The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-30
SUCCESS OF ORATORIO
Elijah" Performed to Very
Crowded Audience.
IT'S REPETITION is DEMANDED.
It's Successful Production Leads Prof.
sharpe to Promise TO Repeat IL
Next Month.
IT'S REPETITION is DEMANDED.


utt.e experience Of the presentation OF
good oratorio. or tfley would al have been
found in their seats when the conductor
welded his baton last night az the First
Methodist church for the Introductory and
overture Of Elijah" For 50 much is fore
Swallowed IL this prologue OF the passions
and emotions and Incidents OF the story
that il attempted in song and orchestral
harmony. that 70 have any part of the
continuity OF IT'S grandeur broken by pe0-
PIE busting into their seats IS to yex the
real music lover TO the very depths q his
SOU From this cause much OF the beauty
Of this part OF the programme was rnarred
last night: bat then the building was too
small 70 Accommodate all those VINO de-
sired 70 hear Mendelssohn's greatest work
as II was promised 20 be given. The Lead
ing people Of the city attended. and those
not fortunate enough 70 De cary stood in
the aisies and around the walls and wher-
ever they could hear. Such a gathering on
such a n occasion was undoubtedly a great
encouragement TO those DESTROYS OF pro-
noting the culture OF oratorio. IL was an
incentive 10 every one on the platform 10
give the very best their ability and culture
permitted. and when. in the short interim
between the first and second parts OF t1e
oratorfo. an announcement was made that
IN response 20 numerous requests the ora
torlo would he repeated during next month
the crowded audience shared heartily in
the enthusiasm Of those engaged in the
production o. the great work.
Attempts have been made 10 produce
oratorio here annually. the Messiah" be-
ing the one attempted; but il was without
any permanent organization and on not
nearly So ambitious a scale as the per-
formance or last night. There was. in the
first place, full orchestra Of twenty
eight pieces, an organ properly pitched for
concert purposes, and chorus OF 100
voices II is hoped that the indubitable
success OF this performance Will lead 10
the formation OF a permanent organiza-
ton FOR ora torio. so that those Who take
part in them may De held together, and
the training received carried on and added
10 from year to year, as ii is in oder COM
munities.
The overture of Elijah" is a somber
description Of the drOuth and distress
following Eliiah's prophecy and the vote
ing OF the suffering in the chorus Help,
lord" In this the 100 voices acquitted
themselves capitally. the rising ard falling
OF their prayer being given with a volume
and precision worthy Of a larger audit0ri-
um. The succeeding choruses were given
with fairly good effect until the long ma
jesttc Thanks BE TO God with which
the first part closes. The surging tumult
Of harmony Of people bursting in thank
ful shouts of praise, while in the organ and
instruments one hears the rains and the
winds OF the tempest, was started with
enthusiasm and vigor. but before its close
the voices occasionally dragged probably
from want of more training for such pro-
l0nged and difficult numbers. But on the
whole the execution of the choruses. both
on the part Of the vocalists and instrument
talists. was even and good, and at times
excellent 1t was certainly much better
than was 10 be expected under the cir
cumstances-
Gtc oil
and nearly ali that need be said of them
is that they were in excellent voice. and
sang their respective numbers, even the
difficult recitatives. as IL they had long
studied and were well versed in the par
tieular requirements Of oratorio. They
We're: Elijah, Mr. Myron w. Grout: Oba-
diah. Mr.. Z. L. McAllaster; Ahab Mr..
G. A. Edmonds; Jezebel, Mrs.
Blanche Kessler Grambs: angels. Mrs.
Jennie Houghton Edmonds and Mrs.
w. H Whlttlesey. The Elijah
was frequently applauded. but the one
number which entirely captivated the au-
dience was the trio for female voices.
Lift Thine Eyes" This was the vocal
gem of the whole performance, the air be-
ing so delicate yet lofty in the
expression. and the voices Of the angels
blending SO perfectly. IL was warmly en-
cored, and Prof. Sharpe seemed to think
that II deserved TO be. for he broke his
rule for once and permitted it to be given
again. The popular favorite. 30 Rest in
the Lord" was another gem which was
heartily applauded.
Among those who thoroughly enjoyed
this production that Prof. Sharpe welded
his baton over with such skill were: Rev.
and Mrs. u. c. Garrett. Prof. Thomas
Catch and family. President and Mrs.
Mark Harrington. Mr.. James Rea1man
and Miss Readman. Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph
Shipper. Rev. and Mrs w. \. Shalkln,
Mr.. and Mrs. Homer Norton, DR.. Schoenle.
Mrs. KautZ and daughters Mr. and Mrs.
r. y. Albertson, Judge and Mrs. McDon-
aid Mr.. and Mrs. Cole. Prof and Mrs F.
]. Barnard. Mr r. NJ. Palmer Mr. and
Mrs. J. l.. Schultz, Mr. and Mrs Z. F.
Blaine. Mr. and Mrs. s. Rosenberg. Mr..
and Mrs. r. II. Denny. and Mr.. and Mrs.
7. r. Van Tuyl