The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-04-08
At St. Paul Theaters

POI - III IIlSllSu OGIOrG a RdLnG1lnR
representative of many denominations
and yet succeed in impressing upon
that gathering something of the
solemnity lnseparable from mass for
the dead, as sung in the Roman Catho-
lie churches, is a test of artistic vocal
merit which the ST. Paul Choral club
successfully met last night
VerdPs Manzoni Requiem is a choral
masterpiece 1t is impossible to listen
TO 1t and remain unthrilled by it's
splendid harmOnies, it's intense spir-
1tuallty, its dominant note Of a faith
triumphant.
The large audience which assembled
In the Peoples church last night is in
debted to Director Normington. to the
chorus, orchestra and soloists for the
privilege Of hearing the Requiem
Worth1ly interpreted. The production
was great triumph for Mr.. Morning
ton, but he was fortunate in having
every part of the organization which
his baton controlled in complete and
subtle sympathy with him. 1t was this
responsiveness that was largely instru-
mental in creating the religious at
mosphere so necessary to the successful
presentation of the choral. The mighty
choruSeS and the voices of the solOists
stirred the audience as nothing sung by
the choral club this winter has stirred
it, and it responded with impulsive
outDurStS of applause.
There is only the briefest orchestral
prelude to the Requiem before the
chorus begins the requiem plea The
IuII strength Of the chorus and the Or
chestra is heard in this, and the music
nIled every corner of the auditorium
last night. There might have been q
little doubt in the minds of the audience
last night, at the very beginning of the
chorus, as to the good faith of the or
chestra, for its endeavor at first seemed
to be to rival rather than support the
voices. But under Mr.. Normingtons
persuasive baton the instruments were
softened and harmony prevailed. AT
the conclusion of this requiem plea, the
voices OF the soloists take up the tender
chant, "Kyrie Eleison, Christie Eleison,'
and the beautiful blending of these
voices was foretaste to the audience
or the great pleasure in store for It,
For While the Choral club has present
ed many satisfactory soloists to the
audiences it has entertained, never be-
fore, perhaps, has it's entire quartette
of solOists offered SO little opportunity
Tor adverse criticism.
Mrs. JeSsica De Wolf, the soprano
possesses a voice and a temperament
which enable her to sing such music
as that of the Requiem" in a manner
that thrills her audience and makes it
conscious only Of the sweet solemnity
u IAC lI1CIIlS' Ou6 IOTS6IS CndE n6f
repOse is the repose Of the artist, her
diction, the diction of the we'll bred,
her enunCiatiOn, clean, refined and un-
aHected, for the very spirit Of the song
Se1zes upon the listener and makes
him deaf to all else. Because of the
splr1tuelle quality Of her high, sweet
vibrant soprano, the art which enables
her to convey artless effects does not
obtrude. In the Requiem" last night
her voice became the note Of faith
sweet and high and unfaItering. The
line and a half of recitative In the
Liberia Me" was delivered with great
1mpressiveness and throughout the
song her voice dominated even the
great volume of chorus and orchestra.
In Miss Jessie Ringen, the contraIto.
Mrs De Wolf had an excellent foil.
Miss R1ngen's voice is deep, richly col
Ored and full of tender cadences, It
has a somber dignity which accorded
we'll with the character Of the music
sung last night. The contralto sings as
an artist should sing. In her one piece
OF solo work, Nov the Record Shall
Be Cited" she revealed fully the I'M
usual quality of her voice and the
perfection of her art. Her duets with
Mrs. De Wolf, especially the exquisite
Agnes Del" were beautifully sung
Edward P. Johnson, the tenor, de-
lighted the audience with his fine lyric
IOAOAy WHICH, mas SNSG1uSSS ana DOGGY
and volume. Like the other soloists,
ne satisfied with his vocal art and
with his reverent Interpretation of the
text.
Mr.. ShaWe's resonant bass impaired
a special solemnity to the recitatives
he delivered. He read the beautiful
text with a fine appreciation of it's sig
n1hcance and throughout the mass, or
that part of it which he voiced the
audience was made to feel, through his
Interpretation, its singular beauty. In
the dramatic ''DieS Irae" his voice was
particularly impressive. 1t seemed to
give utterance to all the stormy music
imprisoned in the instruments of the
orchestra.
Director NOrmington received a large
basket of beautiful flowers last night
from the St. Paul Choral club as a
mark Of the latter's appreciation of his
excellent work. The concert was the
last of the Choral clubs winter SERIES
Francis Wilson, with his company Of
star players in a magnificent revival of
the ever tuneful opera, "Erminie,'' con-
unues to play to large audiences at the
Metropolitan opera house. In the pro-
duction of "Erminie" the famous come
dian is assisted by Marguerite Sylvia,
Jessie Bartlett Davis, William Broder-
lex, Jennie Weathersby, Clara Belle
Jerome, SCR. PeruglnI, William G.
Weeden and Robert Broderick. The
opera itself is given a most elaborate
production The engagement will close
with a performance tonight, tomorrow
night and a matinee tomorrow after
noon.
Henry w. Savage's English Grand
Opera company will return to st. Paul
for three nights and q matinee, begin
ming next Monday evening. Monday
night and Wednesday matinee 'Tosca'
will be sung, Faust" being the bill
Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
The sale of seats will open next Mon
day morning for the engagement Of
William Faversham, in Lord and Lady
Algy,' which is to be the attraction at
the Metropolitan the latter half of next
week.
1.-THE Stain of Guilt is drawing
crowded houses at the Grand. Three
more performances will be given, in
Guiding a matinee Saturday.
Next weeks attraction at the Grand
will be a comedy that ought to please
all, David Harum." This is the first |
visit Of this famous play at popular
prices.
There will be ladies' matinee given
nt he Ctar