The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-21
ouT-oF-TowN MUSICIANS.

Edward Cigars oratorio, 1.-THE Apos-
ties, which received it's first American
presentation IN New York recently, was
reviewed last Sunday at great length by
w. j. Henderson, musical critic Of the
New York Sun. The following is an ex-
cerpt from his review:
Mr.. Cigars oratorio is worthy of care
full consideration. 1t Is as yet an unfinished
opus, for there IS to be third part, set
ting forth the labors Of the Apostles sub
sequent to the ascension of the Lord. The
two parts now published treat of the call
Ing of the teachers and the departure Of
their Master in fulfillment of the plan Of
salvation. The text is the work of the
composer. Wagner, the litterateur, has
thrown his titanic shadow across the Sc
queStefed close Of the musical cloiSter
rms text Is made up of passages, culied
tailed together with the patience of the
Eleepless Eremite For example, the Choir
us In part l. beginning 1.-THE Spirit Of the
from II. Chronicles /. Corinthians, Isaiah,
Job and the Psalms. These are so skill
fulIy put together that they stand ap-
parentiy as an original organiza ton. Of
terpoint of speech.
IF The Dream of Gerontius' had not
already been written, this oratorio would
have been welcomed with glad plaudits
as a new thing In Israel But of a truth
IT IS lacking In the Subtle significance, the
sustained, emotional elevation of the
earlier work. This decline must be attrib-
material itself The moods are more
broken, the thought episode and the
transitions abrupt in The Apostles Nor
IS the conception itself SO charged with
that poetic mysticism which acted power
fully on the composers genius in the for
mer work.
THE passion of Christ is barely outlined
thus. What could he, or any other man,
hope to accomplish after Bach with his
mighty tragedy? Elgar has undertaken
70 characterize the principal Apostles,
and also Mary Magdalen and the holy
Mary. But his success is at least doubt
full. Certainly John and Peter and Mary
are the barest outline sketches.
Inc most successful chara in
tne score Is that of Judas but he is not
interesting. When one recalls the music
or the soul of Gerontius, the guardian
angel :T9g and the mighty angel Of agony. in
ayofd R FIRE cnc Of Ger4ntius one cannot
newer score more of the infinite labor Of
devotion and less of the throb of love-
high Inspiration"
The sixteenth biennial musical festival
Will be held at Music hall in New York
city during the four days, May II to IA
1904. Five concerts will be given under
principal works to be performed are: ''B
Minor Mass" Bach; "Missa SoIemnis, .
Beethoven; Ninth Symphony Beet
nv HO1I, Master imperial MarCn, Berl1OZ,
ana The Dream of Gerontius,' Edward
Elgar.
The orchestra will be the Chicago or
chestra augmented to 100. The chorus is
the permanent body Of the association,
numbering 800, and has been In rehearsal
for the sixteenth festival during two
years under the general direction of Theo-
dore Thomas and the particular direction
1898.
The principal artists thus far engaged
are: Miss Agnes Nichols, soprano, of
London; Nine Ernestine Schumann-
Heink contralto, of Dresden; Miss Muriel
Foster, contralto, Of London; Mr.. William
Green, tenor, of London, and Mr.. Watkin
Mills, base, of London.
-
At its last concert Of the season in Car
negie hall the New York Symphony or
chestra observed st. Valentines day by
presenting Mr.. Walter Damrosch with
Respondent silver wreath and by an
nouncfng his election for three years as
conductor Of the organization.