The Portland daily press., 1898-10-13
ELIJAH.
How the Wonderful Oratorio Was Given
Last Night.

How the Wonderful Oratorio Was Given
Last Night.
Elijah, the most popular of all oratorios,
as well as the most melodious and dra-
matio, was wisely chosen for the conclud-
ing performance of the festival. tand was
magnificent finale. to series of concerts
in our city. Of unprecedented excellence
1t was the occasion of lifetime, to
hear the title role sung by the acknowl-
edged greatest interpreter 1iying-Mr.
Ffrangeon Davies-and Portland realized
this bys6lling every seat in the Auditor
ium. And what an appreciative audience
1t was held breathless. spell.bound, by
the beauty and grandeur of the music.
1t would indeed be well nigh impossible
to please one who could cavil at last
nights performance. The opening recita-
tive of Elijah, foretelling the drought,
was to the audience a most impressive
intimation Of the power and reserve force
at Mr. Ffrangcon Da vies's command; ;
whenever he sang, whether in the affect
ing interview with the widow when he
cries ..Give me thy son., and later "Now
behold thy son liveth," that one word
"nveth'' rang out with triumph that
actually made US tre,nble Or when he
derisiyely tells the prophets Of Baal to
call louder on their god, or in fierce
denunciation consigns them to destruc :
ton. we always feel that he has by no
means exhausted his resources, that he
has almost limitless command of tender
ness, passion; that he is the grand and
mighty prophet. 1t is the natural, the
human clement in Mr.. Ffrangcon
Davies's work that gives 1t its power. He
shows us the man Elijah as well as the
Jealous champion of Jehovah. Mr.
Ffrangcon Davies's stage presence is most
magnetic; without words or music in his
hand, the great basso stands before his
audience, not only perfect and absolutely
sure in his own role. but Of every note
of the orchestral part. His dramatic
instinct is intense, and interrupted by his
glorious voice, every shade of meaning
of which it is oapable-is given the text.
Words fail to tell of the effect upon the
audience of that most difficult OF bass
solos, SIS not His Word like fires' We
felt like the rock crushed beneath the
hammer of his tones, and his sonorous
high B fairly overwhelmed his listeners.
In striking contrast to that whirlwlnd
of tone, was the supplicating aria, Lord
God of Abraham with Its impressive
sustenuto, and beautiful legato, which
breathed the very essence Of entrea!y and
devotion. 1t is patentsto the least obser-
want listener, that Mr.. Ffrangcon Davies S
Interpretation of Elijah, is for him, an
act of almost sacred conservation. and
as such cannot fail of creating the deepest
impression. While each part was most
admirably sustained, Mr.. Ffrangcon
Davies's impersonation, was SO unique,
SO intensely vivid, sthat it could but
stand as the prophet himself did, part
and alone. Every movement he makes,
| every gesture, is telling, and when ha
turns to the prophets of Baal, and urges
| them to call louder and louder on their
| god, we almost feel the very presence OF
| the man of God himself. The sombre
overture depicting the misery, desolstion
and despair. of the starving nation, was
admirably played by the orchestra. Their