The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-11
A TRIUMPH OF Art
CHORAL CLUBS INTERPRETATION
OF s"THE MESSIAH" WAS
MAGNIFICENT
WAS HEARD BY THOUSANDS
PEOPLES Church Crowded to Over
flowing by an Audience That Paid
Tribute to the Complete Sue
cess of Worthy Artists.

The ST. Paul Choral club sang THE
Messiah last night before one OF tfe
largest audiences that the Peoples
church has ever housed. Every seat was
taken and many were content to stand
throughout the evening in order that
they might miss nothing of Handlers
oratorio The audience was an apprecia-
tive one. too-appreciative in a dscrimin-
ating way. Perhaps in the whole range
of oratorios there is none that makes SO
strong appeal to the people, as this mas
terpiece of Eandefs. 1t is true, also,
that there are few oratorios that present
more difficulties for soloists and choruses
1t abounds in dramatic rec1tat1veS ana
arias. The choruses are mighty ones, de-
mandng tremendous volume, and at the
same time an expressiveness that must
always make itself felt above the volume
of sound.
1t is to the credit Of so youthful an
organization as the st. Paul Choral club
that it was able to present this oratorlo,
with such unqualified success last night
In the short time that he has had to
mould it into shape Director George a.
Normington has accomplished wonders
with this choir of $50 voices. 1t is ad-
mirably balanced, prompt in attack, in
diligently expressive. Best of all, every
member sings with an enthusiasm that 10
Infectious This combined enthusiasm
did much to make the audience forget
last night that an entirely satisfactory
Interpretation of 1.-The Messiah" demands
a chorus twice as large as that which
sung last night. The best work OF the
choir was evidenced in the two final
choruses, Worthy is the Lamb; and
the "Hallelujah'' chorus. From rather
listless opening chorus a gradual climax
was worked up until, when the voices
reached these two tremendous songs OK
praise that conclude the oratorio, little
was left to be desired in the manner Of
their rendition The GLORY to God,' one
of the choruses in the pastoral symphony,
was another of the most satisfactorily
sung cloruses of the evening. Excellent
work was also done by the chorus in
Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs,'
and "All We Like Sheep Have Gone
Astray."
Danz's orchestra accompanied the Choir
us last night and Prof. George H. Fair
clough presided at the organ. The or
chestra was not an entirely adequate
background for the voices of the choir,
but it was in strength alone that it was
deficient. Its best work was done in the
pastoral symphony. A beautiful interpre-
tation was given of the lofty melody
that preIudes the voice work. Mr.. Fair
coughs organ work was entirely salts
factory.
Raernstein Was Perfection.
OF the soloists, Mr.. J. S. Baernstein
was easily the greatest success of the
evening No basso that has visited ST.
Paul in recent years has made so excel
lent an impression. Aside from it's re-
markedly wide range, Mr.. Baernstein's
voice possesses a tleXibilty, and GER
tain melodious eXpresSivenesS that makes
it always a delight to hear. An admir-
able self-poise and an absolute surety OF
tone are qualities possessed by the singer
to a marked degree. After his aria,
"Why Do the Natjons?'' he received
something in the nature of an ovation
last evening, and was forced to repeat
part of the song.
Mr.. Glenn Hall, the tenor, sang most
satisfactorily the small role entrusted
to him. MI Hall possesses a tenor voice
of exceptionally fine quality, and his in
terpretations possessed a dignity that
promises much for Mr.. Halls future as
an interpreter of oratorio work.
Miss Mabelle Crawl ord sang the con-
tralto role Her voice is rich of tone and
decidedly expressive. The two arias, HE
Shall Feed His Flock and Come Unto
Him, All Ye That Labor We're admirably
rendered.
Mrs Genevieve Clark-Wilson, the So
prano soloist is the posSessor of a highly
cultivated soprano which she uses with
excellent effect Her voice is rather lack
ing, however, in those qualities that ap-
peal more directly to audiences. Her best
work last night was the aria, 81 Know
That My Redeemer LiVeth." Its rend1-
ton was warmly applauded.