The age-herald., 1898-12-30
THE MESSIAH
 LAST NIGHT Brilliant Musical Entertainment GiV6H by
 Local Talent. AID OF HILLMAN HOSPITAL SOIOiStS ACquit Themselves in a Praise
 Worthy Manner. CHORUS DISTINGUISHES ITSELF Ehrgott Wins Loud Applause From All Present, and will Always be in De- mand in Birmingham Great
 Success All Around.
CHORUS DISTINGUISHES ITSELF

The third annual performance In Bir- mingham of Handers sublime oratorio, "The Messiah" took place last night at Seals hall under the direction of Prof. Benjamin Guckenberger. Every seat was occupied and the audience was thoroughly appreciative.
 In few large cities of this country the Messiah" Is given S4hs mammoth chorus and full orchestra. but it is safe to say that no chorus of it's size-about forty voices ever did more effective work than the Bir- mingham organization did last night. It was strictly a band of picked singers ad- mraby trained. It was equal in strength to the ordinary oratorio chorus of seventy five or eighty. The voices blended natural ly and the ensemble was singularly fine.
 Following were the soloists:
 Mrs. E. G. Chandler. Miss Mettie David son, Miss Nettie Smith, sopranos; Mrs. B. Guckenberger, alto; MT. c. P. Orr. tenor; MT. Oscar J. Ehrgott (CincinnatD, basso; Miss Edna Gockell, organist: MT. George P Jackson, trumpeter
 MT. Orr, in the opening recitative and air, sang sweetly and smoothly.
 MT. EnrgOtt began ms eAdcllnB TOle Wltn the second solo number, Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts. As on former occasion, on this, he proved himself an artist of exceptional high ability. He had not de- livered many notes before the audience felt thrilled by the power and richness of his voice. Warm applause greeted him after each number, and the last words of the air, Why do the Nations so Furiously Rage Together?' had scarcely left his lips when the audience broke out into the most spontaneous demonstration of delight Mir Ehrgott's enunciation is clear and charm ing and his stage presence is charming and always pleasing. Whenever the Messiah" is sung the Birmingham public will ask for no better basso than this Cincinnati artist
 The third solo number fell to Mrs. Guck- enberger, and this lady acquitted herself in her usual superb way. Her beautiful voice, her splendid method and the woman ly tenderness with which she utters her notes combine to make her an ideal con- tralto for this oratorio. Many who heard her were moved to tears
 The three sopranos, each in her turn, met with enthusiastic greeting. Mrs. Chand- ler's true and sympathetic voice was seldom ever heard to better advantage. Miss Smith made a strong impression and Miss Davidson won small triumph when the latter sang that familiar and impressive air "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth." The audience was thrilled with that kind of emotion which naturally finds relief in tears, for she sang it nobly.
 Miss Gockell, as organist, won new lau- rels, and MT. Jackson with his silver cornet played the trumpet obligato to MT. Ehr- gott's last air very acceptably. And it is not an easy thing to do by any means
 When the audience stood up at the sing ing of the great "Hallejulah Chorus" there was scarcely any one present but felt that he or she had been both Intellectually and spiritually benefited by listening to "The Messiah
 Fortunate Birmingham is in having a kappemeister so inspiring and painstaking as Prof. Guckenberger and singers so ear nest and enthusiastic as those roles from his chorus.
 The net proceeds of last nights perform ance go to the Hilman hospital.