The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-02-12
MENDELSSOHN'S st. PAUL"
BY THE CHORAL SOCIETY
An Adequate Performance of Great
Composition

"St. Paul" Mendelssohn's beautiful
oratorio was presented by the Choral
Society Tuesday night at the First Con-
gregationaI Church before an audience
which filled every available inch OF
space of the auditorium. 1t was an au-
dience. too. evidently In full sympathy
with the efforts OF both chorus and So
loists, for. with somewhat questionable
taste and detracting in a measure from
the full dignity Of the occasion, applause
broke forth at the conclusion of nearly
every number. Not that this was not
measurably deserved. for. as a whole
the performance was deserving Of COM
mendation. even though 10 the trained
ear there were distinct flaws now and
then
The work OF the chorus. under the able
direction OF Prof Josef Kaspar. while in
the main satisfactory, lacked at times
that precision OF attack and cIearness of
expression which are Of especial value
in oratoriO. Considering the number OF
singers. the volume OF tone did not al
ways indicate a hearty response TO the
energetic command OF the director.
There were instances. however. when the
composition. and this was especially the
case IN the opening chorus. Lord. Thou
Alone Art Cod" in the chorale. sleep
ers, Wake. a Voice is Calling" and in
the exquisite How Lovely Are the
Messengers"
The sOlOists OF the evening were Mrs
Seabury C. Ford, soprano; Leila Liy-
ingston Morse. contralto; Edwin c.
Towne. tenor. and David Bispham. bass
William A. Kirkpatrick was at the or
gan. and DIT. Anton Gloetzner played the
piano accomplishments
OF the vocal quartet Mrs Ford un-
ouestiouably carried off the honors OF the
evening. though Il Is doubtful ~ her
rank would not have been sharply con
tested by Miss Morse had this young
woman bad an ample opportunity to be
heard. AS IL was. her one solo, But the
Lord is Mindful OF His own" was one
of the gems OF the performance. Miss
MoTse's voice has a delicious sympa-
thetic quality, and Is smooth throughout
all its registers. She uses g. with rare
discretion and scored a genuine triumph
Mrs Fords organ Is one Of great
power and fair range. Here and there
her vocalization IS married by a rather
disturbing tremolo. but nevertheless her
performance was altogether acceptable.
PERHAPS the very best OF all her mum
hers was the aria. Jerusalem, Thou
That Killcst the Prophets" She sang
Il with a delicacy Of expression and
clearness of intonation that fell little
short OF perfection.
Mr.. Towne was more than fair in
bis part Of the program His tenor
voice is Of rather a strident quality, and
he sings with a certain kind OF ag-
Rrcssion. but. taken all in all. gave sat
isfaction.
Mr.. Bispham sang with accustomed ar
tistic finish. but his voice. making full
allowance for a cold with which he
has recently been afflicted, shows signs
OF wear which. under normal conditions.
might be more readily concealed by his
superb vocal technique. His best work
was the aria 30 God Have Mercy Up
on Me" and For Know Ne NOtg"
Mr.. Kirkpatrick playing lacked I'm
ish, especially 20 in the overture. Prof.
Gloetzncr's piano accompaniment was
decidedly artistic. ID. l. S.