The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-02-10
THE GOUNOD CONCERT.


The thirteenth season of the Gounod
society was inaugurated by a perform
ance of Villier Stanford's Requiem
and Goring Thomas 1.-The Swan anG
the Skylark' at the Hyperion theatel
last evening. An unusual amount OF
interest was manifested by the public
in the production of these works and
this fact and the fine, cold, brilliant
evening, accounts for the presence of a
very large audience. The absence of
one of the soloists detracted in no wise
from the general enthusiasm and con-
census of opinion seemed to be that
the society which is New Haven's pet
joyand pride had again rendered very
excellent account of itself. The fact
that last nights concert was the Sec
ond performance of the Requiem" is n
tribute to the enterprise and courage of
the board of government and conduc-
tor Of the organization. 1t is delight
to musicians to hear new works of this
class, and an immense debt of gratitude
is owing the society.
The soloists this year were Miss
Yvonne de Treville, Miss Edith Miller.
%. c. Towne and Herbert Witherspoon
e. c. Towne substituted at the eleventh
hour for Evan Williams who, it was
announced, is suffering from an attack
Of the grip. c. s. DeForest, in a felici-
tous speech, announced the change in
the cast, and said that the manage
ment considered itself extremely
fortunate in being able to secure an
artist like Mr.. Towne, who had learned
the work at the shortest possible notice.
The list of names this year does not in
clude any great operatic prima donna
and it is understood that the policy of
the management in hiring solosts is al
tered. Their experience with prima
donnas of operatic fame has not al
ways been satisfactory and hereafter
there will be more striving for ensemble
excellence and less for star" casts.
This is surely the way of wisdom, and
the selection of the quartet this year
ers of greater reputation and with
greater voices than Miss Treville, but
we have never had any one who entered
more thoroughly into the spirit of the
work. What the voice lacks in power
is amply compensated for by it's emo
tional color. Miss Treville exhibits
splendid musical intelligence and it is
hoped that she will be heard here again.
Miss Miller, the contralto, proved
good quartet singer, with a voice she
may improve with study. Her
solo work was lacking in distinc-
tion. Mr.. Towne has good name
among musicians for an unusual apti-
tude for learning roles. He learned the
difficult music of the Requiem with less
than twenty-four hours notice. His
voice Is not large, but 1t is sympathetic
In quality. Mr.. Towne deserves the
greatest credit for the graceful way in
which he acquitted himself Of a very
difficult task. Mr.. Witherspoon, the
bass, was also suffering from an at
tack of the grip and he would have
sent substitute if it had been possible
% find one No one knew the Stanford
~,
,nce in this part of tn country. So Mr..
came and did the best he
could Since he was heard here in
Samson and Delilah' he has studied
lbroad and the results are shown in the
increased resonance Of the voice and an
added authority of presence. 1t was
always and is still an organ of beauti-
'ul quality and it will make Wither-
spoon a famous man some day if he
continues to add to his artistic stature
it the present rate.
The orchestra was the New Haven
symphony orchestra and they did fair
v good work. Whether it was the ex-
rene difficulty of the scores or owing to
ack of rehearsals it is impossible to
ay, but the orchestra has shown itself
apable of much better work.
The Gounod chorus, as usual, was the
,est part of the performance and this is
Is it should be at an oratorio. The
Iuality of the voices Is as good as ever
md the volume is impressive. They
ang two works that are especially diff
icult and tax the endurance of the sing
rs to an unusual degree. The attack ,
vas sometimes not up to the Gounod |
tandard. but hardest choruses were 50
mazingly we'll done that nothing but |
raise can be given for the performance
S whole. The fugue Guam olim Alb
ahae" was perhaps the best thing of
he evening. The pubic have come to |
xpect much of the society and they |
omehow manage never to disappoint |
heir hearers. The next appearance of |
he society will be on May 18th, when
hey will sing "Arminius" for the Music
'eachers' association.