Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-03

MI SEMENTS.

THE MESSIAH."-A notable event in
the history of the Choral Society was the
performance last evening of the oratorio of
The Messiah In spite of the fact that
this was the tenth annual presentation of
this oratorio by this organization, and also
that the society sung it only week ago in
the presence Of large audience the spa
ciouS auditorium of the Congregational
Church was thronged with apprecia-
tive listeners. Not only were all the
seats occupied, but a number stood during
the entire evening. 1t may be said that the
pubic interest thus manifested is a tribute
to the intelligent and capable work of the
society, although to the presence Of Nine.
GadSki. one of the highest-priced soloists
the society has ever had and to the repu-
tation which she enjoys an opera singer
may be assigned a portion at least of the
popular attention which the event aroused
However. after making due allowance for
the drawing power of the soprano soloist
and the other soloists secured for the oc-
casion, very large portion of the credit
for the success Of the performance may be
properly given to the society. Besides this
feature. which IS gratifying one, nat
urally, to all who interested in pro-
noting the cultivation of our local rnnsicaI
talent. and encouraging the admirable eff
1OrtS made by the society, ii may also he
said that with last evenings performance
the entire oratorio of THE Messiah" has
been sung, the first time the completed
work has ever been heard in this city The
performance Of last week. supplemented
by tnat or last evening, made ii possible TO
accomplish this result by retaining some of
the principal numbers In both performances
and distributing the balance through the
programs of the two evenings
The arrangement gave a harmonious nro-
auction Tor each OCCASION and while most
OF Inc well-known parties We're heard. the
audlence MAD also an opportunity Of listen
ing 10 some of the less familiar numbers
! L nder the direction Of the capable baton
OF MIR. Josef kaspar, the musical director
of the society, the chorus which was large
and well balanced. did its part with a
iMei1ty and an Intelligent appreciation that
received and deserved the hearty common
| cation of the audience. The strength and
volume OF the tone even in that most ex-
! acting portion, the haIlelujah chorus Wa
| effectively brought out while vipor and
| aiertness Were essential features which
| We're not wanting. In the other numbers
| Where dellcdcy Of expression was required
| the society was not lacking, and altogether
| II gave an admirable expression to the
| noble music of this immortal work
| The work of the chorus was admira blv
| supplemented by the organ accompaniment.
which was played as has been the case for
| several seasons past by Mr. John Porter
| Lawrence In some of the solo numbers
| however, notably the opening ones as sung
| by the contralto. Mr.. Lawrence showed n
| tendency at times to change places and he
| come the solo performer
The interest of the audience Judging from
1 the applause, was to a large extent CEN
| tered in the work of Nine. Gadski, and her
| singing seemed to Justify the expectations
| that had been formed of a person of her
| fame as a singer. She sang the numtArs
| easily, and the large volume of her Voice
| was used to advantage, but 1t must be
| said that she sometimes showed in her in
| depreciation hardly sufficient appreciation