The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-03-10
G0UNOD SOCIETY CONCERT.
GRELL'S MASS SUPERBLY SUNG
UNDER PROF. AGRAMONTE.


Some Ways the Event is the Most
Memorable In the History of the So
ciety-Guarantee Fund Left Intact and
There is Balance In the TREASURY.
The concert Of the Gounod society at
the Hyperion theater last night was in
some ways the most memorable in the
history Of the society. 1t was an en-
tire success from every point Of view.
The audience was very large and par
ticularly brilliant, both socially and
musically. In the performance Of the
most difficult task that the society has
undertaken 1t achieved complete ana
signal success. The audience display
ed a degree of enthusiasm that must
have warmed Mr. Agramontes heart
and encouraged the singers. The New
Haven Symphony orchestra. whose
services were employed for this kind
of work for the first time last night.
did such excellent work that the use
fulness of the orchestra for this pur-
pose is surely proved. Much is ex-
pected OF the union of the two organi-
cations and after last nights perform
ance there seems to be no reason why
the most sanguine hopes for future
achievements should not be entertain
ed. The orchestra has never been
heard to such advantage as last night.
Perhaps the bringing forward Of the
stage into the parquet had something
to do with this. The accompaniments
to both the shorter choral works, par
ticularly the Women and Roses were
beautifully played and in an unusual
ly sympathetic manner. In the purely
orchestral numbers the men played de-
lightfully. The g minor prelude, cho-
raj and fugc Of Bach, which was play
ed two years ago at commencement,
served to show the marvellous i'm
provement since that time. The two
Slavonic dances Of Antonin Dvorak
We're given with splendid dash, and
they proved SO pleasing to the audience
that Prof. Parker was obliged to re-
peat the second.
OF the work of the Gounod chorus
and of Mr.. Agramonte only words of
praise can be spoken. The Grell mass
has never been sung in this country but
twice before, (by the New York Ora
torio society under the direction of
Walter Damrosch in the years 1889 and
1888, and it is always avoided because
of the tremendous difficulty. That the
Gounod society mastered 1t and sang
it as they did last night shows what
a position the organization holds
among oratorio societies. Mr.. Agra
monte had confidence IN his singers and
he was not mistaken in his Judgment
Of their abilities. His patience and per-
severance have their reward iii the sue
cess Of the final rendition. It was pro
| phesied that the mass would not prove
! pleasing to any except musicians Of
technical training. On the contrary,
more enthusiasm was displayed last
| night than at any concert in the his
tory Of the society. Every number Of
the mass was successfully carried
through and the honors seemed fairly
|, divided among the four choirs.
! The shorter works were also well
sung. Lidgey's Women and Roses il
charming composition. The orches-
| tration is notably fine and 1t is one Of
| the most satisfactory small works that
the society has done. Prof. Parker's
| splendid Harold Harfager'' Is too
| well known to need praise. The chorus
| love it and sing it as though they did.
| They brought it to tremendous cli-a
| max at the clost last night and Prof.
Parker was warmly applauded.
| From a financial point the concert
was entirely satisfactory. The guar
antee fund will be left intact and there
| will be a balance in the treasury for
next year. 1t has been decided not to-
| give "Arninius" because it is too late
| in the season for another concert. This
| financial success has not always been
| enjoyed and it is well deserved. The
city Of New Haven can find no better
way Of expressing its appreciation Of
the Gounod society than by such sup
| mort as 1T has had fhis wear .a