The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-03-27
ST.
THEATRES

Mendelssohn's oratorio, 'St. Paul."
was sung last night at the Peoples
church by the st. Paul Choral club
In its series of concerts this winter
the last one of which was held last
night-the club has been successful in
drawing together a representative au-
dience, men and women who are n1u
sically intelligent, appreciative and
kindly. Such an audience filled the
church last /. evening, and cordially
demonstrated it's approval of the man.
ner in which the oratorio was handled.
The oratorio is a lengthy one and
the second part, though full of beauti-
full music, contains few dramatic APP
peals. The dominant note is one of
pure spirituality. Loftiness of tone,
rather than intensity of expression,
characterizes it,Eand an audience must
be in thorough accord with this note
to appreciate the beauties of this por-
ton of the oratorio. Even at the age
of twenty-six Mendelssohn was master
of musical form. and the orchestration
of st. Paul. is beautiful With the
strings for basic structure he built
beautiful web of music, broad in tone
and full of bold contrasts and varied
colors.
Chorus and orchestra did excellent
work last night. Director Normington
scored a great success in the Re
quiem,' but that success was not only
duplicated, but surpassed in st. Paul
Crisp life was infused into every chorus
and choral, and the elasticity of the
choir was never better demonstrated
than it was last night.
The orchestra, under the direction of
Frank DAM Jr, was heard to excellent
advantage. In the Requiem" the mu-
sicians were seated on a level with
the choir. but last night all but four
of the VfolinS were below the stage,
and the new arrangement proved most
satisfactory both for chorus and Or
cheStra.
Mr.. Gwilym Miles, the Welsh BARI
tone, who sang the role of Paul last night
is soloist to be remembered. Ger
tainly no baritone who has ever visited
st. Paul has made so favorable an i'm
preston as this. slender young man
with the big, beautiful voice. But Mr.
Miles voice contributes only one-half
toward his success. He sings with rare
intelligence, with a fine appreciation of
| the dramatic value of the text. More
over, his Interpretation of oratorio is
marked by sincere reverence that
| makes it's appeal most effectual His
opening aria, Consume Them ALL and
his closing recitative, What Mean Ye
Thus to Weep" were splendidly sung,
but SO even was Mr.. Miles work last
night that it seems unnecessary to
tive. -
Evan Williams, the tenor, appeared
for the first time last night before a
st. Paul audience, Like Mr.. Miles, he
is a WelShman and like him he sings
oratoriO as the text convinces one it
should be sung, sincerely and reverent-
ly. Mr.. Williams is a big man and he
! has big voice of pronouncedly dra-
matte timbre. 1t is a most elastic or
gan and found full expression in the
dramatic ariaS and recitatives of the
first part Of the oratorio, in which Mr..
Williams sang the role of Stephen. The
aria in the second part, BE Thou
Faithful Unto Death" was beautifully
sung.
Miss Williams, the soprano, sang
pleasingly a role that makes a big
demand on the voice. She suffered from
comparison with the two men whose
art is UNNECESSARILY broader, but she
sang with intelligence and skill the
lofty recitatives and arias of the role.
| The recitatiVe, so They; Being Filled
| With the Holy Ghost" was. delivered
with excellent effect.
Mrs. Yale, the contralto, had not a
| large part last night, but her recitative
and aria in the first part of the oratorio
| were sung so satisfactorily that it
made one regret that "St. Paul. gives
| the contralto soloist so little oppor-
| tun1ty The marvellous appeal con-
| tanned in the aria was beautifully in
| terpreted.
The sale of seats for the second and
last week of the grand opera festival
! in Minneapolis opened this morning.
From present indications and from the
number of mail orders which have been
! received, this return of the Castle
! Square company will be a most sue
cpSSfnl and 11nlecc
| foreseen happens, 1t would seem that
| the music lovers of the Twin Cities
will have a regular season of grand
| opera in English. English is a diff
| cult language to sing in. beyond ques-
| ton, but so is German, and there is no
reason why the operas should not be
| sung in, the language which is better
| understood than any other.
1T is certains tina the balance of the
| engagement Will be brilliant. for the
| coming week Carmen" and Tam
hauser" have been selected. the former
being scheduled for presentation on
Monday, Thursday and SATURDAY. even
lhgs and at the Wednesday matinee.
and the latter on Tuesday, Wednesday
and Friday evenings and at the Satur-
day matinee. az
On Sunday evening the Castle
Square organization will give a sacred
| concert at the Metropolitan, in Mime
apoils, which IS to include, in addition
to we'll arranged miscellaneous pro-
| gramme, Rossinis "Stabat Mater
This concert will enlist the fun
strength of the company.
The Bohemian Girl" will be repeat
ed this evening, and tomorrow after
noon, and the weeks engagement will
close with another presentation of
'Lohengrin" tomorrow night.
Three more performances of "a
Ragged Hero"-tonight and tomorrovr