Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-07
IN SlCAL CIRCLE IS
Three 0ratorios to Be Given by the
Choral Society This Season.
Come of the Singers That Will BE
Heard In Them-0ther Inter-
esting Items.

The meeting of the board of directors of
the Choral Society Wednesday night was
largely attended, and the work for the
season was mapped out. The discussion
was quite general, and the decision ar
rived at was harmonious. 1t was regretted
that the president Mr.. VIM. H. Daniel
was unable to attend, but the vice presi-
dent, DIR. Frank T. Howe, occupied the
chair. Mr.. d. G. Pfeiffer, chairman of the
finance committee. submitted several i'm
portant recommendations all of which
were adopted. The program, as has teen
stated in The Star. will include the Mes
siah.'' Samson and Deliiah" and Elijah"
and the dates fixed are Monday, Deem
Der 80. 1895, for the Messiah Tuesday,
February IT, 1896, for Samson and Deli
lah," and Tuesday. April 81, for Elijah"
These performances will be given In Con-
vention Hall. but the management of that
hall has promised that there shall be no
repetition of the unfortunate incident of
last year There will be changes made in
the stage for the protection Of the singers
against the cold. and the heating appliances
will BE- rearranged so as to make the hall
comfortable for the audience. 1t is a mat
ter of regret to the directors of the Choral
Society that there is no hall of sufficient
size for the giving of oratorio with a big
chorus and orchestra centrally loca>ed and
thoroughly equipped as music hall, but
until some such edifice is erected Conven-
tion Hall will have to be utilized. Another
Improvement promised by the hall manage
ment is the bringing forward of the stage
80 that the seating capacity shall be about
three thousand. This Will make the voices
sound with better effect. and will be of adj
vantage both TO the singers and the au-
dience.
The question of solcists was discussed at
considerable length. and 1t Is likely that
several new candidates for public favor
will be heard this winter, under the au-
spices of the Choral Society. For the
Maconda or Miss Jennie Osborn. The
former is from New York, and has been
highly spoken Of by competent critics. and
the latter Is considered to be the best So
prano of Chicago. Both have sung in the
'.Me5siah" successfully The contralto
will be either Miss Ruth Thompson or Miss
Sophie Hall of Baltimore Miss Thompson
has wonderfully improved since she left
this city and took up her residence in New
York, and her many friends here would be
glad to hear her sing role for which she
is emlnently fitted. Miss Hall has voice
of great purity and power and sings with
artistic taste and spirit. The tenor will
be Mr. h C. Towne. who created such
favorable impression here when he substl-
tuted for Mr. Reiger, and the bass will be
DR.. Carl Duff, who also came here as
stranger last year, taking the place of
Mr.. Emil Fischer in the st Paul'' ora
torio. and proving himself an accomplished
and artistic singer.
The cast for Samson and Delilah' will
include Miss Mary Louise Cleary. con-
traIto; Mr.. J. H. Mckinley, tenor; Mr. b.
Merrill Hopknson baritone, and either Mr.
Beresford or DIR. Carl Martin. bass. All
these are well known here, and some have
already sung with the Choral Society.
For Elijah cast will be selected from
Miss Meredith, soprano; Misses Gertrude
Edmands. Gertrude May Stein and Miss
Fielding Roselle. contralto; Mr.. David G.
Henderson, tenor, and Mr.. Ericsson Bush
nell. bass.
The Washington String Orchestra, which
was formed by Mr.. Ernest Lent last sea-
son, will be continued this year, and will
resume IT'S rehearsals next month. Mr..
Lent was quite we'll satisfied with the re-
suit of last seasons work, and the concert
which was given at the Uniyersalist
Church demonstrated the ability of the
players. who received warm recognition
from an audience that comprised some of