Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-29
IN SICAL CIRCLES
Formal Announcements of "The Messiah"
by the Choral Society.
There Will Be a Splendid Cast of
Observation-Disclosures symphony
Orchestra too Play.

Orchestra too Play.
The annual holiday season performance
Of Handlers greatest oratorio, 1.-THE Mes
siah,' is announced to- be given Tuesday,
December II, by the Choral Society at Con-
vention Hall, assisted by Miss Charlotte
Maconda, soprano; Miss Ruth Thompson.
contralto; Mr.. E. G.. Towne, tenor. and DR..
Carl Duff, basso, all of New York; also to
be accompanied by the Washington Sym
phony Orchestra. This announcement will
be received with welcome by the large
numbers who regularly attend this sacred
works rendition, especially as it will par
take this year of a larger element of home
talent in its production. The soloists are
among the most distinguished of oratorio
singers. Mr.. Towne and DR.. Duff being
well known here. having sung with the
society before. Miss Maconda has achieved
| a most brilliant success in concert work,
and our own" Ruth Thompson Will come
fresh from the scenes of her recent sue
cesses in oratorio In speaking of Miss
Thompson's singing of 'Ite was desp!sed,'
from The Messiah Harry Rowe-Shelly,
the great organiSt and composer OF church,
| music, said: 1T was to, me a revelation.
Her voice is like the sweetest tones of a
cello in the hands of aG.ese or a Hecking.
The great stage at Convention Hall Will
be moved farther forward, shortening the
hall by Seventy-ive feet, and the whole
platform and stage will be masked in at the
back. This, 1t is needless to add, Will make
vast improvement in the hearing and
seeing from the back of the hail. and these
seats will now become very desirable.
The sale of seats to honorary members
opens Tuesday. December g. at Ellis &
Co. 95I Pennsylvania avenue, and con-
tinues until Tuesday, December 10, when
begins he
same place.
The prospects of an unusually fine per-
| Torrance Oft this most favorte work, the
great Improvements which have been made
in the hall, together with the fact that
great crowds attend this rendition every
year, will make it desirable to secure seats
as early as possible.
The Washington Symphony Orchestra
that has been assembled by Mr.. Herman
Rakemann is now an established fact, and
| will make its first appearance in connection
with the Choral Society's performance of
THE Messiah" at Convention Hall next
| month. 1t is matter of congratulation
that an organization of this character has
been formed in this city, for it proves the
number OF hne professional musicians that
there is in the District, and it is expected
that its performance of accompaniment
work in the Messiah" will be superior to
the work of the Baltimore orchestra, which
the Choral Society has heretofore employed.
one advantage of local symphony Or
che stra is that both director and players
| can be more in touch with the Choral So
Getty, which would chiefly need its services,
than is possible with an organization that
simply comes on here the day of the per-
formance. and has but one rehearsal with
the singers.
1t was hoped that this symphony orches-
ira would be able to give a concert before
this, in order that the musical public might
be able to judge of it's work. but the sub
scriptions have not yet reached the figure
that Mr.. Rakemann deems necessary in
| order to insure against loss. The list is
still at DroopS music store, and Mr. E. II.
Droop, who is the business manager of the
enterprise, hopes that he will be able to an
nounce a concert early in January. Mr..
Rakemann has spent good deal of time
and energy in the formation of this orches-
ira, and confidently expects that its first
work will demonstrate his judgment in as
semblng the professional performers into
a coherent body, which shall. have as its
aim the Interpretation of the best form of
orchestral music
The Washington String Orchestra. under
the leadership of kIr. Ernest Lent, will give
its first concert this season rext Saturday
evening at Metzerott Music. Hall. The favor
able impression that this organizat ton made
at its concert last spring Indicates that it
will do good work. and the force has now
been Increased to about sixty members. MIR.
Lent has shown great skill in training this
body of young people. and that his efforts
are being appreciated is evidenced by the
number of seats already secured for the
series of two concerts that has been an
nounced. At this first concert the orchestra
will be assisted by Miss Mary Helen Howe,
soprano, who will sing the brilliant aria
| "Ah, fors lui' from '"Traviata," and a
group, which will include Pizzi's Ave Ma
ria" Mascagni's "Preghiera" and another
selection. The program for the orchestra
includes some excellent numbers. which will
enable the performers to be heard at their
best. At the second concert Rivarde, the
celebrated violinst, and Mrs. Ernest Lent,
pianist, will be the soloists. Season tickets.
as well as single seats for the first concert
are now on sale at MetZerotts music store.
An evening of music is announced at the
DUniversalst Church next Tuesday evening
by Mrs. Nellie Wilson Shir-Clif. DIR. Z.
Merrill Hopkinson of Baltimore Mr.. John
Porter Lawrence and Miss Amy Clement
Leavitt Mrs. Shir-Cliff is a soprano of
well-known reputation, DR.. Hopkinson is a
baritone of fine ability, who has been heard
here frequently with the Choral Society,
Mr. Lawrence is one of the best piano solo,
lists in this District and Miss Leavitt is an
excellent aCcompanist. This combination
ought to command the support of lovers of
good music, and the program will be
carefully arranged, the concert viii! I'M
doubtedly be a success.