constantly advancing, and PRONE
lses even more enjoyable work this wear
than ever before. The society is engaged In
very commendable object, and deserves
nearly and substantial support