The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-01

character was the reception rendered
Nine. Emma Nevada by the Manuscript
society. The first introduced Nine. Lili
Lehman to New Workers in .oratorio,
the second gave the many friends of
Nine. Nevada an opportunity or honor
ing her at an informal social gathering
Of the oratorio much may be said in
praise. Nine. Lehman was surrounded
by good artists, the principal parts being
taken by Miss Isabelle Bouton, Mr.. IT.
Evan Williams and Mr.. Gwilym Miles.
The choruses were sung with spirit and
good tonal balance and there was brisk.
ness about the performance that reflected
great credit upon the conductor. Mr.
Frank Damrosch.
How near the day is 1t is too early to
prophesy but 1t will be here sooner than
We expect, when We shall not be satisfied
with hearing this dramatic work in con-
cert form. Mendelssohn originally in
tended Elijah to be sung with action,
but failed in his efforts to produce it in
this form. 1t has been attempted, how
ever, and with good results. Last spring
in the little town of New Haven, Emilio
Agramonte conducted a performance of
the oratorio in its originally intended
form. There were set scenes in which
the characters moved about in costume.
There was a real tempest upon the stage.
Real water poured down out of real
clouds amid the boom of thunder and
the glare of the lightning. When Elijah
prayed for fire from heaven a binding
bolt of fame flashed out of the sky and
consumed his offering. The chorus, prop
erly CARRIED as citizens and priests and
angels gave d reality to the work that
concert hearing can never suggest. A
similar dramatic performance of the
work will soon be given here and an OPP
portunity be offered us hearing it with
the proper scenic and dramatic effects.
1t was the lifelong contention of Rubin
stein that it was anything but an in
spring sight to see q Well-dreSSed gen.
tleman in evening clothes stand up with
a roll of music in his hand and sing If
with all your hearts, with any convinc-
ing power, and although his attempts
to produce his dramatic oratorios upon
the stage proved futile he inaugurated
the custom, or rather went back to the
cid miracle plays and revived the plan
of giving dramatic action to the "sa cred
scenes" elijah" is the most dramatic
| of oratories and lends itself admirably
| to action 1t will be a revelation when
given in its rightful manner.
On Wednesday evening the Manuscript
| society held the first private meeting of
| its twelfth season, and incidentally gave
| a reception to Nine Emma Nevada.
L Every UllIS CONSpIreu To Ildk6 II Il HOUR
| BILE event. The programme was re-
strieted to works by women composers.
Mary Knight Wood Margaret Ruthven
Lang Stella Prince Stocker, Fanny M,
| Spencer and Laura Sedgwick Collins,
| from the active members, and Augusta
| Holmes and Cecile Ghaminade from the
| list of honorary members, furnished Vo-
| cal numbers and Marie Won Hammer,
| Clara A Korn and Adele Lewing adj
| 0ed instrumental Works-all of which
| were in manuscript and heard for the
/ first time Among the assistant artists
were Miss Marguerite Hall, Miss Rebecca
Mackenzie, Mr.. Grant Odell, Miss Braun,
/ Mr.. Hans Kronold Miss Fielding Ro-
selle, Miss Charlotte Walker, Mr.. Francis
| Walker and Mr.. Hobart Smock. Nearly
/ all of the composers appeared in person
/ and played their own piano accompanir
ments- DIR. Gerrit Smith represented the
/ two French composers and played their