The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-06
FESTIVAL FROM A
CRITICS STANDPOINT
Considered AS A Whole the First
Concert Was a Great
Success

Considered as a whole, the first concert
of the festival was a great success. The
chorus, composed of many of the best
known singers of Birmingham, was splen-
did. Much had been expected of it, but its
work last night was simply revelation.
The orchestra was excellent, and the three
soloists, Miss Lohbiller, soprano, Mr.. Shr
ley, tenor, and Mr.. Whitney, bass, were
in most respects equal to their parts.
The programme opened with Goldmark s
"Sakunta1a' overture, which came very
near being a symphonic poem. 1t is almost
as long as one of Liszt's symphonic works,
and it's general thematic treatment is
symphonic. 1t tells in musical tones the
well known story Of Sakuntala, as given In
Kalisdasas drama and is one of the finest
of tone settings. In melodic beauty 1t is
rich and in coloring 1t is singularly refined.
Under Mr.. Mollenhauer's baton the or
chestra played 1T almost faultlessly
The overture was followed sby Gounods
flynn to st. Cecilia" and then came
Westerhout's "Ronde d'Amour," which, rs
the title suggests, Is light and sensuous.
This rondo was exquistely rendered, and
the applause was so pronounced that it had
to be repeated. The three orchestral num-
bers completed part 1, and after very
short intermission the great festival work.
Haydn's oratorio. 1.-THE Creat tion,' forming
part 2, was heard
Mr.. Guckenberger now was on the con-
ductor's stand. and for the rest of the
evening was master of the musical forces
soloists, chorus and orchestra.
Oratorio, "rhe Creation
OF all the oratorios, 1.-The Creation Is
perhaps the most popular 1t Is little
more than a century old, but is as fresh
and vigorous as any oratorio written since
Haydns day. No famous work of a. sacred
character contains so many pure, soulful
melodies, and no oratorio surpasses 1t when
1t comes to strength and beauty of chorus
effects. Haydn was distinguished for the
lucidity of his ideas the elegance and
breadth of his treatment and the care with
which he finished every phrase
The overture is intended to describe
chaos. and with very little use OF the brass
the idea is strongly worked out
Mr.. Whitney's opening solo, I'm the Be-
ginning" was sung with clear enunciation.
and the first chorus, "And the Spirit of
God," was In the highest degree artistic.
Its climax was uplifting and thrilling. And
from the first to the last the chorus acquit-
ted itself in a most magnificent manner.
Every member of 1t seemed inspired. There
was not single chorus number that did
not provoke and deserve applause The
most difficult fugues were sung as intell-
gently. and Smoothly as If they had been
easy hymn tunes.
The grand familisS chorus, 1.-THE Heavens
Are Telling" electrified the whole audience
and the applause was tumultuous and pro-
longed. Another grand chorus was "Hark
the Harp and the programme closed
gloriously with the fugue number,
Achieved Is the Glorious Work." not
withstanding the tendency. of the orchestra
to get ahead of the chorus. Up to this time
the orchestra had done particularly accept
able work in accompanying the chorus, but
just here, In spite Of Mr.. Guckenberger's
protest, 1t played entirely too fast. What
must have impressed every one was the at
tack of the chorus. In every instance the
attack was wonderfully even. And next in
Importance to the attack was the good
rythm. The shading, too, was remarkably
fine.
OF the soloists, the tenor won the highest
praise He had evidently been suffering
from the grip; yet he delivered his most
importan solo "In Native WORTH" as only
a careful and cultivated artist could. 1t
was really masterful achievement. Miss
Lohbiler, the soprano, made fine impress
sion not because her voice was strong or
because her style was great but because
she sang sweetly and evenly. The familiar
solo. with Verdue Clad"-6ne OF the most
heavenly OF all melodies-Miss Lohbler
rendered with a purity that was indeed
charming. She sustained her B fiat with
an ease and smoothness that would have
done credit to an older artist
Continued on Second Page).