The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-12-17
THE MESSIAH REHEARSAL
TOMORROW 1ETERNOON PER- TORRANCE OPEN TO PUBLIC,

TORRANCE OPEN TO PUBLIC,
 This WiH Greatly Relieve the Heavy
 Demand on the Evening Performance
 The Last Rehearsal with Plano Held
 This Evening-The PubIic WilI Not
 be Admitted to It.
 It is with great satisfaction that the
 public learns that there will be practi-
 cally two performances of the oratorio
 of "The Messiah" tomorrow, the dress rehearsal at 2:15 o'clock D. m. and the regular performance at o'clock in the evening. The dress rehearsal, which will be with the full orchestra, chorus and soloists, is always about as com plete as the regular performance, and has the advantage of being at very moderate rate-fifty cents for admis- sion. There are no seats reserved and those who want to get certain posi- tion in the theater should get there early, for the first who come will be the first served
 Saturdays sale of seats for the 1egu- lar performance was very gratifying, but there are still good seats to be had al the regular prices of Sl and $l.50' One of the very best places in the house to hear music of this sort is in the family circle, which has been reserved al $1 per seat,
 The last rehearsal of the Gounod with the plano, that is, the last real working rehearsal, will be held tonight in Re- publican hall and will be listened t0 by Mrs. Black, the contralto, who comes from New York at non. The manage ment of the society wishes it thorough ly understood that no visitors will be admitted to this last rehearsal.
 The present season of the year seems to be a particularly fitting one for the presentation of ''The Messiah" To the Christian the event which it calls to mind has a deep significance and every man, woman and child should hear 1t. It is Handel's masterpiece and although nearly 160 years old is still the most popular oratorio ever written. Year at- ter year it is demanded by intelligent lovers of music wherever there is an organizat tion of singers capable of pro ducing it. Few works in the whole range of oratorio can boast such sue cess Handel wrote the entire score in three days and it was first given in Dublin April 1S, 1742, at a concert given in aid of a worthy charity. The plan of this great spic in music embraces the prediction of the Messiah, His ad- vent, suffering, death, resurrection death, ascension and second coming,
 of 111 story The music is majestic, devotion al and sublime.
 An attempt has been made to ascer- tain the number of times the oratorio has been sung since its first production in 1742 A prominent Boston musician made the conservative estimate or two | hundred times in this country alone ln the last fifteen years, and when one | considers the hold that the oratorlo has | on the English speaking race and ln- { deed almost every country where the Christian religion is known, the possi- biIity of anything like an estimate is !, out of the question. Handel himself conducted the work thirty-eight times. The last time was on April 6, 1759, when at the final chord of the Amen" chorus he became faint, was taken to his rooms and died a few days later. When the oratorio was first presented in London, shortly after it's presentation at Dublin, George IT.. then reigning king of Eng land, was so affected by the "Halelu- jah' chorus that he rose to his feet and was immediately followed by the whole audience. The custom established by King George, Handels imperial patron, is followed to this day, and the audience rises to it's feet when this chorus is to be sung and remains standing until the close
 That the great work will have a interpretation by the Gou- nod society is unquestioned. Familiar as the chorus is with the music, it has been drilled with unusual care so that the work may be given with the power, delicacy and finish of which it is worthy. Every member of the 25O which compose the society, from MT. Agramonte, President DeForest and Secretary Hopper down to the newest has made the success of this personal matter and has given time patience and energy to the work. It will surely be performance worth hearing and one long to be re- 
 The soloists Mime. Maconda soprano; Mrs. Black contralto; MT. Hamlin. tenor, and MT. Walker, bass, have been commented on in these columns They are among the best known singers in America to-day The Boston Festival orchestra plays the accomplishments. more can be asked excepting a crowded house, and that already seems sure. !