Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-12
MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.
Brilliant Mendelssohn's Evening.


 The Men lssohn Society concert, under the opera house last night. was highly creditable to our city and it's lovers of music, successful and pleasing In all It's details, and 1t came home to us that we have very skillful and we'll trained club here that would be priZed in any com munity.
 The ancient saw, "A prophet is without honor save in his own country" does not apply to this club. They are doing a great work, and have already an honora- ble history, and we fully and forcibly re- alize that societies of this kind are sim ply the creatures of our own community and fairly indicate the taste and refine- ment of our citizens.
 The management of the MendelSSohn has been of that broad and generous kind that accomplishes the greatest good in the shortest time. The ranks have been kept open to all good lovers of music. and they have at many of their concerts in Vited as guests some educational institu- tion within our city limits with both prof 1t and pleasure. At the present concert the teachers of the public schools and the board of education were present, many accomplished musicians being among them who have made music vital feat ure in our schools here as 1t is in all prominent educational institutions.
 The members of the high school were the guests of honor at this concert
 The audience completely filled the op era house, and was fashionable and bril- liant. IL was wholly sympathetic and generously responsive to the soft strains of lovely music which wove its thread in lyric meshes about the senses
 The stage was artistically dressed. and. with it's graceful grouping of the chorus. made a charming picture.
 The programme rendered last night was dainty, refreshing and brilliant. all from the strong writers. and in no case trivial:
 Programme.
 Gather Ye Rosebuds" Blumentha)- Club.
 "Since First Saw Your Face" OFord) Club
 Recitation-Mrs M. Sheldon
 Spider and Fly" (Caldicott)-Male club.
 "A Cannibal Idyl' (Taber)-Cmb.
 Part II.
 "Song of the Nixies'' CWeinzierD -Fe- male chorus.
 Jewel Song" Faust)-Mrs. H. H. Sin nige.
 Violin concerto, minor (adagio. finale) Emil Wiegand.
 King Witlaffs Drinking Horn" (Hat- ton)-Male club.
 Say, Watchman, What of the Night?" (Sullivan)-Club.
 The length of the concert was we'll ar- ranged. being not too long to satiate.
 There was a ripple and anon rush of brillianey prevailing the whole perform ance, with very delightful absence of somber and grave numbers, which often are sought for ostensible classic stand ing.
 The history of the Mendelssohn society has been a good experience. and no more ambitious concerts have been given by any club of amateurs. Yet the present line of selections touches the sym pat hies and pleases the greatest. and are quite as difficult to render with spirit and technique, and for study have vastly greater fields.
 The skill and culture of the club last night showed training of fine order and complete submission to the director. the attack of all the choruses being per feet easy precise and without nervous ness. The shading and expression were correct gentle and fOrceful, the piano messages being firm and delicate, and fhe forte was in decided contrast The work of the chorus was like a gi and or gan being played under the hands or one master performer. and the sentiment or fhe songs was doubly expressed.
 The first number was bright, diaphon- ms and characteristic in rythm and har- mony of the works of Blumenthal.
 since First Saw Your Face" was smooth, beguling number. filling the mind as with an ancient theme half for gotten.
 .'The Spider and the Fly" "The Canni- bal Idyr' and King Witlan" were ad- mirahle heroic and jovial. and hit happy response throughout the house. We all know the story of "The Spider and the Fly and ''The Cannibal Maiden" was delicious. with her love for the mis- sionary. who appealed to her appetite. ..Kinr Witlaff'' sent us back to the jo- vial days of the monks and brought to mind the famous Munich painter. Eduard Grutzner. whose cheery paintings Of the monks are full of religious fervor and hu- nor. with broad. happy faces and ample figures who led merry and happy lives and who knew naught of the petty cares of modern times nor were brought to face the coming woman. or the up-tc- date girl.
 The song Of the "Nixies" was like flowing stream of limpid and sparkling waters. as fresh, crystal and graceful as sunbea ms on dancing waves. This was arranged tor feminine voices. and was