New-York tribune., 1901-12-10
MUSIC.
CHORAL CULTURE IN NEw-YoRK


There was an extraordinary exhibition of the az
tent and nature of choral culture in the city OF
New-York at the performance of Mendelssohn' s
Elijah by the Oratorio Society last night, IN
Carnegie Hall The listeners were the guests OF
Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie and all of the oc-
cupants Of the chairs the ground floor were
members of the Peoples Choral Union. In the
boxes and galleries were gathered the guests Of
the singers. The Peoples Choral Union has itself
sung Mendelssohns oratorio. and there were there
fore in the hall perhaps twenty-five hundred people
who familiar with the work. OF these. the
70 lr hundred who were members of the Oratorio
Society entertained the others with the most I'm
ished and spirited choral performance on large
scale that has been heard in New-York for many
years. But Mr.. Carnegte's generous and unique
act and the excellent performance were only two
features of the evenings demonstration. When the
last number of the oratorio reached. Mr. Frank
Damrosch. who conducting, turned to the
audience and said. in effect, that an occasion
which saw the gathering of many people devoted
the furtherance of choral music it seemed fitting
that it should end with a song OF glory IN whlcn
all should participate. He would, therefore. ask
the audience join the choir the stage in such
d song after the final chorus had been sung,
and" he added. let the song be an ex-
preston OF our thanks the kind host and hostess
who made this union possible
The oratorio ended. Mr.. Damrosch turned 10 the
audience and the entire rose. Now it be
came apparent why the singers on the main floor
had been disposed like the congregation in old
fashioned meeting house-the women sitting by
themselves in the middle sections and the on
the outsides-the audience in proper choral ar
ray. The national hymn doubtless expected by
all who were not in the which had been
well kept and the surprise was great when the in
strumental introduction the 'Hallelujah chorus
from HandeTs Messiah from the orchestra
and TIE thousands responded to the wave of Mr.
pamrosch's baton with the precision Of a trained
bodv OF choristers and enthusiasm like that
which had enabled the Oratorio Society to put a
remarkably fine performance Of Elijah" to its
credit \ JOYOUS demonstration in honor Of Mr.
and Mrs Carnegie followed and did not end until
Nr Carnegie bowed his thanks from his box and
II became evident that he did not intend TO make
speech.
The SOLO performers were Miss Esther Palliser,
Mrs Clara Poole King, Miss Edith Chapman. Miss
Belle Newport H Gregory Hast and Ciwtlyn Miles
The last named again covered himself with glory.
and Miss Chapman, who ike Mr. Miles had par
tlcipated in the recent performance Of the work by
the Oratorio Society, obviously more at ease than
when she was quite unexpectedly called upon TO
take portion of the task which should have been
Nine Iehmann's sang efficiently and we'll So
did Miss PalIiser though she showed the strain
of the Holy Holy" by lapses from pure intona-
ton. 1t seemed as Il she unduly anxious
about the carrying quality Of her voice in so large
4 concert room. She might have remained free
from concern. for her voice sounded large and
ample and though irregular in quality, it was fire.
ouentlv admirable in effect, especially in the
quartet Cast Thy Burdens Upon the Lord" Mr..
Hast sang with lovely finish and a nice apprecia-
ton of the true oratorio style throughout and
contributed a large factor the evenings
o plea