The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-30
oHRIsTM oRAToRIo.
Yesterday's Performance or the messiah y
by the Oratorio Society.

Yesterday's Performances or the messiah ~
By the oratorio Society.
The story goes that an English Archbishop.
hearing that Hacndel thought Of composing an
o%ratorio, sent word to him wait awhile and I
will write the words for you" To which Haen-
del Indignantly replied: Docs he think he
can write bettor than prophets and apostles
full of the Holy Ghost. or that I have not read
and loved my Bible as well as her. whereupon
he began diligently to seek out'such sentences as
seemed most pregnant with tho meaning of the
pervading theme Of the Scriptures, the fall and
redemption Of man, setting them in order until
they filed out the entire circle of his thought,
and then he was ready to at them with music.
Haendel's life in England before he made the
Messiah was q long term Of gigantic, un.
RENTING toll that had lasted for.thirty years.
He reigned absolute monarch of England's
music during at least half that period
until those discussions caused by a for.
mldable body Of nobility contrived. to break
up Haendel's opera. Like every popular ~favorite
he had his day Of reverses. In his case, how.
ever, the change appeared to DO but the design
Of Providence that let the ground slip away
irom under his feet and placed them upon q
s iipm and TSrF wo 1Gen %ith ali Mse true as str %lsaf 'tf TSa
Messiah" was the plant of Haendel's genius In
full t0rIos ,O " .Ei rs had .! %H5FSSsdy written h d.I ore:
were performed In the theatres during Lent,
when operas. were forbidden, and they had the
advantage OF not requiring expense for scenery
muse TO this department OF art was therefore
obvious, and .Haendel commenced the work
Into which he has put the fullest expression of
his .oul In 1741, finishing 1t In the incredibly
short space Of twenty.one days. It must be re-
garded as his grandest achievement, on account
variety In musical form, and because 1t possesses
such o strong and lasting power over the miAd DIS
OF men, epitomizing as 1t does all creeds in It's
mighty phrases, and forming q picture whose
outlines when once earnestly contemplated can
sence OF all religious belief.
To thousands of people the Messiah" is held
among the most precious of Christmas remem-
ORANGES, and the memory of 1t Is treasured as
tenderly as the thought of homo and friends.
As usual at tho performance of the Oratorio
was crowded from pit to dome. while about
200 persons crowded the new foyer. The rem
dering was about the same in excellence as has
been the case during many previous years,
nothing to ~astonish. and not much to c~riticiso
severely, while much was left TO wish for from
Tho s%oloists were Nine: De ,yere-sapio, who
sang with confidence and brilliancy, with moro
brio and less religious fervor than she has
sometimes evidenced; Mrs. Carl Alves, whose
voice sounded thin and worn and much less
beautiful than even last year; Mr.. Ellison Van
both for agreeable tone and for intelligent sing
ing. and Mr.. Bispham. who added greatly to the
worth of tho performance as he does to what
matio sort
led with splendid vigor and admirable aoou-
~ o. 70 - FE