The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-19
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
The Creation Festival.

When in his Goth year, in 1897, just
alton for which the book had been writ
ten for Handel by nidley. This oratorio
has a far more solemn and sacred char
aoter than the composers masses In
which serenity and enjoyment break
forth SO charmingly and innocently,
and the noble chorus, "The Heavens
are Telling" and others may be account
ed equal to the sublimest achievements
of sacred choral music. Il WAS,
narrates Hayden, "never SO pious as
when engaged in The Creation. / fell
on my knees daily and prayed God would
vouchsafe me strength to carry out the
work. To the orchestra, which forms
a Itch accompaniment to the recita-
lions and airs, is assign cd the iescrip-
tive portion, while, towards the close,
emotional transports find vent in the
lovely duet, "Graceful Consort." 1t is
in this extensive range-em bracing the
Deity, Nature and Humanity-that the
Creation stands alone, unrivalled. In
characterizing the different parts it
SHOULD be said THAI the first is the grand
est; the second the most picturesque, and
the third the most melodious. The
third part describes the life of our first
parents before the fall. 1t is charming
idyli. following on grand epns. When
the Creation was brought out in Vienna
in 1868, March 27th, Haydn, then in his
10th year, WINS present. When, at the
famous of passage, "Let there be light"
the audience broke out into loud plaud-
its, the old man raised his trem bling
hands deprecatingly, saying: sit is not
mine, it comes from above"
1t was in June, 1869, that the reorga
nized Haydns began the rehearsal of the
Creation under Kotzsohmar and soon
after it WAS produced at City hall, with
the Germania orchestra of Boston, for
accompaniment. Musically the perform
ance mas a great success, but financially,
marked loss to the society. Mrs. Eel
lows felt that at the present time. Port
land was ripe for another attempt with
full orchestra, and SO with great pluck
and personal. effort she made all the ar.
rangements for Its production at City
hall last night, with the aid of Mollen-
hauer's fine orchestra from Boston; the
Haydns, Mr.. George j. Parker, tenor;
Mr.. John B. Coyle, bass, and MIR.
Kotzschmar, conductor, with Mr.. Har-
vey Murray. pianist. 1t ia pleasure to
record the fact that on this occasion the
performance was m usically and fnan-
cially all that could be desired. The
City hall boosted a magnific cent audi
enoe that filled almost every seat. In
fact tie vacant ones could have besn al
most counted on the two hands, 1t was
an audience also in full sympathy with
the performers, and the applause was
prolonged after many of the numbers.
While it is the proper thing to first
speak of the work of the principals. we
shall, on this occasion, permit them to
give place to the chorus for this was the
first time since the great addition to the
society that the Haydns have appeared
in oratorio. 1t Is years since the Haydns
presented a front of 200 voices, and it
was delight to listen TO them. They
gave the familiar fThe Heavens are
Telling" with grandeur that reminded
one of old times, and Kotzs chmar
seemed inspired as ne turned from this
side to that, expressing by gesture andsby
baton his rendering Of the score. There
was another chorus that was excellently
given. We desire to compliment the soci.
ETY. upon, that entitled, awake the
Harp" They brought the second part to
noble climax by their rendering of
Achieved is the Glorious Work." and
closed the oratorio with most intelli-
gent and expressive Interpretation of
Magnify His Name" Throughoat the
evening the voices rang out clear and
sonorous The precision of the attack
was marked. and the shading good. 1t
was a well-halanced chorus, show ing
that the society has gained much in the
body and quality of the voices added.
Mrs. Fellows sang with much lasts
and sweetness the soprano roles. The
effect of the lessons she received while
abroad was manifest in with Verdnre
Clad" She sang Son Mighty P.n-,"
with much dignity and breadth, and at
Its close, amidst yociferous applause, was
presented great bouquet of lovely
"Jacks
Mr.. Parker has tenor voice of much
swee tness, well trained and he was
especially satisfactory in sin Native
WORTH" and sin splendor Bright"
Mr.. Coyle gave "Rolling IN Funming
Billows'' capitally. with strong flavor
of the sea, closing with delight ul ill.,
depreciation of the lines beginning Gin
serpent error rivers fiow." Ore marked
feature of Mr.. Coyls's singing was the
clear, distinct enunciation that was par
tioularly noticeable in the recitation
"And God Said.''
Perhaps among the melodious numbers
OF the third part. lone seemed to meet
the general requirements more fully than
the duet between Adam and Eve,
s'Gracsful Consort"